How to conference call on Android devices? The better way

Do you frequently need to set up group meetings to discuss the progress of your projects?

If so, tap into the wonder of conference call features on your Android devices to bring everyone into a single place and hold conversations in real-time.

Although it might look like carrying out a conference call would need fancy software, separate devices, and a lot of money, it is actually free or extremely cheap, depending upon the platform you use.

In this blog, you will learn what is a conference call and how to make a conference call on Android devices with the help of Dialaxy. One of the best contact center solution. 

Enjoy!

What is a conference call?

A conference call, commonly called teleconferencing, is an audio or video call where multiple people simultaneously communicate with each other in real time. Six or more people can participate in a single conference call depending upon the device’s limits.

Conference calls can be conducted using traditional phone networks, mobile phones, or Internet-based services such as VoIP services.

A conference call is especially beneficial for businesses operating from abroad or with employees in remote locations. Thus, it enables multiple workers to join in on vital meetings and conversations without needing to be physically present in the same place.

How to make a conference call on Android?

Conference call on Android enables multiple participants to hold quick and impromptu group discussions using any Android device.

Some important things to consider:

• Some carriers may charge additional fees for conference calling.
• Although multiple participants can be added to the call, depending on the carrier and phone model, that number might be limited to 3 to 5 participants. Thus, Android’s conference calling is most useful for small business meetings or extremely personal meetings.
• A user can either use the built-in Phone app or a third-party app.

Here is a short guide to making a conference call on Android:

Step 1: Open the Phone app

Open the Phone app on your Android device.

Step 2: Find the contact

Tap on the contact list icon on your phone screen and select the person you wish to call from your contact list. Or you can directly dial the contact number of that participant onto the dial pad.

Once the call is made, that person will receive an incoming call as they normally would. Before adding more participants, you can place the first person on hold.

Step 3: Call and wait

Wait for the participants to pick up your call.

Step 4: Select Add Call

To add another participant, all you have to do is tap the Add Call button, usually represented by a “+” sign or a phone icon with a plus. Once the dialer is opened, call the second participant.

Step 5: Merge and combine calls

After the second participant gets connected to the call, tap the Merge icon to enable a three-way call.

Step 6: Add more participants

If you want to add more participants to your call, just repeat the steps mentioned above.

Step 7: Hang Up

Once the conference call ends, Split or Unmerge to separate the calls back to the individual calls. Or, you can just press the End Call icon to hang up the call.

How to conference call on iPhone: For those Apple-obsessed team members

For all you Apple lovers, this is how you conference call on your iOS device:

Step 1: Open the Phone App

Open the Phone app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Find the contact

Select the person you wish to call from your contact list. Alternatively, you can directly dial the contact number of that participant onto the dial pad.

Once the call is made, that person will receive an incoming call as they normally would. Before adding more participants, you can place the first person on hold.

Step 3: Call and Wait

Wait for the participants to pick up your call.

Step 4: Select Add Call

To add another participant, all you have to do is tap the Add Call button, usually represented by a “+” sign or a phone icon with a plus. Once the dialer is opened, call the second participant.

Step 5: Merge and Combine Calls

After the second participant gets connected to the call, tap the Merge icon to enable a three-way call.

Step 6: Add More Participants

If you want to add more participants to your call, just repeat the steps mentioned above.

Note: You can set a conference call on an iPhone with only up to 6 people.

Step 7: Holding Private Conversations

Press Conference and then Private next to the person with whom you want to hold a private conversation. You can later tap Merge Calls to rejoin the other parties. 

Step 8: Hang Up

Once the conference call ends, Split or Unmerge to separate the calls back to the individual calls. Alternatively, you can just press the End Call icon to hang up the call.

What are the advantages of Android’s built-in conference call feature?

Not only individuals and small businesses but employees of large corporations can also take advantage of these helpful built-in conference call features on Android devices. Some important advantages of the built-in conference call feature can be listed as follows:

1. No extra apps needed

When you use Android’s built-in conference call feature, you do not need to download any external third-party apps on your device. You can simply conference call directly from your phone’s dialer. Thus, it simplifies the calling process and saves storage space.

2. Ease of use

Its intuitive and user-friendly interface makes conference calling easy and hassle-free. Participants can be easily added to the call regardless of their current geographical location.

3. Highly cost-effective

Third-party apps and other call conferencing services may charge huge fees for usage. However, Android’s conference calling charges you based on your VoIP plan or your regular voice per minute. Hence, it becomes a lot more affordable if your mobile plan offers unlimited calls. 

4. Time saving 

Since Android’s conference calling operates over cellular networks, a user need not travel to places to find an Internet connection and data coverage.

5. Effective call management

It is easy to manage multiple participants attending the call. You can easily put participants on hold or remove them from the call. Thus, it gives you more control over the conversation.

6. Integrable and scalable

Multiple participants can be added to the call without any extra specialized services. Further, the built-in feature can be integrated with a wide range of networks, phones, systems, and tools.

Why is Dialaxy the best choice for a conference call?

Although Android is good for carrying out conference calls, it is still less ideal if you want to hold professional conference calls. These calls are required to be highly confidential and secure. Some drawbacks of only using Android’s built-in app for conference calling are as follows:

• While making a group call with an Android phone, your private number is still visible to other callers. 
• You wouldn’t be able to separate your business calls from your personal ones. This can cause chaos and frustration and decrease customer satisfaction, thus negatively hampering businesses.
• There is no call recording feature available. So, if you are using the default app, you will have to spend money on extra call recording software.
• It takes a long time to set up calls with multiple participants.
• Further, the call quality might be poor, and technical errors might occur frequently due to device heating.

To overcome these drawbacks, it would be highly beneficial to use Dialaxy. The advantages of using Dialaxy are as follows:

• Dialaxy highly simplifies three-way conference calling.
• It makes conference calling highly secure, customizable, and a pleasant experience overall.
• Users can record their calls and get real-time transcripts of conversations.
• You can choose your personal number, a carrier-issued number, or your Dialaxy number, which will show up as your Caller ID for your recipient callers. Thus, your personal number is not revealed to other parties.
• Dialaxy also allows video conferencing and screen sharing facilitating a more effective conference calling.

How to make a conference call with Dialaxy?

Here is how your conference call with Dialaxy from your Android devices: 

Step 1: Go to the Dialaxy website and sign up to create a Dialaxy account.

Step 2: Install the desktop app on your computer or the app on your phone.

Step 3: Go to the “Number” section on your Dialaxy dashboard and select a virtual phone number (local, mobile, or toll-free) from a list of options.

Step 4: Select and purchase your phone plan. The basic plan is 20$ per month and selecting pro would cost you 60$ per month. Additionally, Dialaxy also offers you a seven-day free trial.

Step 5: Navigate to the home screen in the app.

Step 6: Tap the add call icon on your call screen.

Step 7: Select the New Call button, which is the Add Call button.

Step 8: Select More. That will let you add more participants to the call all at once.

Step 9: Select Add a Caller to add more people.

Step 10: When you have finished, press the End Call button to dismiss all participants or Remove from Call to dismiss only the selected participant. 

Enjoy conference calling!

Final Words

Even if you are not a tech-savvy person, excelling at making different kinds of calls from your device is vital. Knowing how to make calls not only aids during emergencies but also helps connect you to your contacts, family, friends, associates, and clients quickly and efficiently.

A lot of platforms are present in the market. So make sure you choose the right platform for a more pleasant and effective conference calling experience.

FAQs

2. Why can’t I merge calls on Android?

If you aren’t able to merge calls on your Android device, consider looking at the following factors:

• Some mobile carriers do not support call merging or conference calls.
• Some mobile plans limit the number of participants you can merge.
• Call merging might fail if the network is unstable during the ongoing call.
• Some conference call features rely on Voice over LTE (VoLTE) or HD Voice, which may not be enabled in certain remote areas.
• Some VoIP apps need WiFi and do not work with standard cellular networks.
• Your phone’s settings during an ongoing call might have disabled the merge option temporarily.

3. Can you make 2 calls at once on Android?

Yes, you can make two calls at once on Android. The call waiting and call holding features allow you to do so. This makes it easy for users to dial multiple people at the same time and either carry out a conference call or switch between two active calls.

5. How do I activate call conferencing?

To activate call conferencing, either use the built-in apps or third-party apps. Also, make sure that your type of device carrier supports making conference calls.

9. Where are Samsung call settings?

Open your Phone icon on your home screen. Tap the three dots (menu icon) in the upper-right corner of the screen. From the dropdown menu, select Settings. Here is where you will find all the Samsung call settings features such as call waiting, Caller ID, Voicemail Settings, Call Barring, etc.

2. What are the reasons for holding a conference call?

Conference calling is an extremely efficient way for groups to communicate in real time. It is used for professional as well as personal purposes. Conference calling is carried out mainly for:

• Team collaboration meeting
• Meeting with clients and customers
• Remote work coordination
• Decision-making and strategy discussions
• Training and workshops
• Crisis management and emergency meetings