Cisco Conference Connection is a voice conferencing solution that uses voice over IP (VoIP) technology. Although Cisco Conference Connection uses IP telephony, callers on any type of telephone can join conference calls hosted by Cisco Conference Connection.
These topics introduce Cisco Conference Connection and help you understand what you can do with it:
Table 1-1 lists the major features of Cisco Conference Connection.
Table 1-1 Cisco Conference Connection Features
Feature
Description
Create conferences
You can create new conferences, and change and delete conferences that you scheduled through the Cisco Conference Connection web interface.
If the conference requires security, you can set up passwords and hide the conference so that other users cannot view the conference information through the web interface or on their Cisco IP Phone.
Join conferences
You and other conference participants can dial into a conference. You can also join a conference through the Services menu on Cisco IP Phones that support IP Phone Services, if the system administrator sets up the appropriate service.
View conferences in progress
You can view and search for currently running conferences through the web interface.
View scheduled conferences
You can view and search for scheduled conferences through the web interface.
View past conferences
You can view and search for past conferences through the web interface.
How Conferences Work with Cisco Conference Connection
When you want to join a conference defined on the Cisco Conference Connection server, call the conference call number. Cisco Conference Connection answers the call and:
Plays a welcome prompt.
Asks you to enter the conference ID followed by the # key.
You get three attempts to enter a valid conference ID. The start time for the conference must be reached before you can be connected to the conference, and you are told if you are early.
If the conference ID is for a password-protected conference, you are also asked to enter the password.
If you cannot enter a valid conference ID or password in three tries, you are transferred to the operator (if the system administrator identified an operator), or Cisco Conference Connection hangs up.
You can get help by pressing the * key.
When you enter a valid conference ID (and password, if required), you are transferred to the conference call.
When connected, people on the conference call hear an entry tone that indicates you have joined the conference.
If there are not enough ports for all of the callers (the conference is already full), you hear a busy tone and are not connected to the call.
The conference owner cannot dynamically add ports to an in-progress conference. Instead, if the owner wants to add ports, everyone must hang up, and the owner must delete the conference and then create a new one with an adequate port count. Then, callers can dial into the new conference.
Try not to put a conference on hold. When you put a conference on hold, conference attendees might hear music or other misleading announcements.
Five minutes before the appointed end time for the conference, Cisco Conference Connection determines if the conference can be extended. If there are sufficient ports available, Cisco Conference Connection automatically extends the conference. If there are insufficient ports to extend the conference past the end time, Cisco Conference Connection announces how much time is left for the conference, and the conference call is disconnected promptly at the end time.
If you hang up on the conference call before the call ends, conference attendees hear an exit tone.
