Whether in a dorm room, bar or cafe, nothing can beat the fun of hanging out with friends.

Unfortunately, as time moves on, life happens. Friends are flung apart from each other as careers and relationships draw them to settle down in different cities, states or even countries, and the rendezvous that you planned gets postponed time after time.

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If there is a way to get together with your gang from a remote location, it’s worth a try, isn’t it?

Making a conference call is the next best thing to sitting with your friends and watching a ball game. When the game is on, just conference your friends into a call and enjoy a virtual get together, save for the booze.

Yes, there are many options available to talk to your friends, like Facetime or Skype, but if you love the old school ways, making a conference call is the best bet. Your mobile Android or iPhone can connect up to five people in a single call.

Here are three methods to make a conference call on a smartphone.

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Method 1: Make a Conference Call on an iPhone

Step 1. Call the first person

Tap the number of first person

Calling first person

Call the first person by tapping or swiping their number in your Contact list.

Step 2. Tap on the Add Call icon after the call connects

After initiating the call, you will see an Add Call icon among the list of call features displayed. It will look like a plus sign, however, it won’t become active until the call connects with the first person.

tap add call

When you select “Add Call”, it will put the person on hold.

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Step 3. Call the second person

Call second person

Calling second person

After you’ve selected Add Call, your Contact list will display for you to select the next person to call. Go ahead and call the second person.

Step 4. Merge the calls

Tap merge calls

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Call conferencing in action

Once the second call connects, tap on the “Merge Calls” icon on your screen. It will look like an arrow with two tails.

Step 5. Repeat the process

Add another person

Call third person

Calling third person

Merge calls

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All three in conferencing

If you wish to add more people, just repeat steps 2 through 4. After you have merged in the last call, everyone will be able to talk to each other.

Step 6. Talk privately with one person

Tap on i icon

Call conferencing menu

To talk privately to a person currently in a conference call, tap on the “i” icon displayed to the right of the names of the people on the call. Your screen will display a Conference menu including End and Private options for each person on the call.

Select private to talk privately

Tap on the “Private” button below the name of the person you wish to talk with privately. It will put the conference call on hold while you chat privately.

In older iOS versions, tap on “Conference” to open the Conference menu and select the “Private” button next to the person’s name.

Step 7. Remove callers

Tap conference menu icon

Call-conference-menu

To remove a person from the call, tap the “i” icon adjacent to the names of the people on the call. It will open the Conference menu, where you can manage your participants.

Tap end to end chat with that oerson

Click on the “End” button below the person’s name to remove him or her from the conference call.

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In older iOS versions, tap on “Conference” to open the Conference menu. Then, tap on the red “Phone” icon next to the person’s name who you wish to remove from the call.

Step 8. End the call

Tap end call icon

To end the conference call, simply tap the “End Call” icon as you normally would to end a call. All the people will be disconnected simultaneously.

Method 2: Make a Conference Call on an Android

Step 1. Call the first person

call first partisipant

calling first participant

Call the first person by tapping or swiping their number in your Contact list.

Step 2. Tap on the Add Call icon after the call connects

After initiating the call, you will see an Add Call icon among the list of call features displayed. It will look like a plus sign. However, it won’t become active until the call connects with the first person.

Select- add call

When you select “Add Call”, it will put the person on hold.

In some phones, the Add Call icon is not in the forefront. In this case, tap on the “Additional Options” button on the screen and select “Add Call”.

Step 3. Call the second person

Go to contacts

select another participant

Calling another participant

After you’ve selected Add Call, either dial the number of the next person you wish to call or tap on “Contacts” to select them from your Contact list. Go ahead and call the second person.

Step 4. Merge the calls

Merging calls

Add yet another peson

Once the second call connects, tap on the “Merge Call” icon on your screen. It will look like an arrow with two tails or two arrows merging into one.

Step 5. Repeat the process

Select person to call

Calling the person

Merge final caller

All people connected

If you wish to add more people, just repeat steps 2 through 4. After you have merged in the last call, everyone will be able to talk to each other.

Step 6. Talk privately or remove a person from the call

Manage conference call

To talk privately with one person or remove a person from the call, tap on the “Manage” icon.

Split or end call

In the Conference Call management interface, you can either separate the participants to talk to them individually or remove a participant from the call by ending the call with that person. There are “Split” and “red phone” icons to perform these actions.

Step 7. End the call

End the conference

To end the conference call, simply tap the “red phone” icon and all the calls will be disconnected simultaneously.

Method 3: Make a Conference Call on Windows Phone

Step 1. Call the first person

Call first number

Tap on phone number

Calling first number

Call the first person by tapping or swiping their number in your Contact list.

Step 2. Tap on the Add Call icon after the call connects

After initiating the call, you will see an Add Call icon among the list of call features displayed. It will look like a phone with a plus sign next to it, however, it won’t become active until the call connects with the first person.

Select add call

When you select “Add Call”, it will put the person on hold.

Step 3. Call the second person

Go to contacts

Call another number

After you’ve selected Add Call, your Contact list will display for you to select the next person to call. Go ahead and call the second person.

Step 4. Merge the calls

Tap merge to conference

Once the second call connects, tap on the “Merge Call” icon on your screen. It will look like an arrow with two tails or two arrows merging into one.

Step 5. Repeat the process

Add another number

Call third number

Calling third number

Merge third number

All three in conference

If you wish to add more people, just repeat steps 2 through 4. After you have merged in the last call, everyone will be able to talk to each other.

Step 6. Talk privately with one person

Tap on private

In a Windows phone, the Conference call management options allow you to talk privately with a person on the call. However, unlike Android and iOS phones, you cannot remove an individual person from the call.

Select name to talk privately

Rest put on hold

Tap on the “Private” button and select the name of the person with whom you want to have a chat privately.

Step 7. End the call

Tap end call

To end the conference call, simply tap the “End Call” button and all the calls will be disconnected simultaneously.

Additional Tips:

  • Check with your service provider about the hidden fee (if any) in your cell phone plan.
  • The version of your mobile operating system will affect the procedure of making a three-way call and handling it. Yet, the change will be minor enough so you will not encounter any major difficulty in making a conference call with your smartphone.
  • Apart from operating system, your mobile phone manufacturer may have their own modifications on top of the standard operating system. That might affect your procedure, but insignificantly.
  • You can download applications like UberConference (for Android and iPhone only) that is best suited for professional needs. It allows you to create instant conference calls or schedule a conference call by simply selecting the people names.
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