What is a Conference Bridge?

A Conference Bridge is a form of remote meeting hosted by a phone system that goes beyond what the three-way call feature can offer for desk phones. To host a conference for more than 3 people, a Conference Bridge can be called to allow multiple callers to connect and speak at the same time.

There are a few ways to implement a conference bridge, like creating a special user and DID for only that conference bridge. Auto Attendants are also a great tool for connecting callers to a specific conference bridge. 

Create a Conference Bridge

To add in a new conference bridge…

1. Navigate to the Conferences page.
   
2. Click the Add Conference button.
   
3. Use the Add a Conference menu to customize the new conference bridge and then click Save.
   

Setting	Description
Name	Create a unique name to identify the conference bridge with.
Type	Select the type of conference bridge to create.     •  Dedicated conference bridge - Can be accessed by any user; however, its settings can only be updated by an Office Manager.     •  Owned conference bridge - Allows a designated user (owner) to be the only user to access and change the settings of their conference bridge in Stratus.
Extension	A unique extension number that can be dialed to reach the conference bridge. Quick Tip: It is recommended to choose extension numbers in the 6000s for dedicated conference bridges. The extension numbers of owned conference bridges are usually set as 6+EXT (e.g., 6100 for the conference bridge of user 100). DANGER: Do NOT pick an extension number that is already in use.
Direct Phone Number	Select an Available Number from your inventory that will directly connect to the conference bridge. ✔ If set, anyone will be able to call that 10-digit number to directly reach the conference bridge.
Leader and Participant PINs	The PIN options are not required but can be used to limit who can and cannot enter the call (Participant PIN) or to invoke special mid-conference actions (Leader PIN). NOTE: In order to use a PIN, both the Leader and Participant PINs need to be set.  Furthermore, if the Require a Leader to start option is selected, a Leader PIN and Participant PIN will be required.
Max Participants	How many callers are allowed to join a conference at a time.
Minimum participants to start	How many people need to be present before the conference call begins. Note: Until the minimum is reached, all participants will hear music on hold.
Options	Further configure the conference bridge using these options:     •  Require a leader to start - Only allow the meeting to begin when a leader has joined the conference and entered their Leader PIN.      •  Announce participant arrivals/departures - Play a “ding” sound when a participant joins or leaves the conference.     •  Prompt all participants for their name - Prompt users to record their names before entering the conference.

Join a Conference

As a Stratus user, there are several different ways you can join an active conference that had been created through a conference bridge. This can be done by…

• Calling the extension number of the conference bridge from a SpectrumVoIP device.
• Calling a dedicated conference number.
• Calling into a conference auto attendant that routes your call to the conference bridge.

From an Internal Phone

To join a conference from a phone in the system, call the extension number associated with the conference bridge. 

From an Outside Source

To join a conference from an outside source, such as a cell phone or phone that is not on the account, you will need a number to call into.

This number can be a dedicated conference number.

Another option is to call a phone number on the account and have the call transferred to the desired conference's auto attendant or extension number, just like transferring to another user.

Dedicated Conference Number

A dedicated Conference Number allows outside sources to call in directly to a selected conference. Number destinations can be set in the Stratus Web Portal.

Route a Phone Number to a Conference Bridge

As an Office Manager in Stratus, you can route a phone number directly to a conference bridge, creating a dedicated number for that conference bridge.

To route a phone number to a conference bridge to allow callers to easily join conference calls…

1. Navigate to the Inventory page.

2. Click the phone number that you would like to designate for your conference.

3. Use the Treatment drop-down to select Conference.

4. In the Conference box, type and select the name of the conference bridge.

5. Click the Save button.

✔ You should now see that phone number routing to the conference in your Phone Number Inventory.

 

 

 

Conference Auto Attendant

If you have multiple conference bridges configured, it may be difficult for your internal and external users to join conference calls. One way of allowing callers to join conferences hosted by conference bridges is to use a conference auto attendant.

A conference auto attendant is a type of auto attendant that is configured to have callers either dial into or select the conference bridge they want to route their call to. Using a conference auto attendant can make it much easier for external users to dial into and join a specific conference bridge. 

Set Up a Conference Auto Attendant

Add a Conference Auto Attendant

A conference auto attendant will allow callers to enter in the extension number of a conference bridge to join an active conference. This is a good option if an account has many conference bridges for users to join. 

To create a conference auto attendant to use to route calls to different conference bridges…

1. Navigate to the Auto Attendants page. 

2. Click the Add Attendant button.

3. In the Add an Auto Attendant modal, fill in the following information:

    •  Name - Type a unique name to identify the auto attendant with.
    •  Extension - Type in an extension number that is not yet in use.
    •  Time Frame - Use the drop-down to select default (all the time).

4. When you are done, click the Add button.

Configure the Conference Auto Attendant

Now that a conference auto attendant has been added, you can configure it to read off a message and route callers as needed. 

A conference auto attendant can be set up in different ways to match your needs.

Have Callers Dial the Conference Bridge's Extension Number

One way of having your team members join a conference call is by having them dial the extension number of the conference bridge they intend to join while in the conference auto attendant.

To configure your conference auto attendant to route calls to dialed extension numbers for conference bridges…

1. Ensure that your Menu Prompt tells callers to dial the extension number of the conference bridge they wish to join.

Quick Tip: Alternatively, you can have the Menu Prompt tell callers the extension numbers they can dial.

 

2. Click the Options button to further configure the conference auto attendant.
3. Ensure that Enable Dial by Extension is selected to allow callers to enter in the conference bridge's extension number.

4. Click the Done button.

5. Click the Save button.

✔ Now you will have a conference auto attendant that allows callers to dial the extension numbers of conference bridges to join their meetings. 

 

 

 

Route Dial Pad Menu Options to Different Conference Bridges

Another way of allowing callers to join a conference call is to have the caller press a dial pad menu option that routes them to their selected conference bridge. 

To configure your conference auto attendant's dial pad menu options to route to different conference bridges…

1. Ensure that your Menu Prompt tells callers the different options they have to join a conference.

2. Click a number to add an application to in the dial pad menu.

3. In the Choose a new application section, select Conference.

4. In the box, type the name of the conference bridge.

5. To add more dial pad menu options for additional conference bridges, repeat steps 2-4. 
6. To set * (star) to repeat the greeting, click the * option.

7. In the Choose a new application section, select Repeat Prompt.

8. Click the Save button.

9. Click the Options button to further configure the conference auto attendant.
10.If needed, leave Enable Dial by Extension selected to allow callers to enter in the conference bridge's extension number.

11. Click the Done button.

12. Click the Save button again.

✔ Now you will have a conference auto attendant that allows callers to press an option to select a conference to join.

 

 

 

 

 

Contact a Conference Auto Attendant

Using the conference auto attendant, users can enter the extension number of the conference bridge they need to join. This can be especially useful if your organization uses multiple conference bridges. 

As an Internal User

As an alternative to calling a conference bridge directly, users can opt to call the conference auto attendant instead. 

Any user on your account can get in direct contact with the conference auto attendant by either…
    •  Calling the extension number of the conference auto attendant. 
    •  Have their call transferred to the conference auto attendant's extension number.

As an External Caller

Users calling from a cellphone and people outside of your organization can join a conference using the conference attendant by either…
    •  Calling a dedicated phone number for the conference auto attendant.

Route a Phone Number to the Conference Auto Attendant

In order for people outside of your organization to be able to use the conference auto attendant to reach a conference bridge, a phone number can be routed to your conference auto attendant. 

1. Navigate to the Inventory page.

2. Click the Phone Number that you would like to use for your conference auto attendant.

3. Use the Treatment drop-down to select Auto Attendant.

4. In the Auto Attendant box, type and select the name of the conference auto attendant. 

5. Click the Save button.

✔ You should now see that phone number routing to the conference auto attendant in your Phone Number Inventory.

 

 

 

    •   Calling a user in the organization and having their call transferred to the extension number of the conference auto attendant.

 

 

View and Manage Conferences in Stratus

On the Conferences page, you can view the conference bridges that have been created and whether or not they have participants.

As an Office Manager or Site Manager, you can…

• Reference a conference bridge's Name and Extension or Owner.
• Take note of requirements for the conference.
• View and invite Participants.
• Manage Reports for a conference bridge.
• Edit a conference bridge's settings.
• Delete a conference bridge.

Conference Reports

Click the Reports icon to view recent conferences hosted by a specific conference bridge.

Click the number in the Participants column to view information about the participants that joined the conference.

Manage a Conference's Participants

Clicking the number in the Participants column will show the active participants of an active conference:

As the Leader of a conference, you can view and manage the conference's participants.

• View a participant's information, such as their Name, Number, and whether or not they are a Leader.
• Check a participant's Status.
• Mute a participant.
• Disconnect a participant from the conference.

Invite Participants

Use the search bar to type and select the extension numbers and phone numbers of other participants to invite to the conference.

Conference Leader Commands

Conference leaders have the ability to perform mid-conference commands. These commands allow you to control the conference experience for every participant. 

To use these commands, input the command on the dial pad of your device while joined into the conference as a leader.