How a Conference Bridge Works

What’s the best way to connect a group of people who are working in different locations? Why, get them all on a conference call, of course!

Conference calls have been a staple of the business world for decades, and the shift to remote working has only served to reinforce its usefulness. In this blog, we dive into the topic, discussing how a conference bridge works, what some of its important benefits are, and how you can use OnSIP to set up a conference bridge(s) for your business.

How Do Conference Calls Work, and What Is a Conference Bridge?

A conference call is a business calling feature that connects multiple people on a single call. Callers dial a specific phone number that gives them access to a centralized and virtual “conference room.” Equipment familiarly known as a “conference bridge” can answer many separate phone calls at the same time and link—or “bridge”—them together. That way, the group of callers can speak and listen to each other as if they were all in the same room.

Businessman on a conference call. — Callers can dial into a conference call from wherever they are working and join a virtual meeting with their coworkers.

Depending on the service provider that you are using, conference calls can accommodate dozens to hundreds of callers. If you’re using a hosted VoIP or UCaaS service, the provider will maintain the conference bridge hardware in one of its data centers—your business simply connects to it over the Internet.

While you can certainly use a regular desk phone to call into a conference, there are specialized phone devices built specifically for conference calls. Current popular VoIP conference phones usually have a “Y” shape design, where the phone’s speakers are housed in the top two spokes of the “Y,” while the bottom spoke has the keypad, volume, and other call control buttons. More advanced devices have touch screens, Bluetooth support, detachable microphones, and interoperability with some popular business applications.

Polycom Trio 8500 Conference Phone. — The Polycom Trio 8500: a popular and powerful VoIP conference phone.

OnSIP’s softphone, the OnSIP app, enables you to dial into a conference call without needing a physical desk or conference phone (if you so choose). Whether you log into the app in a web browser window or open the desktop or mobile versions of the app, you’ll be able to call into a conference directly from the softphone’s interface on your screen.

For recommendations on VoIP conference and desk phones, download a free copy of our Top Business VoIP Phones guide.

The Many Benefits of VoIP Conference Calls for Your Business

1. Continue Meetings When Staff Members Are Working Remotely or From Home

Team standups and department meetings don’t have to be suspended during times when some or all of your coworkers are remote working. Just take your meetings virtually by hosting a conference call. Participants can call in from wherever they are working to give updates on their work projects or brainstorm your company’s product development roadmap.

2. Secure Your Calls by Requiring a PIN Number

Secure your conference calls by creating a passcode or PIN number for your conference bridge. When callers dial the extension or phone number of the conference call, they will be required to also dial the PIN number before they are able to enter the call. PIN numbers ensure that your calls are kept confidential and that only appropriate persons can access the conference.

3. Create Separate Conference Bridges for Separate Purposes

Take full advantage of the conference call feature by creating separate conference “rooms” for separate purposes. For example, you can equip each of your company’s sales reps with her own conference bridge so that she can utilize it for meetings with sales leads. You can create specific conference bridges for different company departments, such as Engineering, Marketing, and Customer Support. And you can even give your company’s executives their own personal conference rooms to use for business meetings on an as-needed basis.

4. Cut Back on Business Travel Expenses and Lost Productivity

If your business has many separate branches, you won’t have to cut back on your staff’s productivity in order to have group, department, or company-wide meetings. Simply set up a conference bridge and schedule a conference call—even on a recurring basis if that’s how your business operates. A conference call eliminates the expense and time-drain of making your staff travel to a specific office in order to attend the meeting.

5. Access the Conference Call on a Variety of Devices

Whether you’re using a conference phone, desk phone, softphone on your computer, or app on your smartphone, you can join the conference call using your preferred device.