Users can place calls on hold and a create a conference using either the telephone or desktop applications. Additional conference members may be added.
For ad-hoc conferencing, the system requires as many digital trunks/VoIP channels as external participants (as well as Preferred Edition for Meet-Me conferences).
Meet-Me capabilities require Preferred Edition for direct dial into a conference bridge with PIN code security. In an SCN network, only one centralized Preferred Edition license is required to host Meet-Me conferences at any of the sites. Conference IDs are also shared across the SCN sites.
System Mode | Primary/Secondary server | Total Conference Channels | Maximum conference size | Total Conference Channels with ACCS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
IP Office Server Edition | Dell R240 | 128 | 128 | 414 |
Dell R640 | 256 | 256 | 1650 | |
OVA | 256 | 256 | 1650 | |
IP Office Select IP Office Subscription | Dell R640 | 512 | 256 | 1650 |
OVA | 512 | 256 | 1650 |
To initiate a conference, users dial the direct number allocated to the conference bridge, type in the PIN (require Preferred Edition and Voicemail Pro) if required. For ad-hoc conferences with a few participants, users can easily set up immediate conferences by calling all parties and bringing them to the conference bridge. With Avaya one-X® Portal for IP Office, the originator of the conference can keep control: the Caller ID number (and the associated name if recognized) of each participant is displayed. If required, they can selectively hang-up a specific participant. The system plays a single beep on entry and a double beep on exit. The owner of the conference may use their extension number as the conference ID. The owner of the conference has control of the conference with the ability to mute and drop calls of participants. All participants will hear the system Music on Hold (MOH) until the owner joins, and will hear MOH when the owner drops. Note that any internal party has the option to view and drop participants (not just the conference originator).
Users can record a personalized greeting for a conference (requires Preferred Edition and Voicemail Pro).
Users can record the conference using Avaya one-X® Portal for IP Office, digital or IP display phone or a short code (requires Preferred Edition and Voicemail Pro). To prevent unauthorized access to the conference bridge, PIN codes, Caller ID number screening as well as time and date profiles can be set-up using Voicemail Pro. One user can manage the conferencing bridge facility from any location.
Only two calls connecting through analog trunks are permitted in any single conference.
Each external caller requires a digital trunk/VoIP channel (for example 1 T1 allows 23/24 external parties, 1 E1 allows 30 parties and a fully licensed VCM-64 allows 64 parties).
There are no limits on the mix of internal and external calls in conference, but if all internal participants disconnect from the conference bridge, the external participants can be disconnected automatically by the system for added security (configurable system setting).
System features such as call intrusion, call recording and silent monitoring all use conference resources, as does automatic recording if enabled. When any of these features are active the number of slots available for conference parties is reduced. For example, a conference call between 3 parties and being recorded will use 4 conference slots.