Conference Call on Skype

Internet has brought about a huge change in the field of telecommunication. The methods used for communication has also undergone a sea of change. Till the recent times, it was difficult to imagine talking to a loved one in a different part of the country or world, using the convenience of the computer for free. It is Skype, which has made this dream come true. What is Skype and how does it work? Skype is actually Voice over IP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service provider. Using the service provided, you can make calls over the Internet, to people all around the world. Once you learn, how does Skype work, you will get to know, that you can talk not only with one person sitting miles and miles away from you, but you can also have a conference call on Skype. In other words, making a three-way call is possible with Skype. To make a conference call, you will have to make use of a feature of Skype known as Skype conference call. Now let's see how to make a Skype conference call.

How to Make a Conference Call on Skype

Using the skype conference call facility, you can have more than just a 3 way conference call. 25 people can communicate with each other simultaneously. In other words, 1 caller and 24 other people, he has called. It is with this facility of Skype, society boards, committees, project teams and for that matter family members have a free of cost way of collaborating with each other. One does not have to really be worried about the amount of time, one can talk and can talk for as much as one wants. Initiating a Skype conference call is easy, but it is managing the call successfully is where the real challenge lies. Having said that, let's see how to use Skype to make a conference call.

• Internet access is a must to make a Skype conference call. If you already have Skype downloaded on your machine, then you can get started immediately. In case you do not have Skype, then download Skype on your machine, before you can make the call.
• If you do not have a Skype account then create an account, without which making the call is not possible.
• Double click on the Skype icon and start Skype. When Skype starts log into your account using your user name and password.
• You will now see the Contents tab in the main section of your Skype window. Click on the tab, to see the list of friends you have on your Skype.
• The next step is to make sure you have the desired friend's name in the list. In case you do not have the friend in your friends list, then add the name of the person, without which you will not be able to proceed further.
• If your friend's name already exists in the friend's list, then double-click on your friend's name if you see your friend is also online, else you will have to be patient and wait for your friend to log into Skype, before the call can be started.
• The above step mentioned will start a call on Skype, but we have to make a conference call. Hence, you will have to find the other friend listed in the contacts list whom you want to be part of the conference call with. Right-click on the friend's name, in the drop down list go to the option which reads "Invite to Conference".
• To invite multiple contacts to a conference call at the same time, click on each contact's name and hold down the Ctrl key, as you select the people. Once you have done the selection, right-click and select the option "Invite Selected Contacts to Conference Call", this will invite all the contacts to the conference call.
• The third alternative to start a conference call is to hold down the Ctrl key, when you select the contacts, whom you want to invite to the conference call.
• Then go to the "Tools" menu on the horizontal menu located at the top of the application window.
• In the "Tools" menu, select the option, "Create a Conference Call" and choose the other contacts you may want to invite to the conference call via the menu that appears.
• With this your conference call is started and you can have a conference with people, however, you will have to manage the call and make sure, all the people, you had invited to the call are a part of the call, as there are chances of the call getting dropped.

Video conferencing is also possible with Skype. You can also have a video conference call on Skype with your loved ones. To sum it up, to make a Skype conference call you will need a Skype account, and headphones with microphone to make an audio call. If you want to make a video call, then you will need a webcam as well.