How to Make a Skype Conference Call

Internet has changed most of the things around us, including the way we make phone calls and communicate in general. Had you ever imagined that you would be able to talk to someone sitting in another part of the country using the convenience of your personal computer and for free? Well with Skype it has become absolutely possible. Skype is a Voice over IP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service provider, using which you can communicate with people around the world. If you know how Skype works, you will understand that not only can you make a call to one person but you can also make a three-way call using Skype. Conference calling is a feature of Skype with which you can speak to more than one person at the same time. In this article, we will learn how to make a conference call using Skype.

How to Make Skype Conference Call

The conference call limit on Skype is up to 25 participants, i.e. the caller and 24 others. Due to this facility, society boards, committees, project teams and even family members have the cheapest way to meet and collaborate on projects, events as well as general happenings. Although it is easy to initiate a conference call, managing a successful conference call is the real challenge. We will now see, how to use Skype.

• Check if your computer has Internet access and then download Skype on your machine if you do not have it already.
• Start Skype and log in using your user name and password.
• Click on the Contacts tab in the main section of your Skype window to see the list of friends you have on your Skype.
• Check if you have the desired friend's name in the list. If you do not have it, then add the name of that person before you go to the next step.
• If your friend's contact information is already there in the list, then double-click on your friend's name.
• With the above step, you can start a call with one friend at a time. Since, you want to make Skype conference phone call, you will have to find another friend from your contacts list with whom you would like to have a conference call. Right-click on the friend's name and then you will have to select "Invite to Conference" from the menu which will appear.
• There is also an alternative to the above-mentioned method. You can invite multiple contacts to a conference call at the same time for which you will have to click on each contact's name and hold down the Ctrl key. After the selection has been made, you will have to click the "Invite Selected Contacts to Conference Call" button so that all the contacts are invited to the conference call.
• Now there is also a third alternative to start a conference call on Skype. In this method, you will have to hold down the Ctrl key, as you select the contacts, whom you want to have a conference call with.
• The next step is to click on the "Tools" menu on the horizontal menu along the top of the application window.
• In the "Tools" menu, you will see the option, "Create a Conference Call",select it and choose any additional contacts you want to invite via the menu that appears.
• Now your call has started and you can talk to people over the conference call, but you will have to manage the call and make sure that all the people you had invited to the call are a part of the call as there are chances of the call getting dropped.

How to Start a Skype Video Conference

Along with audio, video conferencing is also possible with Skype and this feature is free too.

• To make a Skype video conference call, you will need a camera, whether built-in or an external, attached to your computer. You will also have to make sure you have Skype installed on your machine.
• Start Skype and log-in to your Skype account. If the person you want to Skype with does not exist on your friend's list, you will have to add that person. If the person is already in the friend's list, you can select the same.
• Once you start the call, a screen will appear on your end while it is ringing. There you will have to click on the video icon which is typically a small circle with a video camera in it. Your image will now appear and you may have to adjust your camera so that you can be seen on the screen.
• The person on the other end answers and he will be able to opt for the "Accept Video" option. When your friend accepts the video call, you will be able to see him and he will be able to see you as you appear in the small box on your screen.
• If you want the other person's image as all over the screen, then you will have to click on the icon that has four arrows on it, pointing in four directions.

Now that you know how to make a Skype conference call, you can easily talk to your loved ones all over the world for free, provided you have a Skype account. However, do not forget headphones with microphones for audio call and camera for the video feed.