Conference Calling on iPhone 3G

Forums › Apple iOS and devices › Conference Calling on iPhone 3G

john.downs

28 posts

Geek

#37175 8-Jul-2009 14:00

Hi all,

Has anyone managed to successfully make a conference (3-way) call on an iPhone 3G (with OS v3.0)?

I've been trying to do this by doing the following:

1. Call person A.
2. Tap the 'Add Call' button, select person B. Person A is put on hold and person B answers.
3. Tap the 'Merge Calls' button.

My understanding is that this should combine the calls so that everyone can hear everyone else. However, what actually happens for me is that it just swaps between the two calls - so initially I can talk to person B, then I tap 'merge calls' and can talk to person A, etc etc.

Has anyone else managed to do this successfully? I called Vodafone and they suggested I didn't know how to use my iPhone and that it wasn't a problem at their end. I'm not so sure...

Thanks very much

John

alsta

276 posts

Ultimate Geek

#232441 8-Jul-2009 14:05

I had a feeling vodafone hadn't enabled this, but JohnR may be able to enlighten.

Twitter : @twocolddogs

mjb

996 posts

Ultimate Geek

Trusted

#232720 8-Jul-2009 20:02

Certainly worked for me on 2.2.1. You must have "GroupCall" on your account for it to work, it's free to add.

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alsta

276 posts

Ultimate Geek

#232726 8-Jul-2009 20:11

So, if person A rings you, and person B then rings and you merge them then you don't pay any extra? The page on the vodafone site is a little unclear as it assumes that you are starting the call whereas I'm pretty sure the iPhone will do it for received calls as well

http://www.vodafone.co.nz/services/calling/groupcall.jsp

Twitter : @twocolddogs

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#232745 8-Jul-2009 20:46

Conf call is a handset and network feature. conf calling can be enabled on any postpay connection at no cost. Standard call charges apply

John

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#232747 8-Jul-2009 20:50

And its not 3 way calling its 5 way and the correct product name is group call

John

johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#232748 8-Jul-2009 20:50

And its not 3 way calling its 5 way and the correct product name is group call

John

alsta

276 posts

Ultimate Geek

#232751 8-Jul-2009 20:52

Hi John,

Thanks for chiming in. So to clarify, here in NZ, if two people call the third and the third joins up the calls, then the third isn't charged for the calls even though they are letting person one and two talk.

So as an extreme example, lets say A and B are best mates with C but not each other than, A can call C, B can call C and then A and B can talk to each other (with C obviously listening in) and no one's paying anything......

Al

Twitter : @twocolddogs

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johnr

19282 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

#232768 8-Jul-2009 21:18

Easy answer its just standard call rates there is no extra charges for joining the calls up

John

john.downs

28 posts

Geek

#232783 8-Jul-2009 21:44

Hi everyone, thanks very much for your help. I'll give Vodafone a call tomorrow and ask them to activate GroupCall on my account. It would have been much simpler if the person on the VF helpdesk I spoke to earlier had suggested this - she just basically said that I simply didn't understand how to use my phone properly...

Thanks again!

John

exportgoldman

1202 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#232787 8-Jul-2009 21:47

Group Call or '3 way calling' worked fine for me when I was on Vodafone on 2.x and 3.0 firmware for the iPhone 3G, I also used it on the iPhone 2G.

Can't remember if I used it on XT yet or what the results were.

Tyler - Parnell Geek - iPhone 3G - Lenovo X301 - Kaseya - Great Western Steak House, these are some of my favourite things.

john.downs

28 posts

Geek

#233021 9-Jul-2009 13:59

Just for anyone else who might find this thread in future...

I called Vodafone again today to ask them to enable GroupCall, and the person I spoke to again said that it's a feature of my phone and I need to learn how to use it. I persisted and made it clear that I'd been explicitly told they need to do something at their end, and after a few minutes of arguing with me, she went off and checked with someone else. She came back a minute later to say that she'd enabled it for me.

So, if you need this on your account, don't give up...! It seems like the VF helpdesk staff don't really know what to do with this one.

tonie

59 posts

Master Geek

#234503 12-Jul-2009 23:10

works fine for me :)!