Looking for a phone to make conference calls....help please!!!

Does anybody know if BT (or any other company) sell a conference phone which allows an individual to call up to 4 different lines simultaneously?

If so, how much does it cost?

Also is it possible to plug in a device to record the conversation?

I'm looking at the BT website right now, but not having any luck so far....(it doesn't have to be from BT though)

HELP PLEASE!!! 

Thanks!

Hi there

Conference calling is 'usually' the preserve of large corporates and the usual setups are complex and expensive - but also work fantastically. I remember being in a conference call at my last workplace and the call quality between offices in the UK, USA, Canada and India on that call was excellent. Alot does depend on the quality of the hardware as well as features such as squelching (not sure if it's still used in conference call hardware though) and noise cancellation and dynamic call quality settings etc.

Here's the kinda hardware you'll see in corporate offices

http://www.best4systems.co.uk/_Conference_Phones.asp?CtgID=1067

I think if you are going to be conference calling at home then you might want to look at 'Webex' who offer much lower cost meetings and setups. I've used them breifly during some testing but no experience of it for a couple of years now. Back then it was noted to be good s onow must only be better!

There are ways to record conversations, one way I do know of is you can attach a 'device' to record the line  - however, look up the legal aspects of this as I 'think' by law you must tell the other party(ies) recordings may take place BEFORE the call is initiated (or along those lines)

Hope this is a start to you finding out what you need
Cheers, DtM! West London & Slough UK!

Hi Dennis,

Thanks for that info! 

I should have specified -- I'm actually looking for this for work purposes (I work for a large university).  Our own Media department are too pressed to help at the moment, unfortunately, so I've been given this task myself -- lucky me! 

I'm aware of the legal issues re: recording, but thanks too for mentioning that! 

I will have a look tomorrow at the link you mentioned....

Cheers!

The recording part is simple.  Adapters which will let you connect to a regular tape recorder, and complete tape/digital recorders with integral telephone interface are widely available, for example:

Maplin Electronics -- Telephone recording devices

As for the conferencing section, we could use some more details.   Are the four lines you want to conference together direct exchange lines, or are they all extensions from the university's PBX?  If the latter, then you might already have some conferencing facilities available on the PBX with some simple programming. 

If direct lines, do you actually need to set up all four calls from the same location to start the conference?  If it's acceptable for party #1 to call party #2, then #2 calls #3, and #3 calls #4, you can do it without any extra hardware by just using 3-way calling from each phone in turn. 

Otherwise you have two major routes to take:  Either use a third-party system where you call into your control number, then set up the four calls (or you can have each of your callers dial into the system if you wish), or set up your own conference bridge between the lines.

As for the conferencing section, we could use some more details.   Are the four lines you want to conference together direct exchange lines, or are they all extensions from the university's PBX?  If the latter, then you might already have some conferencing facilities available on the PBX with some simple programming. 

If direct lines, do you actually need to set up all four calls from the same location to start the conference?  If it's acceptable for party #1 to call party #2, then #2 calls #3, and #3 calls #4, you can do it without any extra hardware by just using 3-way calling from each phone in turn. 

Otherwise you have two major routes to take:  Either use a third-party system where you call into your control number, then set up the four calls (or you can have each of your callers dial into the system if you wish), or set up your own conference bridge between the lines.

Hi Paul,

Thanks for your help.  I'll try to answer your queries!  Yes, these are direct exchange lines, and as far as I'm aware, all the calls must start from the same location.  I take it the "Webex" service that Dennis suggested is one of the third-party systems you are referring to?  Can you tell me anything about setting up a "conference bridge"?

I take it the "Webex" service that Dennis suggested is one of the third-party systems you are referring to? 

Yes.   http://www.webex.co.uk/    If you search on "telephone conference hosting" you should find some more services.  I can't suggest any particular company as it's not something I've ever had to set up on this basis.

Can you tell me anything about setting up a "conference bridge"?

This is where you install your own hardware which is used to tie the lines together.  As Dennis mentioned, this has really been the realm of larger businesses, and good equipment tends to come quite expensive.  Coupling the audio between a few lines isn't that difficult in its basic form, but doing it in such a way that reasonable sound levels are maintained both ways for everybody in the conference is what adds to the complexity (and cost).

This would be typical professional hardware to do the job well:
http://www.bigdcom.com/analog-interface-conference-bridge-p-11558.html

A lot will depend upon whether this is going to be on occasional usage (go with paying a hosting service) or a regular occurrence (install your own hardware).

Belated thanks to you again, Paul!  This has all been very helpful...

Have a good weekend!