Dialing a conference call doesn’t have to be a tedious process. Your iPhone or Android phone can automatically dial the call and enter a confirmation code for you. You just have to create a special contact type.
Better yet, this speeds things up when you need to connect to a conference call while driving. In an age where we can use Google Assistant and Siri in our cars, manually dialing a phone number is so old-fashioned. I call the conference bridge for my day job at least once a week, and I was desperate to find a way to connect with my coworkers without having to look down and dial the digits.
Fortunately, it is very easy to automate this. Whether you use iPhone or Android, you’ll simply set up the conference bridge as a contact that you can call, either by tapping or using a voice assistant.
a quick warning
The only way to save the conference as a contact is if your company uses a unique confirmation code or conference ID. You’ll need to manually dial each time to change the ID with each meeting, or just have multiple contacts if your company rotates conference codes.
How to save a conference call as a contact on Android
I’m using the Google Pixel 2 XL for this guide, but the steps are similar on other Android phones. Start by opening the Contacts or People app and selecting “Create New Contact”.
Add a name for the meeting and any other contact information you need.
Add the ten-digit phone number, and then tap the symbols button at the bottom left of the number pad. Tap the “Pause” button to add a pause to the number (appears as a comma) and then type the conference ID.
Touch the check mark at the top right to save the contact.
The last thing you should do is make a test call. Depending on how your company has set up the conference bridge, you may need to add additional breaks to get the timing right. If that’s the case, edit the phone number, add an extra pause or two, and try again.
Once you do, you’re always a tap or voice command away from connecting to the meeting.
How to save a conference call as a contact on iPhone
Just like on an Android phone, start by opening the Contacts app and then tapping the plus sign in the top right corner.
Add a name for the meeting and any other details you’d like.
Add the ten-digit phone number, and then tap the symbols button in the bottom left corner.
Tap the “Pause” button to add a pause (appears as a comma) and then type the conference ID. Tap “Done” in the top right corner to save the contact.
The last thing you should do is make a test call. Depending on how your company has set up the conference bridge, you may need to add additional breaks to get the timing right. If that’s the case, just edit the phone number and add an extra pause or two and try again.
Once you do, you’re always a tap or voice command away from connecting to the meeting.
