Phone Conferencing

The Hawaii Department of Education phone conference system is an added value service of the videoconference system. Certain videoconference systems still use ISDN as their transport and in some cases can be more reliable than using IP. Since ISDN essentially is a telephone line, the videoconference MCU is also capable of conferencing phone calls together as well as videoconference systems, providing another communication option for those who need voice only conferencing.

Use of the Phone Conference System
The phone conference system is available to all Hawaii Department of Education employees. The "phone conference system" is defined as the technical infrastructure components that connect 3 to 86 phone callers together in a single conference. The "phone conference system" can also connect videoconference units to phone callers.

Making a Phone Conference Request
Request a phone conference reservation by using the phone conference request form.

Making Phone Conference Calls Participants may connect to a phone conference using a telephone (office, home, cell, or IP phone).

Entry Queue Access
Once the Audioconference reservation has been entered into the VC system, you will receive an Entry Queue dial-in number and conference ID number.
To join an Audioconference participants will:

1. Dial the Entry Queue phone number on the telephone.
2. Following an audio-response prompt, enter the conference ID number.
3. The audio-response will inform you if you are the first participant to dial-in.

• Identify yourself and site when you first enter the conference and when initiating a response or question.
• Mute your microphone whenever you are not speaking. Any movement, shuffling of papers, pencil tapping, side comments, etc. near an "open" mic may be heard just as loudly as an intended response. Combined ambient noise from multiple sites can be very disrupting.