It’s funny how things have changed in just a few years, we in the tech sphere I believe are the luckiest to witness all this magic happen under our noses should we say. When I was in high school, owning a phone was only a rich-man’s desire, we conveniently had the telephone booths to cater for our needs and the cost of acquiring a handset was just not for many at that point in time. Fast forward to today, almost everyone has a smartphone which are more advanced to do just about anything you could thing of. Let’s take an example of our current workplaces especially after the covid-19 fiasco, employees for various organizations can now collaborate remotely and work just as effective. One of the key elements of these collaborations is the ability to make conference calls.
All mobile service providers in the country – Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom do allow their subscribers to make conferencing calls where they can merge calls of different people into one with the initiator bearing the full cost of these calls. Today, there are several video conferencing platforms at our disposal, however unfortunately all of them do require an internet connection which most of us don’t have access to. For this reason, relying on cell phones for conference calls remains our only viable option, albeit with certain considerations. This guide elucidates the process of making conference calls on Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom networks in Kenya, catering to the needs of individuals seeking cost-effective communication solutions.
Quick Summary:
- Conference calls are essential for remote collaboration.
- Safaricom, Airtel, and Telkom networks in Kenya support conference calling.
- Charges for conference calls typically follow standard calling rates.
- Making a conference call on a smartphone involves simple steps on both Android and iPhone devices.
Charges for Making a Conference Call:
When initiating a conference call on Safaricom, Airtel, or Telkom networks, users should be cognizant of the associated charges. Typically, standard call rates apply encompassing calling within the same network, across different networks, or internationally. However, it’s imperative to note that additional charges will be incurred for each participant added to the conference call. For instance, if the standard call rate per minute is Ksh. 2 on Telkom and a conference call involves two participants, the cost per minute would amount to Ksh. 4. Subsequently, each added participant would contribute to the overall call charges.
How to Make a Conference Call:
On Android Devices:
- Access your contact list on the Android device and select the desired contact to initiate the call.
- If using a dual SIM phone, choose the preferred network for the conference call.
- Once the initial call connects, navigate back to the dial pad.
- Proceed to select and hold the subsequent contacts you wish to add to the conference call.
- After adding all desired contacts, tap on the “merge calls” icon to consolidate the conference.
On iPhone (iOS) Devices:
- Open your contact list on the iPhone and select the contact you intend to call.
- Upon the recipient answering the call, tap on the “add call” icon.
- This action temporarily places the initial call on hold.
- Upon connecting with the second contact, tap on the “merge calls” icon to initiate the conference.
Users in Kenya can easily make conference calls on Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom networks by following these steps. Even though conference calling can be costly, it serves as an option for those without internet access which is needed for traditional platforms. Using smartphones allows individuals to stay connected and work together efficiently regardless of their location.