Hello Skype Users,

I am in the process to look for a more cost efficient way to hold conference calls.

Currently I use up to 14 users at one time generally once a month or more depending on the situation.

I have questions about the Skype Conference call.

-

Is there a limit of users active on one call?

Does everyone that is going to be calling have to be on Skype? (if not are there limitations?)

What is the cost of this service? (per person per minute , monthly fee, etc...)

Are there special options in the Skype Conference Call that you find useful or like? 8)

Kind Regards,

You have a few options here. If you want to have a large amount of people in a confrence call you could look into createing a private skypecasts. This is free of charge. However everyone must have a skype account. ( Free )
If you would like to confrence in normal phone numbers such as landlines. You can call the landline phone number, then at the top left of skype there is an option to "add callers" and you can bring in other skype memember or other landline/cellphone calls. Please note that if you plan on calling landline/cellphone into a confrence call you will need to purchase skypeout credits. You can purchase credits here:

http://www.skype.com/products/skypeout/

Please see this link for rates:
http://www.skype.com/products/skypeout/rates/all_rates.html

EDIT: Please see this link in regards to max callers in a confrence call:

http://forum.skype.com/lofiversion/index.php/t3848.html

GOOD LUCK! and welcome to skype

This post has been edited by Chris from California: Fri Jul 13 2007, 19:43

You have a few options here. If you want to have a large amount of people in a confrence call you could look into createing a private skypecasts. This is free of charge. However everyone must have a skype account. ( Free )
If you would like to confrence in normal phone numbers such as landlines. You can call the landline phone number, then at the top left of skype there is an option to "add callers" and you can bring in other skype memember or other landline/cellphone calls. Please note that if you plan on calling landline/cellphone into a confrence call you will need to purchase skypeout credits. You can purchase credits here:

http://www.skype.com/products/skypeout/

Please see this link for rates:
http://www.skype.com/products/skypeout/rates/all_rates.html

EDIT: Please see this link in regards to max callers in a confrence call:

http://forum.skype.com/lofiversion/index.php/t3848.html

GOOD LUCK! and welcome to skype

Yes you can call telephone numbers with skype (skypeout) but I'm having a problem with the initiation. If you want to add someone to a conference call they have to be a skype user, in other words be in your contact list. I'd like to be able to start a conference call and add people via telephone numbers but this is not an option. I have to enter all the telephone numbers into the conference screen and then start the call. Skype calls everyone at the same time and it's mass chaos, if people don't know to wait a bit until everyone answers and settles down, then they hang up and you have to start over again, because, as I said, there's no way to add someone to a conference using a telephone number (meaning they're not skype users).

This is a major disadvantage that I hope can be overcome in the future.

Im not sure you are understanding. You can have regular numbers in a confrence call. You also can add them to you contacts. You also dont have to bring them all in at the same time.

First off lets start by showing you how to add regular numbers to your contact list.

1. Click the "add contact" button at the top right of the screen.
2. Now click " add ordinary phone number to skype out contacts"
3. Enter the name of the person you would like to add. ( Any name even if they dont have skype )
4. Now click the little "flag" icon, and make sure the correct country is selected. ( the country in which the person you are calling lives )
5. Now enter the phone number of that person.
There you have it. A regular number saved in contacts. The contact should have a little blue icon with a white phone next to there name.

Now If you want to create a confrence call, but dont want everthing to end up a mess, make sure to bring one person in at a time, and let them know whats going on.

Start by either by calling a landline number IE, click on the "call phone" tab, and calling the phone number of your choice. Or you can call a skype contact. It doesnt matter.

Once they answer let them know whats going on, and that you will be creating conference call. Tell them to hush while you call the next person

1. Now click "add callers".
2. You will have a box that pops up. In that box you can either select a regular contact from your contact list. OR you can type in a phone number. ( skype will will know the diffrence ) Make sure to select the country you are calling.
5. Now click add
6. Then start
You can either add a bunch of phone numbers at once, or repeat the steps that i just showed you. This way you can tell each and every person you are calling, whats going on.

I hope this helps. Like I said you CAN add a person from a regular land line to a confrence call. If you have any more question, please feel free to give me a call, and ill help walk you threw it. This should help.

You could also have a look at High Speed Conferencing who have a tie in with Skype.

There are limits to the number of people that you can directly conference usung Skype on your PC. It depends on the power of your PC and also the quality of your data link.

Interestingly,

There is no "Add Contact" button on the Mac version of Skype, and therefore no way to do 3-way calls to landlines without having the number in you contact list already.

Bummer!

Im not sure you are understanding. You can have regular numbers in a confrence call. You also can add them to you contacts. You also dont have to bring them all in at the same time.

First off lets start by showing you how to add regular numbers to your contact list.

1. Click the "add contact" button at the top right of the screen.
2. Now click " add ordinary phone number to skype out contacts"
3. Enter the name of the person you would like to add. ( Any name even if they dont have skype )
4. Now click the little "flag" icon, and make sure the correct country is selected. ( the country in which the person you are calling lives )
5. Now enter the phone number of that person.
There you have it. A regular number saved in contacts. The contact should have a little blue icon with a white phone next to there name.

Now If you want to create a confrence call, but dont want everthing to end up a mess, make sure to bring one person in at a time, and let them know whats going on.

Start by either by calling a landline number IE, click on the "call phone" tab, and calling the phone number of your choice. Or you can call a skype contact. It doesnt matter.

Once they answer let them know whats going on, and that you will be creating conference call. Tell them to hush while you call the next person

1. Now click "add callers".
2. You will have a box that pops up. In that box you can either select a regular contact from your contact list. OR you can type in a phone number. ( skype will will know the diffrence ) Make sure to select the country you are calling.
5. Now click add
6. Then start
You can either add a bunch of phone numbers at once, or repeat the steps that i just showed you. This way you can tell each and every person you are calling, whats going on.

I hope this helps. Like I said you CAN add a person from a regular land line to a confrence call. If you have any more question, please feel free to give me a call, and ill help walk you threw it. This should help.

Im not sure you are understanding. You can have regular numbers in a confrence call. You also can add them to you contacts. You also dont have to bring them all in at the same time.

First off lets start by showing you how to add regular numbers to your contact list.

1. Click the "add contact" button at the top right of the screen.
2. Now click " add ordinary phone number to skype out contacts"
3. Enter the name of the person you would like to add. ( Any name even if they dont have skype )
4. Now click the little "flag" icon, and make sure the correct country is selected. ( the country in which the person you are calling lives )
5. Now enter the phone number of that person.
There you have it. A regular number saved in contacts. The contact should have a little blue icon with a white phone next to there name.

Now If you want to create a confrence call, but dont want everthing to end up a mess, make sure to bring one person in at a time, and let them know whats going on.

Start by either by calling a landline number IE, click on the "call phone" tab, and calling the phone number of your choice. Or you can call a skype contact. It doesnt matter.

Once they answer let them know whats going on, and that you will be creating conference call. Tell them to hush while you call the next person

1. Now click "add callers".
2. You will have a box that pops up. In that box you can either select a regular contact from your contact list. OR you can type in a phone number. ( skype will will know the diffrence ) Make sure to select the country you are calling.
5. Now click add
6. Then start
You can either add a bunch of phone numbers at once, or repeat the steps that i just showed you. This way you can tell each and every person you are calling, whats going on.

I hope this helps. Like I said you CAN add a person from a regular land line to a confrence call. If you have any more question, please feel free to give me a call, and ill help walk you threw it. This should help.

This was very helpful but I just need a clarification... I purchased Skype Out for the year so I am assuming that there is no additional charge for conference calls to landlines or mobiles. Is this correct or will I need Skype Credits too? Thanks for your help!

Mick