Conference calling with iPhone 5

[Miner...@live.com]

When I'm on the phone and another call comes in, how can I
add that second call to a 3-way conference call? I place
the 2nd call on hold, and there is a button to "merge calls"
but it's grayed out. Any way around this?

TIA,

Sharon

[Steve Crow]

Sharon,

Unfortunately the CDMA technology utilized by Verizon Wireless (or at
least the typical US implementation of it) does not support that function.
I believe it is possible on GSM networks, so if you find yourself roaming
internationally you may be able to do it.

CDMA is capable of doing a 3-way call if the third party is an outgoing
call, but not incoming. The best you can do is utilize Call Waiting to
toggle between the two calls. If you hang up on the third call, your
phone should ring back (probably from an "unavailable" number) and you can
reconnect to the original party, and THEN start an outbound third call to
join them into a 3-way call. The ringback scenario probably varies by
market, but here in Richmond, VA that's how it works for me.

Steve

[sms]

Set up a Google Voice account and have all the callers call your Google
Voice number rather than your Verizon number. You conference them in.
See <http://support.google.com/voice/answer/115137?hl=en>.

[Miner...@live.com]

On Tue, 16 Apr 2013 10:36:12 -0400, Steve Crow
<otaku!scrow...@sdf.lonestar.org> wrote:

>On Tue, 16 Apr 2013, Miner...@live.com wrote:
>
>> When I'm on the phone and another call comes in, how can I
>> add that second call to a 3-way conference call? I place
>> the 2nd call on hold, and there is a button to "merge calls"
>> but it's grayed out. Any way around this?
>>
>
>Sharon,
>
>Unfortunately the CDMA technology utilized by Verizon Wireless (or at
>least the typical US implementation of it) does not support that function.

...

Thanks, Steve, for your detailed explanation. Lousy result,
but I appreciate the response!

Sharon

[sms]

On 4/16/2013 7:03 AM, Miner...@live.com wrote:

Three way calling is included with your Verizon or PagePlus account, but
to go beyond three is not possible. But it's _you_ that has to initiate
the calls to the phones you want in the three way call, they can't call
in to you.

<http://support.verizonwireless.com/clc/features/calling_features/3_way_calling.html>

Google Voice is the free workaround if you want to set up a conference
call where others call in.