Conference Now

Updated: 8/4/2021

Important Update: Users of ConferenceNow need to understand we are currently limited to 48 simultaneous calls across all sessions happening concurrently – whether that’s one or 20 conference calls. 

 

The primary reason is a session can include external phone calls - which are limited by the number of external lines available.  We don’t have an external ‘line’ for each phone number within our system – we have trunks, or pools, of phone lines which are shared across the system.   If the trunks fill up, callers (inbound or outbound) will get the dreaded fast-busy signal or a message that all lines are busy.   Our phone system manufacturer automatically limits the number of ConferenceNow calls to prevent an overload and disrupt normal operations.

 

While ConferenceNow should still be a viable option for small conference calls, if you have 8 or more participants planned we suggest using either Zoom or Microsoft Teams – both of these options can be used voice only and are able to support many hundreds of callers simultaneously.

 

For the user: 

  • If you do not have Conference Now, please submit a CATG service request via PULSE to activate Conference Now.  
  • After the Conference Now request is complete, go to https://cm1.hci.utah.edu/ucmuser/, to set the Phone Services Pin and Attendees Access Code.
  • Login with your HCI username & password
  • Select General Settings

To Host a Conference Now meeting from within HCI

  • Dial 3-6200 or *7 on an HCI phone.
  • Enter the meeting number (your extension) followed by #      
  • Enter the host pin (Phone Services Pin) followed by #

The user will be placed in the meeting queue until the host starts the meeting.  The Conference Now meeting starts after the host pin is entered.  The host will hear a beep when attendees join.   

Note: there is a hard limit of 100 concurrent ConferenceNow lines for use at any given time.  For larger calls/meetings, use WebEx or Skype

To Host a Conference Now meeting outside of HCI

  • Dial 801-213-6200
  • Enter the meeting number (your extension) followed by #

The Conference Now meeting starts after the host pin is entered.  The host will hear a beep when attendees join.