topic Re: Merge Calls in Apple

Merge Calls

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 11:14:31 GMT

I want to activate merge calls on my iPhone. I know this has to be done via O2 customer service. I'm told this facility will cost me 8p per minute. Is this correct? To be clear merge calls is where I call one person - put them on hold - I then call a second person and merge the calls so all three people can talk simultaniously. Will I be charged for this service?

Re: Merge Calls

Cleoriff — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 11:24:10 GMT

Hi @Anonymous Isn't this called conference calling?

Advice here http://support.bell.ca/Mobility/Smartphones_and_mobile_internet/How_to_set_up_a_conference_call_on_an_iPhone

Or from the Apple website https://support.apple.com/kb/TA38608?locale=en_US&viewlocale=en_US

Place a call.
From the in-call menu, tap Add Call. While you dial the second number, the first call will be placed on hold. ...
Once you have the other person on the line, tap Merge Calls to connect everyone.
Repeat steps two and three to add other people to the conference

Re: Merge Calls

MI5 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 11:29:18 GMT

Lots of outdated links for this on o2 website @Martin-O2
Previous thread here with broken links https://community.o2.co.uk/t5/Discussions-and-feedback/conference-call/td-p/838657 but states it’s 15ppm for everyone who dials in.

Re: Merge Calls

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 11:32:19 GMT

Hi @Cleoriff I believe it is. Unfortunately its a facility that in the UK has to be activated by O2 customer service. I'm trying to find out whether I will be charged 8p per minute every time I use this option once its activated by O2.

Re: Merge Calls

Cleoriff — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 11:37:30 GMT

wrote:
Hi @Cleoriff I believe it is. Unfortunately its a facility that in the UK has to be activated by O2 customer service. I'm trying to find out whether I will be charged 8p per minute every time I use this option once its activated by O2.

Then I will let @Martin-O2 (Community manager) find out the correct price for you @Anonymous

Best of luck.

Re: Merge Calls

MI5 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 11:56:17 GMT

Customer service can enable it for you but from the link above the 8p is for business users and 15p for all other accounts, per min.

Prices may now be higher though as that thread was from 2015.

Re: Merge Calls

Anonymous — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 12:01:34 GMT

Many thanks @MI5. 15p per minute to merge calls seems excessive from O2. I'll check out other service provider charges and compare. Thanks for the quick response.

Re: Merge Calls

MI5 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 12:05:58 GMT

Best of luck and let us know how it compares please.

Re: Merge Calls

Martin-O2 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 12:50:05 GMT

Thanks for the tags @MI5, @Cleoriff

@Anonymous I'll speak to the team to see what I can find out for you! Please keep an eye on this thread for updates.

Re: Merge Calls

Cleoriff — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 12:53:55 GMT

Thanks @Martin-O2

Re: Merge Calls

MI5 — Wed, 07 Feb 2018 12:56:38 GMT

Cheers.

Re: Merge Calls

Martin-O2 — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 10:31:53 GMT

Hey @Anonymous I've got some info about call merging and conference calls. See below and let me know if you have any questions.

There are a few ways to get more that one person on the line.

1. Merging calls

You can have up to 3 people on a normal consumer account, for example , you merges 2 friends on the same call. This will come out of you inclusive allowance and If all 3 are on unlimited minutes then they won’t be charged.

If you want more than 3 people in the call see below: (this needs to be requested and added to the your account by customer services.)

2. GROUP CONFERENCING up to 49 people on a call at once

Business account Customers 8 pence per minute (including VAT)
All Pay Monthly / Pay & Go customers will be charged at 15 pence per minute (including VAT).

NON O2 callers (from other networks) are charged at the same rate as calling an O2 mobile from their Networks plan.

Each person including the chairperson who dials in to the conference call will be charged this rate above.

Re: Merge Calls

Cleoriff — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 10:41:52 GMT

Thanks for that clarification @Martin-O2. To be honest, I did wonder why people would be charged if they had a tariff with unlimited minutes on a consumer contract.

Good to know the difference between Merging calls and Conference calls

PS maybe this could be made more clear by O2. Currently there appears to be no mention of Merging calls

Re: Merge Calls

Martin-O2 — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 11:23:38 GMT

No problem @Cleoriff! It's good to have clear information on the subject.

My ears are ringing at the thought of 49 people on the same call! It's bad enough with 5 or 6 on the same line!

Re: Merge Calls

MI5 — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 11:40:25 GMT

Good post.
Can we have this in the index please?

Re: Merge Calls

Anonymous — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 12:01:11 GMT

Hi @Martin-O2,

Many thanks for the comprehensive reply. Its useful to define the difference between merge calls and conference calls. Some of O2's own customer service team don't understand the difference between the two facilities.

I agree you don't necessarily want to have 4 people on a line at the same time but it is a useful feature to have activated if you wish to use apps that record telephone calls.

Thanks once again

Re: Merge Calls

Cleoriff — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 14:22:36 GMT

wrote:
Good post.
Can we have this in the index please?

Great idea. I will mention @Martin-O2 in case he missed it....

Re: Merge Calls

Martin-O2 — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 16:17:18 GMT

No problem at all @Anonymous! Happy to help.

@MI5, @Cleoriff Yes that is a good idea! I'll get it added.

Re: Merge Calls

MI5 — Thu, 08 Feb 2018 17:26:55 GMT

Splendid

Re: Merge Calls

jonsie — Sun, 11 Feb 2018 22:39:00 GMT

Every day is a school day for us all. Thanks for the information and clarity @Cleoriff