Using Webex as a Telephone Bridge

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Last updated: Sept 16, 2022 by Dan Jakubiak
5 min read

Through ITS, faculty, staff, and students can use Webex as a telephone conference bridge. This feature enables a host to run a meeting, and guests to join a meeting, without a computer. A computer is still required to schedule the Meeting and to share the Meeting information.

This process uses telephone lines instead of the Cisco Webex Meetings smartphone app. Therefore this process can be handled by a landline or a cell phone. Some steps below involve using your computer; your computer does not need a webcam or microphone for any of these steps.

The terms "Webex Meeting" and "Phone Conference" refer to the same concept. The use of one of these names depends on personal choice reflecting how the majority of users are joining.

Therefore, phone conferences are scheduled in the same manor as Meetings. Any participant can join either through computer (internet) or phone (phone line), and they may switch back and forth during the Meeting.

Using Webex for a Phone Conference

When conducting a Phone Conference using Webex, you may use either your Personal Room or a Scheduled Meeting. Your Personal Room will always use the same Access Code while each Scheduled Meeting will have a unique Access Code (all recurrences of the same Scheduled Meeting will have the same Access Code). 

  • Decide if you would like to use your Personal Room or create a Scheduled Meeting.

  • If you have many Meetings, you may use your Personal Room.

  • If you would like increased security, create a Scheduled Meeting for the benefit of a unique Access Code.

  • Both session types can use the Room Lock that bars all entry.

Personal Room

  1. Log into UConn Webex.

  2. Click More ways to join.

    more ways to join

  3. Copy and share the Join by phone information.

  4. Continue to the next tab to learn how to begin the session.

Scheduled Meeting

  1. Schedule the conference as you would any other Meeting.

    1. Go to UConn Webex.

    2. Click on Schedule to create your Meeting.

      1. For detailed instructions on how to create a Scheduled Webex Meeting, visit the guide for https://uconn.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/IKB/pages/10784508584.

  2. When you are done scheduling, you will be directed to the meeting information page. The section at the bottom contains the relevant information.

    join by phone information

    1. Every meeting in Webex will have the same phone number to dial; it is the Access Code/Meeting Number that directs your call to the correct meeting.

    2. You may share just the information circled, or you may use the Share button above to copy-and-paste all the information into an email or other communication.

      1. Since this is a Webex Meeting, participants can join using their phone (call), smartphone app, or computer regardless of how you (the Host) join. Therefore you may want to share all the Meeting information instead of just the call-in information.

    3. For more details, see https://uconn.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/IKB/pages/10825629914 . 

  3. Continue to the next expand.

(Recommended) Beginning your Meeting using a Computer in order to have more control over the session

  1. Navigate to UConn Webex.

    • If you chose to use your Personal Room,

      1. Click Start a Meeting.

      2. Continue to Step 4.

    • If you chose to schedule your Meeting, use the Start button in the confirmation email you received. Alternatively,

      1. Find your Meeting on your UConn Webex home page or click on Calendar in the left-hand menu to find your Meeting.

      2. Click on the Meeting title, and then click Start.

    • Click on the Audio option button to change to Call in. This choice tells Webex that you are going to use your phone for audio transmission; Webex will not look for a microphone or speakers connected to your computer.

    • Click Start meeting.

    • Use the information in the popup window to connect using your phone.

    • Be sure to enter your Attendee ID. This will link your phone call to your presence on the computer. If you do not enter this ID, you will appear in the Participant Panel twice: once for your computer and again for the phone.

Beginning your Meeting using your Phone

  1. Navigate to UConn Webex.

    • If you choose to use your Personal Room,

      1. Click More ways to join.

      2. Use your phone to dial the information in this window.

    • If you choose to schedule your Meeting,

      1. Find your Meeting on your UConn Webex home page, or click on Meetings in the left-hand menu to find your Meeting. Click on the Meeting title.

      2. Look at your Meeting information to find the More ways to join and then the Join by phone sections.

      3. Use your phone to dial the information in this section.

    • The meeting will begin locked. Dial *5 to unlock your Personal Room to allow others to join.

    • Dial *5 again to Lock the Room.

For more information about controlling the session using your phone keypad,see Webex Dial Commands. 

Participants will join this Meeting just like they would join any other Webex session.

(Recommended) Joining the Meeting using a Computer

  1. Click on the Join link.

    • Click on the Audio option button to change to Call in. This choice tells Webex that you are going to use your phone for audio transmission; Webex will not look for a microphone or speakers connected to your computer.

    • Click Join meeting.

    • Use the information in the popup window to connect using your phone.

    • Be sure to enter your Attendee ID. This will link your phone call to your presence on the computer. If you do not enter this ID, you will appear in the Participant Panel twice – once for your computer and again for the phone.

Joining Only using your Phone

  • Find the Join by phone information that was sent to you.

    • Dial +1-415-655-002.

    • Enter the Access Code/Meeting Number. 

      1. If you already know the Access Code/Meeting Number of the Meeting,

        1. Wait for the voice to speak to you.

        2. When prompted, enter the Access Code/Meeting Number.

        3. Press the # key. 

        4. Press the # key again to skip the "Attendee Code."

      2. If you do not know the Access Code/Meeting Number of the Meeting, please ask the Host to share it with you.