Conference bridge
Virtual meetings have become an important part of the modern workplace. With colleagues and clients sometimes in different continents and time zones, conference bridges make it easy for people to schedule and manage conference calls. Sign up for a free 14-day trial to try it out with Dialpad's AI-powered collaboration platform!
What is a conference bridge?
A conference bridge is basically a way for multiple people to join a single meeting. Conference bridges are necessary when there are more than a few participants in a conference.
Software used via a desktop app or even a web browser can serve as a conference bridge. And if a participant is away from their computer, they can also join a conference bridge using a dial-in number.
How do you call a conference bridge?
A common way to use a conference bridge is through a computer's web browser. Usually, the host sends participants a dedicated URL or link, which opens up a tab where the virtual meeting will take place.
It's not uncommon for some conference software to require participants to enter a code or PIN to join the meeting. In some cases for convenience (although this is less secure), the conference software will not require a PIN, so once participants click the meeting URL, they can immediately enter the conference call.
Another way to use a conference bridge is through a dial-in number. This means instead of a link to the meeting, participants can dial a dedicated phone number for the conference from their desk phone or mobile phone. The phone number to dial into the conference might be different for participants based on where they are located, and some conferencing providers may have different conference phone numbers for different countries.
What are the benefits of a conference bridge?
There are a few benefits that conference bridges can offer businesses. The biggest benefit is driving efficient collaboration. If more than a few employees need to discuss a project, conference bridges make it easier for them to meet quickly.
By clicking on a link or dialing in a phone number, your colleagues, clients, or investors can join a conference in just a few seconds. For conference software providers that don’t require attendees to enter a PIN, this process is even easier.
The second benefit of conference bridges is saved time and travel costs. Without a conference bridge, many people might have to travel in order to meet physically face-to-face and collaborate on a project. And if your employees are working out of different offices or working remotely, it can be challenging to find the time and costly for everyone to meet.
Conference bridges allow companies with international or hybrid teams to get together with one click from a computer browser or a phone call, which saves quite a bit of time spent coordinating face-to-face meetings (and money on travel costs to get employees together).