Buzz
Remember the old days of 'party lines,' where dozens of households shared a single telephone line? While that practice has mostly disappeared, the idea of multiple people talking on the phone together is still a lot of fun! Most phones today come with a three-way calling feature, and many networks support this type of communication. If you want to call two friends at the same time but aren’t sure how, this guide will walk you through it!
Steps
Using a Landline
Call the first person. Dial their number as you normally would, and let them know you’re about to add a third person to the call.
Activate three-way calling. Quickly press and release the hang-up (or flash) button. Be swift, or you might accidentally disconnect the first person!
Enable three-way calling. Quickly press and release the hang-up (or flash) button. Don’t delay, or you’ll risk the first person hanging up!
Call the second person. Wait until you hear the dial tone, then dial the second person. Once they answer, inform them that you’re setting up a three-way call.
Press and release the hang-up (or flash) button. Now, everyone should be connected and ready to talk.
Using an iPhone
Call the first person, and once the call connects, press the 'Add Call' button.
Call the second person. Once this call is established, press 'Merge Calls' to combine both conversations.
To end the call with one person: Tap 'Conference,' then press the red phone icon next to their name, and select 'End Call.'
To speak privately with one person in the group: Tap 'Conference,' then press the 'Private' button next to their name. Choose 'Merge Calls' to resume the group conversation.
Note: With GSM phones (using AT&T networks), you can add up to 5 people to a call; with CDMA phones (typically using Verizon networks), options are more limited. Refer to your user manual or service provider for further details.
Make a Call with Verizon (Non-iPhone Devices)
Call the first person. Once the call is connected, enter the phone number of the second person.
Press the SEND button. This will place the first call on hold and initiate the second call.
Press the SEND button once more.
Three-Way Calling with Basic Phones
Call the first person. Once the call is connected, press the 'Flash' button.
Call the second person. Once they answer, press 'Flash' again to merge the calls.
Enjoy the conversation!
Tips
- If you're talking to someone and add another person to create a three-way call, they can continue talking even if you hang up.
- On some phones, three-way calling is sometimes referred to as 'conference calling.'
- You can add multiple participants sequentially by pressing the hold button for 2 seconds, listening for the tone, and then adding the next person.
- Refer to your user manual for additional assistance.
Warnings
- Not all networks or regions support three-way or conference calling. Some networks charge extra for multi-party calls, and long-distance or roaming fees may still apply.
- If you hang up while on a call, it will end the conversation with all parties.
