Hosting a Multi-Way Call on Your Android

Whether you’re traveling, networking with another office, or working remotely, trading in the old landline for an Android smartphone allows greater flexibility for your meetings. When you’ve got business to conduct, you can use your Android—any time, anywhere—to connect distant parties in a snap.

The Android operating system makes it easy and seamless to chat with up to 4 other people at once, which we detail in this step-by-step guide. If you require a larger meeting or advanced call-center-style features for your conference calls, consider building a more scalable solution from the ground up, which can be nearly as effortless with the right partner.

Conference calling on Android

Android operating systems have built-in conference call capability, allowing you to connect audio with up to 5 callers at once. Before getting started, swipe down from the top of your screen, click on the “Settings” cog, and “Check for Updates” to be sure you’re running the most recent software version and prevent unnecessary glitches. Most service providers support the Android conference calling feature without an extra charge, but users with pay-as-you-go Vodafone or limited-minute Virgin Mobile plans may have trouble connecting.

If you’re hosting the conference call

Host your own Android conference call with up to 4 other people by following these steps:

1. Tap the phone icon to search your contacts or type a number and dial the first invitee.
2. Click the + icon on the left to “Add Call” once the caller answers.
3. Dial the next person from your contact list.
4. Tap the 2-tail arrow icon to “Merge Calls.”
5. Repeat steps 2–4 to include up to 5 participants in the call.

Note that your audio will mute automatically whenever you click to “Add a New Call” and unmute when the recipient answers the call and puts you into active call mode. If you want to adjust these settings manually, you may do so at any time from the bottom-right or left of the screen. You’ll also note there’s a “Swap” button that allows you to speak privately with one caller on a separate line.

As the host, you’ll have full in-call management capabilities. If you want to remove a person from the group chat but have the caller remain on standby to rejoin later or speak with you privately, you can click the splitting arrows beside the “Unmerge” button. However, if you want to remove someone from the conference call altogether, you can tap the downward-facing phone beside the “Disconnect” button.

To quickly return to the multi-way chat, tap the back arrow at the top-left corner of the screen to “Return to Call.” If you’re leaving the call while everyone else is staying on, you can tap the red “End Call” button at the bottom of the screen to disconnect.

If you’re joining a conference call

How you join a conference call from Android depends on the platform:

1. If a mobile caller’s ringing: Click the green phone icon to “Answer Call.”
2. If you have a Google invite: Enter the phone number and pin from your invite at the meeting time.
3. If you were invited via the app: Open the app and enter the meeting ID information from the invite.

How to make a 3-way call on Android

Make a 3-way call on an Android device following these steps:

1. Tap the phone icon to search contacts or type a number to dial “Invitee #1.”
2. Press unmute once “Invitee #1” answers, say hello, and ask the participant to wait a moment.
3. Tap the + icon on the left to “Add Call.”
4. Add “Invitee #2” by typing in a phone number or searching your contact list.
5. Say hello once “Invitee #2” answers and ask the participant to wait one moment while merging.
6. Tap the 2-tail arrow icon to “Merge Calls” and start the 3-way meeting.

Tips and troubleshooting for group calls on Android

If you’re having trouble making conference calls from an Android, pull down from the top screen to access the “Quick Settings” and be sure the airplane mode is disabled. However, if that doesn’t correct the issue, try doing a hard restart by holding down the “Power” button for at least 10 seconds. Check to see that there are no third-party free calling apps like Skype or Tango installed and set to default in your call settings.

Also, be sure your phone is fully charged or plugged in if you’re joining a conference. Choose a quiet location with 3 or more service bars lit up in the upper-right corner, too—otherwise, you’ll need to move to a more optimal location. Prior to the call, turn your mobile device’s ringer off to mute sounds and alerts other than your microphone and the phone’s speaker. Tap the “Mute” button when you’re not speaking to reduce ambient background noise and tap it again when it’s your turn to talk. Avoid using speakerphone mode, as your audio quality degrades and distorts on the other callers’ end.

Get voice conferencing with Twilio

Businesses often have more robust conferencing needs that go beyond 5 participants. With a bigger group, you’ll need to turn to a conference call service like Twilio Voice Conference. Manage up to 250 meeting participants with customizable audio voice conferencing features letting you control: New participant announcements, recordings, call transfers, as well as the ability to mute or whisper to one participant without the others hearing.

If you have frequent communication needs and require top-notch technology, it’s worth going above and beyond basic Android functionality. Implementing multiparty calls with VoIP should come across as seamless as a regular 2-way call to the end users, while giving hosts a robust API for advance call scheduling and management. Twilio offers intuitive interfacing and full customer support if you’re interested in developing your own conference call and contact center solutions. Now that you’ve learned how to make a conference call on Android, consider taking the next step toward a scalable solution by building an API that can connect millions around the world.