Conference Now Feature Replacing the Meet-Me On CUCM

Conference Now feature is introduced in Cisco Unified Communications Manager (CUCM) version 11. Instead of dialing a Meet-Me number, dial the Conference Now IVR Directory Number. An Interactive Voice Response (IVR) prompt you for a meeting number. If you are the owner of the meeting, then the IVR prompts you for PIN password. When an attendee calls the Conference Now Number, the IVR prompts the meeting access code and once its authenticated you are be placed in the conference.

Configure Conference Now

In order to configure Conference Now, navigate to Call Routing > Conference Now, as shown below.

Enter the value for these fields: Conference Now IVR Directory Number, Route partition to restrict dialing the IVR Directory Number for legitimate users, and other details.

Enter the number that people will dial to join the Conference. 99002 for example.

Configure IVR

Navigate to Media Resources > Interactive Voice Response.

Ensure that the IVR is registered with CUCM.

You can modify the following fields such as Device Pool, Location, Description and others fields.

Service parameters Call Count and Run Flag are added automatically in the CUCM for an IVR device similar to how service parameters are added for Annunciator.

Announcements that are added prompt the user to provide a meeting number, a host pin for the owner of conference or an access code for attendees.

Configure Feature Group Template

Navigate to User Management > User/Phone Add > Feature Group Template. 

In order to use the Conference Now feature, check the Enable End User to Host Conference Now check box.

The Feature Group Template is useful when integrating CUCM with Active Directory to retrieve the AD users, you can use this Template to enable the Conference Now feature for all users.

End User Configuration

Navigate to User Management > End User.

Edit the user jdoe.

In the Self-Service User ID field Enter the number 11002 as a Self-User ID. This is the Meeting Number owned by the user jdoe.

The PIN will be used by the user who is the owner of the meeting to authenticate.

Ensure that the end user’s device number appears in the Controlled Devices field.

Enable End User to Host Conference Now

The Attendee Access Code will be dialed by the attendees to get authenticated and join the conference hosted by jdoe.

Check the Enable End User to Host Conference Now check box and ensure that Meeting Number is the same as the Self-Service User ID 11002. Add the Attendees Access Code 1234.

Repeat the same steps for pperez user.

For Host, open the Cisco Jabber Client jdoe@lab.local.

Dial the IVR number 99002.

The IVR will ask you the Meeting Number. Enter the Meeting Number 11002 followed by pound « # ».

The IVR will ask you the End User PIN ‘s jdoe 12345.

The jdoe@lab.local user should show as “Conference” upon successful authentication.

For Attendees, from the Cisco Jabber Client pperez@lab.local.

Dial the IVR number 99002.

The IVR will ask you the Meeting Number. Enter the Meeting Number 11002 followed by pound « # ».

The IVR will ask you the Attendees Access Code 1234.

The pperez@lab.local user should show as “Conference” upon successful authentication

Disconnect the pperez@lab.local user from the conference.

From the Cisco Jabber Client jdoe@lab.local, search for pperez@lab.local user and click on to send an incoming call to join the conference.

From the Cisco Jabber Client pperez@lab.local, you should see an incoming call from jdoe@lab.local Jabber Client, accept the call.

From the Cisco Jabber Client jdoe@lab.local, click on the green button at the right to accept pperez@lab.local to join the conference.

Now both users are in conference as shown below.