Plantronics' Smartphone App Simplifies Conference Calls

I don't know anyone who enjoys conference calls. They are a necessary business evil. Worse, when out of the office, mobile pros often have to resort to pecking out lengthy 1-800 numbers and then conference codes while diving through their calendar or email programs. Plantronics, the maker of Bluetooth headsets, feels your pain...and its new application aims to help ease some of your suffering.

Plantronics' InstantMeeting application (initially available for Android and BlackBerry devices) automatically scans users' calendars for conference calls and conference ID numbers and syncs them to the app. Once synced, users need only press a single button to dial into the conference call and enter the ID code required to access the meeting. No fumbling necessary.

Perhaps my favorite feature of the applications is that it allows for near-instant re-connection to conference calls if the line goes dead or the call disconnects for whatever reason.

"In spite of the proliferation of communications tools such as IM, SMS and email, modern professionals spend an increasing amount of time in meetings, specifically conference calls. InstantMeeting enables quick, intuitive conference call access so mobile professionals can focus on the task at hand: communication and collaboration," said Gunjan Bhow, vice president and general manager of New Ventures at Plantronics in a prepared statement.

The trial application allows for 20 free conference call connections, though Plantronics is offering a promotion through the end of the day. Anyone who downloads the app by the end of the day, December 9, will receive 1,000 free conference call connections. Users who pay $2.99 for the full version of the application will have unlimited access to conference call connections.

"Our ultimate goal is to enable people to communicate with one another naturally and with minimal barriers, regardless of the devices, platforms and tools being used," said Bhow. "InstantMeeting saves time and frankly, a bit of sanity, so people can conduct business more efficiently and get on with the rest of their day."

Plantronics noted that versions of InstantMeeting for the iPhone, Microsoft Office, and Skype are currently in the works, and should be available in early 2011.