How to add someone to a call

“Hang on, I need to loop in someone else.”

Does this come up a lot in your business? You’re on a call and need to bring in someone with more expertise or more context?

In this article, we’ll show you how to add someone to a call, so that you’re not keeping your customers waiting around. Whether you’re using an iPhone or Android device, we’ve got the steps you need to follow (and why you might choose one method of three-way calling over another).

How to add someone to a conference call from your iPhone

If you want to make a three-way call on an iPhone, you can use the Add Call feature within the iOS phone app to conference in other people.

While you’re on a call with someone:

1. Tap the Add Call (plus icon) from the phone screen.

2. Select an existing contact or dial the phone number of the person you want to add.
3. Once the additional person has answered, tap Merge Calls (upward arrow icon).

Your two phone calls will be merged into a single conference call. You can repeat these steps to conference in additional people. 

How to add someone to a 3-way call from your Android

To make a three-way call on an Android, you can use the default phone app.

While you’re on a call:

1. Tap the Add call (plus icon) on the right side of your screen.
2. Find the second person you want to add to the call from your contacts, or dial the number to start a second call.
3. Tap the Merge button.

You can add additional people to the call by repeating the steps. If you can’t tap Add call (because you don’t see the Add call button), check with your service provider to see if three-way calling is available on your plan. It might cost extra to add this feature.

4 disadvantages of group calls on the default iPhone and Android calling apps

While both iPhone and Android phones have group calling as part of their default phone apps, there are a few reasons why this might not work for your business:

1. Personal number doesn’t stay private

Once you’ve called another person, they’ll have your number. This could lead to calls and texts from people when you may not want them. You run the risk of getting calls after business hours or opening yourself up to more spam and robocalls. The more people who have your number, the more privacy you might lose. 

2. Can’t easily generate or share call summaries and transcripts  

Call summaries and transcripts help you and your team catch up on customer calls, maintain past customer context, and replace the need to take notes on your calls. But with the default iPhone and Android phone apps, it isn’t easy to generate and share call summaries and transcripts. 

For iPhone users: 

1. You need a recent iPhone model and update your phone to iOS 18.1 to get access to call transcription. 
2. After a transcript is generated, you have to navigate to your Notes app to see a summary of the transcript. 
3. You can then share it with another user. 

It’s a lot to ask of your team, and there’s no guarantee that team members will share every call summary with so many steps to follow. Plus, iPhones don’t have automatic call recording, so if your team forgets to record a call, you won’t be able to get the transcript or summary for it. 

For Android users:

1. You need a recent Pixel phone (Pixel 9 or above) and the latest Android OS. 
2. You have to manually activate the Call Notes feature on an active call. 
3. After a call is complete, you have to navigate to the Recents tab in your Phone app to access the summary and share it with your team.

Note: Samsung phones don’t have a similar feature yet. Call Notes is only available on Pixel phones right now. 

Neither option is great for transcribing and summarizing your calls, so you should consider a third-party app that offers these features directly in its platform. 

3. Using your personal phone doesn’t look professional

You can’t differentiate between personal and work-related incoming calls (unless you have every single contact saved). That person you included in a three-way call one time? If they call you in the future, you might pick up and unknowingly respond in a non-professional way. 

It’s also harder to collaborate with your team if you use your cell phone for work. Your team doesn’t have access to any of your calls (like with a shared inbox), which makes it harder to collaborate. 

4. It can get expensive and time-consuming

Depending on your carrier, you might get charged for group calls. The costs can add up fast, and you could end up with an unexpectedly large bill for your mobile device.

Plus, if you’re trying to do larger group calls — such as a voice call with 10-20 participants — it’s time-consuming to add everyone. It’s a clunky experience for everyone on the call and looks unprofessional.

How to do a 3-way call on an Android or iPhone device with the Quo app

You can avoid the limitations and disadvantages of group calling on your Android or iPhone device by using the Quo app instead. 

Here’s how to add someone to a call:

1. Start with a free trial of Quo.
2. Launch the Quo mobile app (or web or desktop app).
3. Initiate a call with one of your contacts.
4. Add another participant by clicking the + button in the top right corner of the active call screen.

5. Select and add the participant to your active call with the first person.

When you’ve finished the conversation, you can press the End call button, and the call will end for all participants.

If you need to remove one caller (instead of ending the call), you can tap the ellipsis (…) next to a participant’s name and select Remove from call.

If you’re using the Quo web app, here’s how to call someone from a computer using WiFi.

4 key reasons businesses use Quo over Android’s or iPhone’s built-in calling features

For all the reasons we mentioned, the group call feature on your Android or iPhone device isn’t the best option for business calls. 

Quo, on the other hand, is built for business use.

1. Keep your personal number private

You can use the Quo app on your mobile phone, so you have the convenience of making calls from your personal phone without giving out your phone number.

Setting up a business phone number in Quo takes only a few minutes, and you can use it to hold group calls with your customers. As a VoIP provider, Quo also replaces desk phones and landlines you might be using for your business. 

With Quo (formerly OpenPhone), you can designate your business hours. You can choose how you want to handle after-hours calls (such as having them go to a backup emergency number or our 24/7 AI agent Sona) and set up auto-replies for SMS text messages you receive outside business hours. That way, you and your team will have better work-life balance since you won’t feel like you have to field calls at all hours. 

2. Generate call summaries and transcripts automatically

Unlike the default iPhone and Android phone apps, Quo offers automatic AI call summaries and transcripts (for Business plan users). You can enable summaries and transcripts by default and view them in your Quo workspace right after your calls end. Team members with access to a shared number can view them in real time; no need to manually share summaries or transcripts.

Another benefit for business owners: sync your call summaries and transcripts with your CRM. Our third-party integrations allow you to share your call and text data with your CRM. Choose from our integrations with HubSpot, Jobber, and Salesforce, or build your own integration with Zapier, Make, or the Quo API. 

3. Create a professional image

Whether you opt for a local or toll-free number with Quo, a business phone number signals to customers that you’re a professional, established business (even if you’re a solopreneur or have a small team). 

An auto-attendant creates an even better experience. Customers can use your phone menu to route themselves to the right person or team (such as “Press 1 for customer service”). This also saves time since you don’t have to transfer calls between people manually. 

4. Collaborate with your team on calls

With shared numbers, your team can talk to multiple incoming callers simultaneously. Quo also has internal threads so your team can quickly collaborate on calls, such as asking for quick context about a customer. You can use mentions (by typing “@” followed by the teammate’s name) so other people on your team receive notifications and can participate in the internal thread.

Custom properties allow your team to add custom details to a contact’s profile. For example, you might add a custom property for the type of customer (such as “Prospect” or “VIP”). With custom properties, your team can quickly identify key information about callers during a voice call. 

If you need to transfer a call from one team member to another (instead of doing a group call), you can do a warm transfer in Quo. That way, your customers don’t have to repeat themselves to your colleagues.

Start conference calls easily with Quo (formerly OpenPhone)

Whether you need to do group calls regularly or occasionally, make it a smooth process for your customers and your team with Quo. Even if you know how to add someone to a call on your iPhone or Android device, choose a provider that offers shared numbers, automatic call recording, call summaries and transcripts, business hours, and other business-friendly options. 

Quo offers seamless group calling, along with a professional appearance and collaboration tools. Your small business team can collaborate in real-time using internal threads and review the calls later with our AI call summaries and transcripts. You can also maintain a clear distinction between your work and personal life with a business phone number and call handling outside business hours.

To give Quo a try, you can sign up for a free seven-day trial.