---
title: How to use Cisco Conference Phone in Meeting Rooms
description: Effortlessly connect globally with Cisco 8851 conference phones in our meeting rooms, enabling seamless communication in 50+ countries.
url: "https://westquayoffices.com/knowledge-base-article/how-to-use-cisco-conference-phone-in-meeting-rooms/"
updated: "2025-02-03"
category: Meeting Rooms
tags:
  - audio conferencing
  - business communication
  - business meetings
  - cisco
  - Cisco 8851
  - Cisco Conference Phone
  - collaboration tools
  - conference
  - conference call
  - conference phone
  - corporate meetings
  - international calling
  - manual
  - meeting facilities
  - meeting room
  - meeting rooms
  - meeting technology
  - meetings
  - productivity
  - remote meetings
  - team meetings
  - work productivity
---

# How to use Cisco Conference Phone in Meeting Rooms

Our large and small meeting rooms are equipped with Cisco 8851 conference phones. You can do your meetings by calling 50+ countries.

### Cisco Phone Model 8851

- The Wired Control Panel with Dial Pad extends from the base station.
- Full-duplex, two-way wideband acoustic audio
- Supports the addition of wired microphones (2 in large and 1 in small meeting rooms).

Cisco IP Conference Phone 8851 is a full-featured conference station. There are two primary components: the display control unit, which is connected to the sound base. This tutorial will describe in detail what the Display Control Unit contains.

## Basic Features

### The Display Screen

- Displays the Date / Time
- Phone number
- Caller ID
- Line and Call status information

![cisco conference phone 01 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-01-768x472.jpg)

### Soft Keys

The soft keys perform a variety of functions and change depending on the state of the phone.

![cisco conference phone 02 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-02-768x475.jpg)

### Navigation and Select Buttons

Allows you to move within menus and select options.

![cisco conference phone 03 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-03-768x473.jpg)

### Call Button

Use this button to initiate a call, answer an incoming call, resume, or release a call.

![cisco conference phone 04 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-04-768x472.jpg)

### Keypad

Use the keypad buttons to enter phone numbers or select menu items.

![cisco conference phone 05 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-05-768x471.jpg)

### Volume Button

This is a 2-way rocker used to increase or decrease the speaker volume while on a call.  When the phone is idle, this will also change the ringer volume.

![cisco conference phone 06 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-06-768x467.jpg)

### Mute Button

Toggles the Mute feature on and off. When the phone is muted, the LED indicators are solid red. Remember, there is also a mute button on the sound base for your convenience.

![cisco conference phone 07 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-07-768x437.jpg)

### Sound Base

- 3 LED indicators
- 4 built-in Microphones
- Speaker, and
- Mute Button

![cisco conference phone 08 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-08-768x473.jpg)

### Additional Options

In addition, there are optional wired and wireless extension kits that can be added to or used with the conference phone to enhance the room coverage of the conference station.

![Meeting Spaces](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/meeting-spaces.png)

## Answer Calls

### Indicators

When you get a new call, the LED indicators will flash green. In addition, your phone’s display will show caller ID information and the phone will ring.

![cisco conference phone 09 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-09-768x471.jpg)

### Answer Soft Key

To answer a call, press the **Call **button or press the **Answer **softkey.

![cisco conference phone 10 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-10-768x470.jpg)

### Second Call

If a second call comes in while you are already on a connected call, the second caller’s ID information will display. Simply press the **Answer **softkey to connect the second call, and the first call will automatically be placed on hold.

![cisco conference phone 11 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-11-768x471.jpg)

### Multiple Calls

When handling multiple calls, the softkeys across the bottom of your phone’s display affect the selected call only. Notice the top bar now displays a call count and lets you know which call is displayed. To switch between connected calls, use the navigation button to select the call you want to connect to and press the **Resume** softkey.

![cisco conference phone 12 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-12-768x470.jpg)

### End Call

To end a call, press the **End Call** softkey. To end a call on hold, you must resume the call first. If you only have one active call, you can press the **Call **button to end the call.

![cisco conference phone 13 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-13-768x467.jpg)

## Make Calls

### Dialing

Enter the number you wish to dial. If you make a mistake while dialling, use the **backspace softkey**. When you are finished, press the **Call button **or the **Dial softkey**. 

![cisco conference phone 14 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-14-768x468.jpg)

### Multiple Calls

To place a call while another call is active, put the active call on hold and press the **New Call softkey**.

![cisco conference phone 15 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-15-768x471.jpg)

### Outside Calls

To make an outside call, first dial 8, then enter the full local or long-distance number and press the **Dial softkey** or the speakerphone button in the bottom right of the keypad.

### Redial

Use the **Redial softkey** to dial the last number placed from the phone.

![cisco conference phone 16 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-16-768x470.jpg)

### Speed Dials and Placed Calls

For quick access when the phone is idle, press the **DOWN **button for **Speed Dials** and the **UP **button for **Placed Calls**.

![cisco conference phone 17 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-17-768x465.jpg)

## Hold & Mute

### Hold

To put a call on hold, press the **Hold softkey**. The hold icon appears and the LED indicators pulse green.

![cisco conference phone 18 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-18-768x470.jpg)

### Resume

If there is only one call on hold, press the **Resume softkey**. 

![cisco conference phone 19 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-19-768x471.jpg)

### Swap

You can swap between holding and active calls by using the **Swap softkey**. The holding call becomes active, and the active call is placed on hold. 

![cisco conference phone 20 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-20-768x471.jpg)

### Muting

The conference station can be muted in two ways: you can either press the **Mute button** on the Sound Base or on the Display Control Unit. The LED indicators on both pieces will illuminate red when the sound is muted.

## Applications

To change the ringtone or contrast, press the **Applications softkey**.

![cisco conference phone 21 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-21-768x473.jpg)

### Preferences

Use the **Navigation Button** to scroll and select **Preferences**. Note that you will see the currently selected ringtone name.

![cisco conference phone 22 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-22-768x464.jpg)

### Ringtone Selection

Use the **Navigation button** to scroll through the list of ring types, and press the **Play soft key** to hear a sample of the selected ring type. When you find the desired ring type, press the **Set softkey**.

Your selection will be checked. Make sure to press the **Apply soft key** to confirm your selection.

To exit the menu, press **Exit**.

![cisco conference phone 23 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-23-768x476.jpg)

### Contrast Selection

You may want to change the contrast level of the LCD screen. 

To adjust the contrast, press the **Applications **softkey, then scroll and select **Preferences**. Reference the Applications and Preference steps above for more detail and photos. Select **Contrast**.

Press the **Navigation button** up to increase or down to decrease contrast.

Press the **Save softkey** to set the level or **Cancel **to exit.

![cisco conference phone 24 in West Quay Offices](https://cdn.westquayoffices.com/images/cisco-conference-phone-24-768x466.jpg)