An electronic host device comprising: a memory to store a user profile comprising first identifying information of a first participant in a conference call; a receiver to receive second identifying information of the first participant from a transmitting device associated with the first participant, wherein the first identifying information and the second identifying information form an identifier (50, 50x) for the first participant; an audio encoder to receive an audio signal (60, 60x) from an array of directional microphones arranged in a local conference call location capturing audio from the first participant wherein the array of directional microphones is capable of locating a source of the audio signal (60, 60x); a processor to: authenticate the first participant in the conference call upon matching the first identifying information with the second identifying information; in response to determining which transmitting device is nearest in proximity to the source of the audio signal (60, 60x) relative to other transmitting devices, identify the first participant as a source of the audio signal (60, 60x); and combine the identifier (50, 50x) for the first participant with the audio signal (60, 60x) generated by the first participant; a router to forward the combined identifier (50, 50x) and audio signal (60, 60x) of the first participant to a receiving device of a second participant in the conference call. a memory to store a user profile comprising first identifying information of a first participant in a conference call; a receiver to receive second identifying information of the first participant from a transmitting device associated with the first participant, wherein the first identifying information and the second identifying information form an identifier (50, 50x) for the first participant; an audio encoder to receive an audio signal (60, 60x) from an array of directional microphones arranged in a local conference call location capturing audio from the first participant wherein the array of directional microphones is capable of locating a source of the audio signal (60, 60x); a processor to: authenticate the first participant in the conference call upon matching the first identifying information with the second identifying information; in response to determining which transmitting device is nearest in proximity to the source of the audio signal (60, 60x) relative to other transmitting devices, identify the first participant as a source of the audio signal (60, 60x); and combine the identifier (50, 50x) for the first participant with the audio signal (60, 60x) generated by the first participant; authenticate the first participant in the conference call upon matching the first identifying information with the second identifying information; in response to determining which transmitting device is nearest in proximity to the source of the audio signal (60, 60x) relative to other transmitting devices, identify the first participant as a source of the audio signal (60, 60x); and combine the identifier (50, 50x) for the first participant with the audio signal (60, 60x) generated by the first participant; a router to forward the combined identifier (50, 50x) and audio signal (60, 60x) of the first participant to a receiving device of a second participant in the conference call.