Patent ID: 7804948

Claim:
A method for initiating a conference call, comprising the steps of: providing a conference call requester with a network access device, said network access device communicating via an instant messaging service, said instant messaging service being adapted to communicate conference call request information with a conference call server; establishing a communications connection from said network access device to the conference call server; presenting said conference call requester with a display showing a plurality of potential targets then being connected to said instant messaging service and participating in a given instant messaging session with the conference call requester and with whom a conference call may be initiated; generating a conference call request responsively to a single request by the conference call requester, said conference call request identifying each of the potential targets for said conference call request; transmitting said conference call request from said network access device to said conference call server; and automatically establishing a conference call connection to said conference call requester, said conference call connection initiated by said conference call server, said conference call connection further being connected to each of the potential targets.