Glossary
What does “Dial-in” mean?
A phone number and code that let someone join a video meeting by calling from a telephone, with audio only.
What it means
A phone number and code that let someone join a video meeting by calling from a telephone, with audio only. It helps people with poor internet or no computer join.
An example
A board member travelling by train calls the dial-in number, enters the meeting ID and joins the audio; others see them listed by phone number.
Not to be confused with: Call-me or dial-out
With dial-in, you call the meeting; with dial-out or “call me”, the meeting calls your phone.
Where you will see it
In meeting invitations, video apps’ audio settings, and board and council meetings with members who join by phone — often with a list of local numbers for each country.
Questions
Can people who dial in see the screen?
No — dial-in is audio only; share materials in advance for them.
Is dial-in free?
It depends on the app and plan; some numbers are toll-free, others charge the caller the usual phone rate.
How do people who dial in mute themselves?
Most apps use a keypad code, often *6, to mute and unmute; the host can also mute them. The codes differ between apps, so include them in the invitation.
Other meeting words
Try Meetful
Meetings that take their own notes
Free video meetings in the browser: every line of the transcript under the name of who said it, and the summary and action items when you hang up. Nothing to install — guests just open the link.