Abstract: A software suite for enabling and managing a conference hosted on a network for communication has, a client application serving as a user interface for configuring a conference and for receiving notification thereof, a parent application including a server component for managing conference settings and for serving notifications and alerts related to a scheduled conference, and a conference bridging application for physically bridging incoming communications into an active conference in session. In a preferred embodiment the software suite controls both telephony apparatus and data-network apparatus including a Groupware system to enable seamless conferencing using more than one type of communications device and more than one type of synchronous media.