Conference participants [This information is currently under development] This topic provides you with a preview of what to expect as a conference participant. When you navigate to the join page, Conference Management Service first determines whether the conference ID you supplied refers to a public or private conference. Then it does one of two things:

- If you are trying to join a secure conference, the service identifies and validate you against the conference's list of attendees. If you are not authorized to join the conference, you will receive no further information about the conference.
- If you are trying to join a public conference, the service validates the password (if one was specified by the conference organizer). If a password is required, but is not included in the conference URL, the service will ask for the password. (Normally, you won't see a password challenge, since this is handled automatically.)

After the service resolves the conference URL and authenticates your credentials, the browser displays status information, such as whether you are early or late, how long until the conference starts, or whether the conference is already in session. A vertical frame displays the conference profile, which includes the subject of the conference, the start and end times, the organizer's e-mail address, the resources used, and the agenda. This frame also provides links for you to access and download client applications, such as Internet Explorer and NetMeeting. The rest of the page displays horizontal frames in which each technology provider associated with the conference can provide its own technology specific content.

If you try to join a conference that doesn't start until sometime in the future, a Web page will display the conference profile and the time and date that the conference is scheduled.