A system and method for establishing a conference call in an Internet Protocol (IP) telecommunications network between a conference owner and a plurality of other conference participants. The IP network includes a conference server and at least one Call State Control Function (CSCF). The CSCF includes a Presence and Instant Messaging (PIM) server that notifies the conference server when participants are present and available. A first user is registered with the conference server as the conference owner, and the owner identifies the conference participants and provides criteria for initiating the conference. The conference server identifies each participant's serving CSCF, and sends a request to A each CSCF to notify the conference server when served participants are present and available. When the predefined number of participants are present and available, the conference server initiates the conference call.