Over 17 million people now use Microsoft Teams Phone, but that's still a small fraction of the 320 million Microsoft Teams users. Many more organizations and users will move to Teams Phone this year. Here are some reasons you should consider moving to Teams Phone in 2024.
What is Microsoft Teams Phone?
Microsoft Teams Phone is part of Microsoft Teams, the cloud-based platform that enables teamwork and communication. Microsoft's E5 suite includes Phone, or you can add it to other licenses like E3 or Microsoft 365 Business suites. A cost-effective Teams Phone add-on license is also available for Frontline Worker (F1 and F3) SKUs.
Microsoft Teams Phone allows you to use your current phone number, or get a new one, to place and accept PSTN phone calls from any place, on any device. You can also check voicemail, call history, contacts, and settings from the same app you use for chat, meetings, and file sharing.
For those who prefer them, there are also specific Teams IP Phones and SIP-based devices for DECT, Paging and Analog devices.
Why Move to Microsoft Teams Phone?
Microsoft Teams Phone offers many benefits for businesses of all sizes and industries. Here are some of the reasons why you should consider switching to Microsoft Teams Phone:
- Save money and simplify management. Microsoft Teams Phone is a cloud service with various cloud PSTN connectivity options. Moving your phone system to the cloud saves money by eliminating the need for hardware, maintenance, support, and administration.
- Communicate better and improve productivity by bringing all your communications into a single client; Chat, Meetings and Calling all in one place. Access new features like recording, transcription, and Copilot for Microsoft 365 bring AI notes and actions to Teams Phone calls.
- Call queues and auto attendants: You can create custom greetings, menus, and routing options for incoming calls and assign agents to handle different calls.
- Call park and retrieve: You can temporarily place a call on hold and retrieve it from another device or by entering a code.
- Transfer, call forward and sim-ring
- Group call pickup: You can set up a group of users who can answer each other's calls when they are busy or not available.
- Shared line appearance: You can assign multiple phone numbers to a single device or user and make or receive calls from any of the numbers.
- Voicemail from the cloud
- A Microsoft-certified ecosystem of solutions to complete your Teams Phone journey. You can meet your organisation's communication requirements from IP Phones to compliance call recording and contact centers.
- Teams Phone supports a number of PSTN connectivity options, including Microsoft Calling Plans, Direct Routing, Operator Connect and Microsoft Teams Phone mobile, giving options for connection wherever in the world you are and whatever your use case.
Four Key Features of Microsoft Teams Phone for 2024
1. Copilot for Microsoft 365
Use Copilot for Microsoft 365 to enhance your Word, Outlook, Excel, and Microsoft Teams with AI capabilities. You can also use Copilot in your Teams chat, meetings and phone calls.
Copilot in Teams Phone can help you with note-taking and reviewing and summarizing notes from previous calls. To use Copilot for Microsoft 365, you need to have all your meeting and calling data accessible to Copilot. This means that Teams Phone is necessary to get the most out of Copilot.
2. Teams Shared Device License for Android Mobile
The Teams Shared Device license is now available for Android users, making it a cost-effective shared device option for frontline and mobile workers.
Share a durable Android phone that has all the main Teams Phone features. A good option instead of DECT solutions, it works with Wi-Fi or cellular data.
3. Shared Calling
Shared Calling is a new option to enable Teams Phone users without needing a DDI and calling plan per user. Instead, you can choose channel and usage-based models. This allows you to activate more users while saving money. Users will be able to make outbound PSTN calls and will present a main number that route back to a receptionist or auto-attendant.
Shared Calling is supported by Microsoft Calling Plans and a select number of Microsoft certified Operator Connect partners, including Pure IP.
4. Go Beyond Noise Reduction With New Voice Isolation
Noise suppression is available in most UC apps, it removes background noises such as the noise in a café or a busy office. Voice isolation is a new Teams feature that learns your voice and can tell it apart from other voices nearby.
Teams will recognize your voice and suppress other voices, ensuring that you are the only one to hear in calls and meetings.
These are just 4 recent new features alongside the many features of Teams Phone and Microsoft Teams.
How Can I Get Started With Microsoft Teams Phone?
Getting started with Microsoft Teams Phone is quick and easy. You can use your existing phone number or get a new one.
It's as simple for typical users as having the right Microsoft license and choosing the right PSTN connectivity option. For most countries, this can be done 100% from the cloud. You may need more support for more complex countries or use cases.
Pure IP has supported organizations deploying Teams Phone globally since day 1 and for OCS, Lync and Skype for Business before that.
We offer services for Microsoft Teams Phone success, including Direct Routing, Operator Connect PSTN connectivity, consulting, and managed solutions. Get in touch to learn how to start or accelerate your Teams Phone journey.