Microsoft Teams Voice… what is it?
By adding phone lines to the Microsoft Teams Phone System, users have access to the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network), with Teams as the cloud-based PBX.
Customers have two options for access to the PSTN: Microsoft Calling Plans or Direct Routing using SIP Trunks. Each are detailed below.
OPTION 1 – MICROSOFT CALLING PLAN
MICROSOFT CALLING PLAN
Domestic Calling Plan: licensed users can call out to numbers located only in the country/region they are designated in Office 365.
Domestic and International Calling Plan: licensed users can call out to numbers located only in the country/region they are designated in Office 365, and to international numbers in 196 countries/regions.
Microsoft Calling Plans require a trunk for each user. Because of this one-to-one ratio, most larger companies, with thousands or even hundreds of users, will find this solution cost-prohibitive.
Because of the one-to-one ratio in Microsoft Calling Plans, most larger companies, with thousands or even hundreds of users, will find their solution cost-prohibitive.
As a result, the direct Microsoft sales team does not proactively offer their Calling Plans, even to their largest Enterprise clients.
OPTION 2 – DIRECT ROUTING (SIP TRUNKS)
DIRECT ROUTING (SIP TRUNKS)
Direct Routing allows you to independently choose your telecom (SIP trunk) provider and enables users to make and receive calls in Teams.
Direct Routing does not use a one-to-one ratio, allowing you to share SIP trunks, rather than the one-line-for-each-user model in the Microsoft Callings Plans. This saves you money because…
…you only pay for what you need.
By working with Telecom Café and our vast portfolio of SIP trunk providers, clients can utilize pooled SIP trunks versus the one-trunk-per-user model at Microsoft.
Pooled and shared SIP trunks are more reliable and cost-effective.
We can help design a program specifically for you, that makes the Microsoft Teams Phone System and third – party SIP trunks a seamless solution.
Microsoft Teams Calling Features
Calling in Teams works with several key Phone System features which include:
- Call initiating (via number and name)
- Call answering with integrated Dial Pad
- Call retrieving
- Call holding
- Simultaneous ringing
- Voicemail
- Call history
- Emergency calling
- Auto attendants
- Call routing
- Call queue
- Call park and retrieve
