Microsoft Teams Calling is the new way to VoIP

Published on: 24/11/2021 | Updated on: December 22, 2023

Included in Microsoft 365 and the ubiquitously used Office 365 suite, Microsoft Teams has been a mainstay for many firms offering internal communications without telephone numbers. With Teams Calling and a telephone system based in the cloud, Microsoft has enabled business users to make and receive dedicated Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) calls from their office, home, or mobile, and from landlines and smartphones using their enterprise phone number.

What is Microsoft Teams Calling?

Dubbed Microsoft Teams Calling, this innovative option empowers users to both receive and make VoIP calls. Teams is historically seen as internal communication and messaging solution, however, Microsoft has now created a method of converting the platform, so it can serve as a business phone system too.

With Private Branch Exchange (PBX) and cutting-edge VoIP capabilities added to Microsoft Teams, users now can initiate or receive incoming and outgoing calls while combining other options like meetings, document sharing and chats, for a more holistic communication solution. Teams Calling doesn’t have a steep learning curve, making it incredibly accessible for all business users and can be accessed in different ways to suit individual user preferences.

How has Microsoft Teams Calling changed the VoIP landscape?

Teams Calling has made VoIP part of a collaborative experience for users. Instead of siloed calling activity, it has allowed customers to receive and place calls on the same platform where they host video meetings and chats.

It has also promoted greater federation between firms, enabling workforces to connect securely by communicating via VoIP or video calls, chats, and screen shares. From flexible working requests to mobile and home working initiatives, the need for dependable agile calling solutions has never been more important. While past VoIP services earned a reputation for unreliability and poor quality, Teams Calling has refuted this image with a contemporary call option that companies can count on.

With VoIP calling assimilated into a single platform where staff is already carrying out their roles, workflow improves. Employees are no longer called away from their stations to take or make calls and can monitor the rest of their duties while communicating. They also have access to current data and can share it with contacts they are VoIP calling with, initiate meetings, or launch chats. This creates a far more proactive and productive landscape for VoIP communications than was previously available for enterprises.

What are the benefits of Teams Calling for a business?

In recent months many firms have found that Microsoft Teams Calling has been an invaluable solution. It is particularly suited to companies that work flexibly, have staff operating remotely or for businesses that are run strictly from home. Team Calling was designed to be user-friendly, minimizing any need for extensive training and saving established firms time and money, allowing start-ups to launch quicker with reliable communications.

The benefits of being able to conduct calls using a single company number whether the staff is at home, on the move or in the office can’t be underestimated. It allows firms to always offer a professional image to the clients and customers they interact with, reassuring them, regardless of the staff member’s location.

Businesses operating solely from home will find adding voice capabilities to Teams gives them an efficient way to both simplify and unify their company communications. Utilizing a single system for all communications on one device is more convenient and helps fledgling firms work in a streamlined way, ideal for smaller teams just starting. Rather than running numerous systems, installing one workspace solution for all communications can save new businesses time, money, and maintenance and offers a smoother user experience that is easier to manage.

Furthermore, calling in Teams provides home and mobile businesses with all the features and tools they would expect to have access to with a conventional business phone system. For example, Teams Calling users to enjoy options like call forwarding, call transfers, holding, queues, simultaneous ringing, caller ID, emergency calls, call history, call recording and dedicated voicemail service.

 

How can a business get Teams Calling?

To make and place phone calls via Teams, companies must get a phone number and dedicated phone system license, as well as PSTN connectivity. A phone number and Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) connection can be purchased by selecting a Microsoft Calling Plan or through direct routing.

In terms of equipment, companies must also have a device capable of running the Microsoft Teams app. They will also need either a one-piece headset or set of speakers and a microphone to use voice calling and for video calls, a webcam is required. Finally, enterprises will also need dependable business broadband. Choosing a bonded broadband solution with leased lines can ensure companies have a strong connection that is never slowed by sharing bandwidth with other businesses. For the highest call quality experiences, these options are well worth considering.