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For over a year, Microsoft Teams has been critical to our collaboration, connection, and communication. In addition to company meetings, virtual interviews, and project-specific channels, we also use Teams as our phone system. The numerous calling features and always-available (when you want to be) nature of Teams phones make it a great alternative to traditional, cumbersome, equipment-heavy landlines.
What is Microsoft Phone System for Teams?
If you’re already using O365 and Teams, you can make internal voice calls within the Teams platform. When you are ready to use Teams for external calls, plans are available to add on to your existing O365 subscription. To ensure optimal functionality, we recommend working with your IT provider to set up your cloud-based phone system.
Benefits of using Teams Calling
There are a wide variety of features included with Microsoft Teams phones. One of the most valuable benefits of the cloud-based system is the flexibility to access calls anywhere there is an internet connection. Regardless of where you are working, whether it’s remotely, while traveling for business, or when you’re waiting at the Secretary of State to renew your license, you can answer a Teams call.
Gone are the days of having to share your personal mobile number to make sure you don’t miss that important call. Calls can be answered or made on a Teams desk phone, from your laptop, or on your mobile phone. Fully-remote or hybrid work schedules can make it challenging to stay in touch with clients and vendors. The always available nature of cloud-based calling eliminates that challenge. Teams calling means business as usual, no matter where you’re physically located.
Video meetings with screen sharing, voice calling, and chat features are fully integrated in Microsoft Teams. You can transfer calls directly to voicemail, park a call while you change from your mobile phone to your laptop, or invite a colleague to join a call that’s in process. Microsoft Teams phones can completely replace your business phone system, cutting costs, and reducing the need to update or replace outdated or broken equipment.
Useful features
1. Auto Attendant: Create a menu system that enables callers to locate departments or individuals in your organization.
2. Consultative Transfer: Chat with a colleague to introduce the caller and verify their availability instead of transferring a call blindly.
3. Call Queues: Configure how call queues are managed – set up greetings, hold music, and determine where calls are directed.
4. Voicemail with Transcription: A voicemail message is delivered to your mailbox as an email with the voice message attached. The transcription of a voicemail message is available in the Teams app.
Whether your organization has decided to work from home indefinitely, you’re back in the office full-time, or you’re working a hybrid schedule – alternating from home to the office throughout the week – staying connected is crucial. Microsoft Teams is an all-in-one app that combines chat, file sharing, video calls and meetings, and cloud-based phone calls into an easy-to-use platform.
The last year has taught us that the ability to collaborate and communicate seamlessly, no matter our locations, is invaluable. Reach out to your IT team to learn how tools, including Microsoft Teams calling can give you the competitive edge you need to stand out in your industry!
