The COVID-19 pandemic has forever changed the workplace. We have found it necessary to adopt and embrace new technologies enabling us to work remotely whenever needed or desired. Many of us starting using video conferencing programs like Microsoft Teams as a way to replace in-person meetings.

If you have had a chance to use Microsoft Teams you undoubtedly noticed the many features beyond video conferencing, like chat, presence, remote control, file sharing and more. But did you know with additional licensing and setup Teams can replace your existing phone system?

Phone System is Microsoft’s technology for enabling call control and phone system capabilities in the Microsoft 365 cloud with Microsoft Teams.

Calls between users in your organization are handled internally within Phone System, and never go to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)–thereby removing long-distance costs on internal calls.

For making external calls, Phone System provides add-on options for connecting to people outside your organization.

Phone System Features

With Phone System, users can use Teams to place and receive calls, transfer calls, and mute or unmute calls. Phone System users can click a name in their address book, and place Teams calls to that person. To place and receive calls, Phone System users can use their mobile devices, a headset with a laptop or PC, or one of many IP phones that work with Teams.

Phone System administrators can manage calling options and settings from the same console used for messaging, collaboration, and so on.

Connect to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)

For external calling, Phone System can be connected to the PSTN in one of several ways:

• Purchase a Microsoft Calling Plan (domestic or domestic and international). Microsoft Calling Plan is an all-in-the-cloud solution with Microsoft as your PSTN carrier.
• Use your existing telephony infrastructure for on-premises PSTN connectivity.You can connect your on-premises telephony infrastructure to Phone System by using Operator Connect Calling or Direct Routing.

Phone System with Services

Phone System can be used for services and voicemail, such as:

• Auto attendants – Auto attendants can be used to create a menu system for your organization that lets external and internal callers move through the system to locate and place or transfer calls to company users or departments in your organization.
• Call queues – Call queue greetings can be used when someone calls in to a phone number for your organization. These greetings include the ability to automatically put the calls on hold and to search for the next available call agent to handle the call. The people on hold can also listen to music while on hold. You can create single or multiple call queues for your organization.
• Voicemail – Cloud Voicemail is automatically set up and provisioned for all Teams users.

Contact Beringer Today!

If you have questions, would like a demo or are ready to get started give us a call at 856.325.2800. Or fill out our contact form.

Beringer Technology Group, a leading Microsoft Gold Certified Partner specializing in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and CRM for Distribution also provides expert Managed IT Services, Backup and Disaster Recovery, Cloud Based Computing, Email Security Implementation and Training,  Unified Communication Solutions, and Cybersecurity Risk Assessment.