Microsoft Teams

Can I replace my phone system with Microsoft Teams?

This depends on the requirements for your telephony solution. Microsoft Teams is continuously being developed and new features are released monthly. This also includes enhancements in the area of telephony. Many requirements can already be covered "out of the box" with Microsoft Teams, such as ring groups, IVR with business hours and holiday settings, as well as call forwarding with or without consultation. Please note, however, that Microsoft Teams is primarily a collaboration platform. The focus is on file sharing, chats, meetings, project work, and simultaneous document editing. External telephony is a valuable addition. If you plan to use Microsoft Teams exclusively as a phone system, this is rather not the recommended approach.

What are the basic requirements for using Microsoft Teams?

You need a Microsoft 365 Business license (Basic, Standard, or Premium) or an Office 365 Enterprise license (E1 or E3) with the "Phone Standard" add-on. This add-on is already included in the E5 license.

Can devices be registered to a phone number routed to Microsoft Teams?

It is not possible to register a device to a phone number that is routed from our SBC to Microsoft Teams. However, you can use a separate phone number. In the Microsoft Teams client, you can configure this separate number so that both the client and the device ring simultaneously. Alternatively, Microsoft Teams-certified phones can also be used.

I use DECT or SIP phones. Can I use them with Microsoft Teams?

Currently, only certified SIP phones can be connected directly to Microsoft Teams. The sipcall virtual pbx offers a practical solution here: The SIP-enabled devices are simply registered via a separate phone number to our virtual pbx. For DECT base stations that are not SIP-enabled and are connected via an on-premise phone system, there are two options: Either the on-premise phone system is connected to sipcall via a SIP trunk, or the DECT base stations are replaced with SIP-enabled models.

Can I combine my existing phone system with Microsoft Teams telephony?

Thanks to the sipcall virtual pbx, parallel operation is easily possible. In the sipcall customer portal, you can decide which phone numbers should be used with the sipcall virtual pbx, routed via SIP trunk to your existing phone system, or forwarded to Microsoft Teams via a hosted SBC.

On which sipcall phone numbers can the Microsoft Teams option be ordered?

The Microsoft Teams option can be ordered for all sipcall phone numbers (Swiss and international).

Is there a caller identification or Click-to-Dial function?

Microsoft Teams has not yet implemented these functions. However, it is possible to activate Caller Identification on the sipcall side with free integration into the public Swiss telephone directory. Additionally, for the Click-to-Dial function, you can use the free "Teams Wizard". More information can be found at https://www.lyncwizard.com/products.html.

How is the installation carried out?

First, you need the appropriate Microsoft 365 licenses, a sipcall business subscription, and phone numbers. Then, log in to the customer portal and click on "Products" -> "Microsoft Teams". First, add the displayed domain in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center and enter the TXT verification value into the provided input field. Next, select which phone numbers should be routed to Teams and specify the switchover date and time. After a maximum of one hour, the domain can be verified and completed. Finally, you will receive an installation guide and need to configure Direct Routing from Microsoft Teams to sipcall using various PowerShell commands. Once the switchover is complete, you can start making calls via Microsoft Teams.

IT-savvy users with Microsoft 365 and PowerShell knowledge can set up Direct Routing to sipcall without issues. Alternatively, a sipcall partner with Microsoft expertise can be consulted for assistance.

Is it mandatory to execute the PowerShell commands?

Although some settings can also be configured via the Teams Admin Center, it is currently still necessary to execute the PowerShell commands. There are many tools available online that can assist with PowerShell configuration (e.g., My Teams Lab).

Does sipcall provide support for Microsoft Teams?

sipcall provides support exclusively for the integration of Microsoft Teams.

What is the best way to migrate to Microsoft Teams telephony? Can I conduct a test?

If Microsoft Teams is not yet in use, we recommend starting by setting up Microsoft Teams and using it as a collaboration tool. Once this is running smoothly, we recommend conducting a test phase with new sipcall phone numbers. You can order new numbers and route them to Microsoft Teams. Then, you can forward the existing numbers from your current provider to the sipcall numbers. For outbound calling, you can even display the existing number as the outgoing CLIP. This allows you to make calls via Microsoft Teams without needing to port your numbers. Finally, in the last step, you can port the active phone numbers to sipcall.

What feature extensions are planned for Microsoft Teams?

Information about feature extensions can be found on the Microsoft website.