Microsoft Teams

Can I replace my phone system with Microsoft Teams?

This depends on the requirements for your telephony solution. Microsoft releases new features live every month, including updates for Microsoft Teams telephony. Many requirements can already be met out of the box with Microsoft Teams, such as ring calls, IVR with business hours and holiday settings, call forwarding with and without consultation, etc.

It is important to note that Microsoft Teams is primarily a collaboration tool designed for file sharing, chats, meetings, project work, simultaneous document editing, and more. External telephony serves as the perfect complement to these features. If you plan to use Microsoft Teams solely as a phone system, this may not be the best 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?

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

I use DECT or SIP phones - can I use them with Microsoft Teams?

Currently, only certified SIP phones can be connected directly to Microsoft. However, the sipcall virtual PBX provides a solution: You can register SIP-enabled devices with our virtual PBX using a separate phone number. For DECT base stations that are not SIP-enabled and are connected via an on-premise phone system, you can either connect the on-premise system to sipcall via a SIP trunk or replace them with SIP-enabled DECT base stations.

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 directed to Microsoft Teams via a hosted SBC.

Which sipcall phone numbers support the Microsoft Teams option?

The Microsoft Teams option can currently be ordered for sipcall phone numbers in Switzerland and Germany.

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 "Options" > "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 made via the Teams Admin Center, it is 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 exclusively provides support 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 first setting up Microsoft Teams as a collaboration tool. Once this is running smoothly, we suggest 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 outgoing calls, 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 enhancements are planned for Microsoft Teams?

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