Microsoft Teams Calling Features: Complete VoIP, PSTN, Direct Routing, and Call Recording Guide

What are the Microsoft Teams calling features available and how do they enable modern business communications? Microsoft Office 365 comes with whole host practical applications. Businesses found Microsoft Teams exceptionally useful, not least because it transform how employees make receive calls voice messages. Teams allows users make calls using voice over internet protocol (VoIP) other Teams users. Makes easy hold scheduled or impromptu voice or video calls through Teams with other people your organisation or those sat externally who also using Teams. Two options available allow users make receive calls landlines mobile phones using public switched telephone network (PSTN). Users make calls over PSTN by adding phone system calling plan, provides phone number users, or 'Direct Connect' plan, through which organisation can connect their existing PSTN Microsoft Teams. Once user set up Teams account, they will find Teams supports all basic phone system features might expect. Calls initiated using name or number (through integrated dialling pad) answered, forwarded put on hold. Users able see their call history set voicemail functionality. Teams conduct emergency calling, calling emergency services same way could from mobile or landline. Call recording "record automatically" option, found meetings options page. Can enable single meeting or whole series. Desktop/mobile/web users supported. Facilitates collaboration, remote workers briefings. AMVIA provides Teams calling features setup, VoIP/PSTN configuration, call recording, external collaboration, training, 24/7 support.

Microsoft Teams Calling Features: Overview and Capabilities

Microsoft Office 365 comes with whole host practical applications. Businesses have found Microsoft Teams exceptionally useful, not least because it can transform how employees make and receive calls and voice messages.

This guide explains Microsoft Teams calling features, VoIP capabilities, PSTN integration, Direct Routing, and call recording functionality.

What Are the Microsoft Teams Calling Features Available

VoIP Calling Between Teams Users

Microsoft Teams allows its users make calls using voice over internet protocol (VoIP) other Teams users. Teams makes it easy hold scheduled or impromptu voice or video calls through Teams with other people in your organisation or those sat externally who also using Teams.

VoIP features:

• Internal Teams-to-Teams calls
• Voice calling (audio only)
• Video calling capabilities
• Scheduled meetings
• Ad hoc calling
• External Teams user collaboration

PSTN Integration: Landlines and Mobile Calls

Additionally, two options are available allow users make and receive calls landlines and mobile phones using public switched telephone network (PSTN).

PSTN options:

• Phone System Calling Plan (Microsoft-provided phone number)
• Direct Connect/Direct Routing (connect existing PSTN)

Phone System Calling Plan

Users can make calls over PSTN by adding phone system calling plan, which provides phone number for your users.

Direct Routing Option

Alternatively, 'Direct Connect' plan, through which organisation can connect their existing PSTN Microsoft Teams.

Basic Phone System Features in Microsoft Teams

Standard Call Management

Once user has set up their Teams account, they will find Teams supports all basic phone system features they might expect.

Core features:

• Call initiation (by name or number)
• Integrated dialling pad
• Answer calls
• Call forwarding
• Call hold
• Call history viewing
• Missed call tracking

Voicemail Functionality

Users will able see their call history and set voicemail functionality.

Voicemail capabilities:

• Voicemail setup and configuration
• Message retrieval
• Voicemail transcription
• Message management

Emergency Calling with Microsoft Teams

Emergency Services Integration

Microsoft Teams can also conduct emergency calling, calling emergency services in same way you could from mobile or landline.

Important Emergency Calling Limitation

However, Microsoft does stress that whilst this is possible using Teams, this method may lack geo-location ability that users would have when calling from mobile or landline, and so should not be considered default way make emergency calls.

Key consideration: Emergency calling via Teams should not be primary method for emergency services contact.

How Do I Enable Call Features in Microsoft Teams

Organizational Planning and Configuration

When it comes call features in Teams dial external numbers, decisions will need made at organisational level as best type call plan for your company, including whether you wish direct route existing PSTN. Planning process will likely involve multiple stakeholders and considerations your budget and longer-term plans for moving work remotely onto teams.

Organizational considerations:

• Call plan type selection
• Direct Routing vs calling plan
• Budget allocation
• Long-term remote work strategy
• Stakeholder input

VoIP Calling Configuration

In terms VoIP calls that can made between Teams users, enabling these is relatively straightforward. Person responsible for configuring your phone system and calling plans within Office 365 will able choose which applications are used receive and make calls.

Call Reception Options: Teams vs Skype for Business

Of note is that calls can be received either in Teams or within Skype for Business (if your organisation is still using this application). System cannot be configured allow calls be received in both. Conversely, calls can made either from Skype for Business or Teams.

Important distinction:

• Calls received in Teams OR Skype for Business (not both)
• Calls can be made from either platform
• Configuration is organizational choice

So Don't Worry About Skype Migration

So, don't worry if you still using Skype for Business, because even if you've configured calling for Skype, users will still able choose place call from Teams.

Making Teams Calls from Chat Interface

Simple Call Initiation

Once you have established your Teams channel or channels, users will able make calls simply by searching for person they want call within chat function. As well as starting chat, option start video or audio call will also available.

Call initiation methods:

• Search for contact in chat
• Click to start audio call
• Click to start video call
• One-click calling

Calling Non-Teams Users: External Collaboration

Direct Answer: YES

The simple answer is yes! It is easy use Teams functionality schedule meetings and make voice or video calls with someone who isn't working on Microsoft Teams.

Inviting External Participants

If you want get third party involved in Teams call, whether someone outside your organisation or just someone in different part your organisation who doesn't use Teams, you can. They will need participate in Teams call with you stable internet connection and reasonably up-to-date web browser.

External call requirements:

• Stable internet connection
• Modern web browser
• No Teams installation required
• No organizational credentials

Guest Collaboration Capability

Teams' features allow close collaboration, meaning you can work on documents with external parties by inviting them join your Teams account as guest. In this capacity, they will access your Teams and participate in any calls and projects you are running. Even better, they can collaborate with you in real-time, without risking integrity or security your Teams account.

Guest collaboration features:

• Guest access to Teams
• Document collaboration
• Real-time co-authoring
• Call participation
• Project involvement
• Security isolation

Easy Meeting Setup with Outlook Integration

If you are getting started on Teams, easiest way arrange Teams meeting or call with someone outside your organisation is create new meeting in Outlook and then use Teams meeting switch in calendar.

Outlook integration method:

• Create meeting in Outlook
• Toggle Teams meeting switch
• Automatic Teams setup
• Easy sharing with external participants

Call Recording with Microsoft Teams Calling

Meeting Recording History

There has been meeting recording option available within Microsoft Teams for quite some time. Still, recent update has provided new opportunity record all their meetings automatically.

Automatic Call Recording Feature

Call recording can now be done using "record automatically" option, which can found on meetings options page in main menu and is available desktop and mobile users and those on web client.

Automatic recording access:

• Desktop users
• Mobile users
• Web client users
• Simple toggle option

Recording Configuration Options

User will able turn this option on for single meeting or choose enable it for whole series meetings. Microsoft has provided this as valuable tool for users who sometimes forget hit record button and only realise moment too late.

Recording flexibility:

• Enable per single meeting
• Enable for series meetings
• Auto-start capability
• Eliminates missed recordings

Call Recording Purpose and Benefits

Primary purpose call recording is help collaborate and ensure remote workers or those working non-standard patterns are not left out any critical briefings.

Recording benefits:

• Collaboration facilitation
• Remote worker inclusion
• Flexible scheduling support
• Knowledge preservation
• Training material

Competitive Positioning

Critics have argued that Microsoft was behind curve on adding this option because one main rivals Microsoft Teams, Zoom, has already provided functionality record meetings for some time now automatically. Either way, this valuable facet tool brings Teams in line and is likely help boost productivity for users.

Comprehensive Teams Calling Capabilities Summary

In conclusion, Teams offers impressive range call options, whether VoIP calls between users or through PSTN landline and mobile users.

Teams calling summary:

• VoIP internal calling
• PSTN external calling
• Call recording
• External collaboration
• Emergency calling
• Voicemail
• Call forwarding and hold
• Unified communications

AMVIA's Microsoft Teams Calling Features Services

Teams Calling Features Assessment

AMVIA provides comprehensive Microsoft Teams calling features assessment:

• VoIP requirements analysis
• PSTN integration needs
• Direct Routing evaluation
• Call recording requirements
• External collaboration planning

VoIP and PSTN Configuration

Complete calling features implementation:

• VoIP setup and enablement
• PSTN call plan configuration
• Direct Routing implementation
• Phone system features setup
• Voicemail configuration

Call Recording and Compliance

Call recording setup and management:

• Automatic recording configuration
• Recording policy setup
• Compliance and retention
• Storage management
• Retrieval and sharing

External Collaboration Setup

External calling and guest management:

• Guest access configuration
• External call permissions
• Security and isolation
• Outlook integration
• Meeting setup guidance

24/7 Teams Calling Support

AMVIA delivers 24/7/365 Teams calling features support:

• VoIP troubleshooting
• PSTN call support
• Call recording assistance
• External call management
• Performance optimization

Next Steps: Enabling Teams Calling Features

Start assessing calling needs. What calling types required? VoIP internal, PSTN external, or both? What external collaboration needed?

Next, evaluate call recording. Do you need automatic recording? What compliance and retention requirements? What storage needed?

Then, plan configuration. What call features to enable? What stakeholders involved? What timeline appropriate?

Finally, implement and train. Enable calling features. Test VoIP and PSTN. Configure recording. Train users. Contact AMVIA begin Teams calling implementation.

Need expert help implementing Microsoft Teams calling features for your organization? Contact AMVIA specialists: 0333 733 8050 (direct to experts, no voicemail) or request consultation. We provide comprehensive Microsoft Teams calling features setup, VoIP configuration, PSTN integration, Direct Routing implementation, automatic call recording, external collaboration enablement, user training, 24/7 support. Discover how AMVIA's human-first approach delivers calling features solutions enabling your organization comprehensive communications—voice/video calls, PSTN integration, call recording, external collaboration, voicemail, call management—transforming how teams work together remotely.

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