Microsoft Calling Plans
Microsoft becomes your phone carrier. Simplest to turn on, predictable per-user licensing, and a good fit where Microsoft offers strong coverage and your needs are straightforward.
Microsoft Teams Phone
Microsoft Teams Phone, Deployed the Way That Fits Your Business
Turn Microsoft Teams into a real business phone system — or decide it shouldn't be one. We design, connect, and support Teams Phone, and we tell you honestly when a hosted VoIP or PBX would serve you better.
Teams is excellent when your people already live in Microsoft 365 and want calling, chat, and meetings in one place. But the right deployment depends on your call volume, carrier needs, handsets, and the people answering the phones. We help you pick the model and then own it end to end.
Three ways to connect Teams to the phone network
Teams handles internal calls on its own, but reaching outside phone numbers takes a connection to the public phone network. There are three supported ways to do it, and the right one depends on your geography, carrier preferences, and how much control you want.
Operator Connect
Keep a participating carrier while Microsoft manages the connection inside the Teams admin center. Less setup than Direct Routing, with more carrier choice than Calling Plans.
Direct Routing
Connect your own SIP trunks through a session border controller. The most flexible model for carrier choice, international calling, analog devices, and call-path control.
When Teams Phone is the right fit — and when it isn't
Teams Phone is a strong platform, but it is not automatically the best base for every organization. We will say so when another model fits better — and we are just as happy to build that instead.
When Teams fits well
Your staff already work in Microsoft 365, calling and meetings belong together, and remote or hybrid users want one app on any device.
When hosted VoIP or PBX fits better
Heavy call-center features, deep CRM-driven workflows, paging and overhead systems, or specialized handsets can be cleaner on a dedicated voice platform.
When a hybrid is the answer
Put knowledge workers on Teams and a front desk or contact-center group on the platform built for them — one design, one team supporting both.
Call handling and devices inside Teams
A phone system is only as good as how calls actually move through it. Teams includes the building blocks; we configure them around your real workflows and the devices your people use.
Auto attendants and call queues
Greetings, menus, business-hours and holiday routing, and queues with ring strategies so callers reach the right person instead of voicemail.
Certified desk phones and rooms
Teams-certified handsets, conference phones, and headsets, plus common-area and reception devices, configured and labeled before they ship to you.
E911 and emergency calling
Emergency calling and dynamic location are configured and tested per site so a 911 call reports the correct address and alerts the right people.
Porting, SIP trunking, and ongoing support
Getting onto Teams Phone is a project; staying on it is a relationship. We handle the cutover and remain the team you call afterward.
Porting your numbers in
We move existing main lines, direct dials, and toll-free numbers into Teams on a scheduled cutover designed to avoid surprise downtime.
Pairing Teams with SIP trunking
For Direct Routing we provision and manage the SIP trunks and SBC, giving you carrier flexibility and a clear, controllable call path.
One accountable team
The engineers who design and install your deployment are the ones who answer when something needs attention — no handoff to a queue that has never seen your setup.
Industries served
Phone systems for the teams most affected by call flow.
Keep exploring
Related pages
Checklist
Use this before the assessment call.
- Confirm your Microsoft 365 licensing supports Teams Phone and identify which add-ons you actually need
- Choose the connectivity model: Microsoft Calling Plans, Operator Connect, or Direct Routing
- Port existing numbers and set a cutover date designed to avoid surprise downtime
- Build auto attendants, call queues, and after-hours routing to match how your team works
- Configure and test E911 emergency calling and dynamic location for every site
Free Voice Assessment
Start with a Free Voice Assessment
Share your current phone setup, locations and headcount, and the problem that started the search so we can prepare a practical recommendation.
FAQ
Questions buyers ask before choosing a phone system.
Can Microsoft Teams really replace our business phone system?
Yes, for many organizations. With a PSTN connection added, Teams handles inbound and outbound calls, auto attendants, call queues, voicemail, and desk phones. Whether it should replace your current system depends on your features and call patterns, which we assess before recommending it.
What is the difference between Calling Plans, Operator Connect, and Direct Routing?
They are three ways to connect Teams to the public phone network. Calling Plans make Microsoft your carrier, Operator Connect lets a participating carrier plug in through the admin center, and Direct Routing connects your own SIP trunks through a session border controller for maximum flexibility. We help you choose the one that fits.
Can we keep our existing phone numbers?
In almost all cases, yes. We port your main numbers, direct dials, and toll-free numbers into Teams on a planned cutover. Porting timelines depend on your current carrier, so we confirm the schedule before anything changes.
Do users need desk phones, or is the Teams app enough?
Both work. Many users are happy with the Teams app on a computer and a headset, while reception desks, shared spaces, and people who prefer a handset get Teams-certified desk or conference phones. We mix and match to fit each role.
How does 911 work with Microsoft Teams Phone?
Emergency calling is configured per location, and dynamic location can route a 911 call to the correct address and notify the right people. We set this up and test it as part of every deployment rather than treating it as optional.
Is Teams Phone always cheaper or better than hosted VoIP?
No, and we will tell you when it is not. Teams shines when your team already lives in Microsoft 365, but heavy call-center needs, certain integrations, or specialized hardware can be a better fit on a dedicated hosted VoIP or PBX platform. We recommend the model that fits, then deploy and support it.
Free Voice Assessment
Stop losing calls to bad routing and unclear ownership.
Get a practical recommendation for hosted VoIP, on-site PBX, SIP trunking, handsets, business texting, and cutover planning — built around how your team actually works.