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Calling in Microsoft Teams requires a Phone System license which can be acquired in two ways:
To make and receive PSTN calls, users must also have a Calling Plan:
Direct Routing option is available for organizations that prefer to use their own telephony infrastructure.
For enabling Phone System capabilities in Teams, the following licensing options should be considered:
User Plan | Features Included |
---|---|
Office 365 E5 | Phone System and Audio Conferencing |
Office 365 E3 + Add-on | Phone System with add-on purchase |
Microsoft 365 Business Voice | Phone System for small and medium businesses (up to 300 users) |
A resource account is a special type of Microsoft Teams account that is not assigned to an individual user but is used for things like auto attendants and call queues. Resource accounts need a license when:
License Type | Suitable For | Features and Usage |
---|---|---|
Office 365 E5 | Enterprises | Includes Phone System and Calling Plans |
Office 365 E1/E3 + Phone System Add-on | Enterprises | Add-on purchase for calling features |
Microsoft 365 Business Voice | SMBs (up to 300 users) | Tailored for smaller business needs |
Phone System Virtual User License | Resource Accounts | For auto attendants and call queues with no cost for the license itself |
It is essential to map out the requirements of your organization’s communications infrastructure before purchasing licenses. The correct licensing will depend on the size of the organization, the existing infrastructure, and specific requirements such as the need for domestic or international calls, and whether an organization uses or plans to use direct routing for integration with an existing on-premises telephony solution.
For MS-700 test-takers, familiarity with these licensing details is vital in designing, planning, and maintaining an effective Microsoft Teams environment that capitalizes on the platform’s communication capabilities.
Phone System licenses are an add-on for users to enable Private Branch Exchange (PBX) capabilities in Microsoft Teams, allowing them to make, receive, and transfer calls to and from landlines and mobile phones on the public switched telephone network (PSTN).
Conference Bridge capabilities are included in certain Office 365 licenses and are not assigned per user; instead, they allow users to join a meeting via a phone number.
B) Office 365 E3 or E5
Office 365 E3 or E5 licenses include the capabilities required to host live events in Microsoft Teams.
Calling Plan licenses are required for users who should make outbound calls to the PSTN, but not every user needs a calling plan if they only make calls within the Teams environment or have alternate PSTN connectivity options such as Direct Routing.
D) All of the above
Custom hold music, auto attendants, and call queues are advanced features that require a Phone System license in Teams.
Resource accounts used for auto attendants and call queues require licenses to be fully functional within Microsoft Teams.
B) Audio Conferencing
Audio Conferencing licenses are necessary for dial-in capabilities so participants can join Teams meetings by calling in from a regular phone.
Microsoft 365 Business Voice is an all-in-one telephony solution within Microsoft Teams designed for small and medium-sized businesses, incorporating a Phone System, Calling Plan, and Audio Conferencing.
D) Users who need to make and receive PSTN calls
Only the users who require the ability to make and receive PSTN calls need both a Phone System and a Calling Plan license.
Microsoft Teams Room devices require a specific Teams Rooms license or a combination of other licenses properly configured for the device to operate within the Teams environment.
A) Yes, but a Phone System license is still required.
Direct Routing allows an organization to connect their own phone system to Teams, serving as an alternative to Microsoft’s Calling Plan, but a Phone System license is still necessary for users.
Even with Direct Routing, users still need a Phone System license to access full calling features in Teams. Additional PSTN services may depend on the organization’s needs.
A calling plan in Microsoft Teams provides the ability to make and receive calls to and from the public switched telephone network (PSTN).
The licensing options that include calling plans for Microsoft Teams include Microsoft 365 Business Voice, Microsoft 365 E5, and Phone System add-on licenses.
Microsoft 365 Business Voice includes basic calling features and audio conferencing.
Microsoft 365 E5 includes advanced security and compliance features, as well as calling and Phone System capabilities.
A resource account in Microsoft Teams represents a conference room, equipment, or other shared resource.
To use resource accounts in Microsoft Teams, virtual user licenses are required.
Virtual user licenses in Microsoft Teams provide access to Teams functionality without consuming a full user license.
Yes, virtual user licenses can be assigned to resource accounts in Microsoft Teams.
The Phone System add-on license for Microsoft Teams provides access to Phone System capabilities, such as call routing and forwarding.
You can assign licenses to users in Microsoft Teams through the Microsoft 365 admin center.
You can assign virtual user licenses to resource accounts in Microsoft Teams through the Microsoft Teams admin center.
To determine the appropriate licensing option for your organization’s calling needs, you’ll need to review the specific features included in each option and choose the one that best meets your organization’s needs.
Yes, you can use a calling plan with an on-premises PBX system through direct routing.
The benefits of virtual user licenses in Microsoft Teams include the ability to provide access to Teams functionality without consuming a full user license, as well as the ability to manage resource accounts.
You can manage licenses and resource accounts in Microsoft Teams through the Microsoft Teams admin center and the Microsoft 365 admin center.
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