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PSTN stands for Public Switched Telephone Network. Sometimes it is referred to as Plain Old Telephone Service or POTS. It is the good old circuit-switched telephones that used to exist in the last century. PSTN used to be dependent on the network of underground copper wires that used to be hardwired between home to businesses and to the switching centers to connect phone calls.
The PSTN used to carry users’ voice calls from his telephone to the recipient phone using wired and switched networks. Connecting a voice call between dialer and recipient was rereferred to as circuit completion. A call was routed through a host of switches located locally, nationally, and internationally using the circuit switching method to connect with the recipient.
According to a study conducted by the National Interest Organization, about 90% of US households had a working landline (PSTN) phone back in 2004. Today, the number has reduced to 40%. Now, more and more people depend on cell phones. Despite reduced PSTN calls, some people still use or rely on PSTN calls to connect with people and businesses. By enabling Microsoft Teams PSTN calling, you expand your reach to even those still using PSTN phone numbers.
Organizations using Office 365 and Teams are already using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)calls using a device of their choice that has Microsoft Teams app in it. However, the VoIP call is like an intercom. It connects voice calls within the organization and not to the PSTN. Yet, many businesses use PBX hardware for connecting to the PSTN numbers.
The inbuilt telephony capabilities in Office 365 provide a cloud-based PBX system. Microsoft Teams thus nullified the requirement of PBX hardware and bridged the gap between VoIP calls and PSTN by offering subscription services in the cloud. Now you can use Microsoft Teams exactly like a desk phone and call from anywhere using your device having Microsoft Teams installed in it as long as you have internet connectivity.
Depending on your requirements, you can choose the Microsoft Teams PSTN calling plan. You can opt for domestic as well as international calls offering standard telephone features like call answering, call forwarding, dial pad, call holding, call retrieving, simultaneous ringing, call history, and SOS calls.
Employees are already calling each other through Microsoft Teams without the need for a phone number. However, with Microsoft Teams PSTN Calling, employees can make calls from anywhere and wherever using their work number.
Two options empower employees to make, receive, and transfer calls- to and from the landlines and mobile devices on the PSTN. To leverage call functionalities in Microsoft Teams, you need to have a phone number and PSTN Connectivity. Go for Microsoft Calling Plans to convert Microsoft teams into a business phone system.
Microsoft Calling Plans: A Microsoft calling plan is an ad-on telephone service. Combining it with the phone systems makes it a voice solution for your business. The Microsoft Calling Plans are available as a per-user license and offer a significant way of making and receiving calls, including primary phone numbers, minute bundles, and PSTN connectivity. You can opt for domestic or international calling plans as per your country and requirements.
Microsoft Calling plans to convert your Teams platform into a hosted PBX system are different from direct routing, where you need a third-party carrier. All the calling plans are available via Office 365 and are currently available in selected (14) countries.
You can get Microsoft Teams Telephony as an add-on feature under any Microsoft Office 365 plan. The steps and costs involved to enable PSTN calling in Microsoft Teams depend on the type of Microsoft 365 license you have or plan to purchase.
Here is how you can enable PSTN calling in Microsoft Teams,
NOTE: Microsoft 365 licenses do not apply to meeting attendees but applicable to meeting organizers.
If you find this complicated and tricky, better seek help from a reputed Microsoft Teams Consulting service provider like EPC Group.
Microsoft Teams was primarily considered to be a communication and collaboration tool. However, Microsoft has converted Teams into a business phone system by adding voice and PBX capabilities. Now, users can make and receive inbound and outbound phone calls apart from meetings, conferencing, chatting, and more.
Here are some advantages of using Microsoft Teams PSTN Calling,
EPC Group is a Microsoft Gold Certified partner. It offers Microsoft Teams consulting and training services since its inception. Microsoft Teams has replaced Skype for Business, and EPC Group has helped global organizations migrate from Skype for Business or Lync Server to MS Teams.
With its certified Microsoft Teams experts, EPC Group helps businesses in a broad range of technologies, including PSTN Calling, required to maximize the value of your MS Teams deployment.
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