August 1st 2025
CAN YOU MAKE & RECIEVE LANDLINE CALLS WITH MICROSOFT TEAMS?
With the right functionality, you can replace your landline with Microsoft Teams. To enable external calls, you’ll need a Microsoft 365 Business plan with a Microsoft Teams Phone add-on.
Otherwise known as a VoIP based phone system, Teams Phone is an excellent add-on for Microsoft users looking to integrate their business communications all in one place. In this blog, you’ll learn more about Teams Phone and how to enable calls with Operator Connect.
What Is Microsoft Teams Phone?
Teams Phone is an add-on license for Microsoft Teams that enables users to make, receive and transfer external calls to and from landlines and mobile devices.
By default, Teams only allows calls to and from other users within the Teams platform. With Teams Phone, you can centralise all calling, whether on mobile or desktop, helping you shift from chat to phone call with ease.
As a VoIP phone system, you can make all internal calls without leaving the cloud, so you don’t incur any additional costs. To set up external calls on Teams Phone, you must either work with an approved operator partner or have a Microsoft Teams Calling Plan.
Is Microsoft Teams included in your license? Find out if you’re making the most out of your Microsoft 365 plan in our blog.
What Does Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams Do?
Operator Connect allows Team Phone users to make and receive external calls. Run by Microsoft, this programme is available to approved operator partners, such as Gamma, our exclusive technology partner.
Everything about Operator Connect is seamless. It’s easy to set up, manage users and port numbers from your existing supplier, so business operations aren’t interrupted during the migration process.
Operator Connect comes with powerful calling features to enhance communication and collaboration:
- Cloud auto-attendant
- Cloud call queues
- Video calls
- Voicemail
- Call park and retrieve
- Call forwarding
- Call transfer
- Hold music
The Benefits of Operator Connect
With Operator Connect, you benefit from Microsoft Teams’ full potential. Here’s what's in store:
- Ease of deployment - If you already have Microsoft Teams, you can set up in minutes, port old numbers and add new ones for uninterrupted business operations.
- Easy to manage - In the Teams Admin Centre, you can manage and assign telephone numbers and add new (and remove) users on demand. You can also access advanced reporting features to track performance.
- Seamless communications - Operator Connect for Teams unifies your calling, instant messaging and meetings in one app so teams can communicate and collaborate with ease.
- Cost-effective solution - As a cloud-based platform, there are minimal costs involved in new hardware or ongoing maintenance. Should you require technical help, we provide industry-leading SLAs to ensure you’re always supported.
- Increased flexibility - Operator Connect is set up within Teams, so your employees can make and receive calls directly from the mobile or desktop app. Your team can now stay connected in the office, at home or on the go.
- Secure - Feel confident knowing that sensitive information will remain safe with robust security features integrated in Microsoft Teams.
Interested in Microsoft Teams Phone?
As a trusted Microsoft Solutions Partner, we'll also transition your company to the latest connectivity solutions using Microsoft Teams. If you’d like to set up Operator Connect or learn more about Teams, speak to our team, and we’ll be in touch.