Using Teams Telephony - FAQs

What is ‘Unified Communications’?

As the term suggests it is the ability to use several methods or tools to enable collaboration with others, including:

• Chat (aka Instant Messaging)

• Meetings (aka Conference calls) – video or voice only, telephone callers may also join.

• Telephony – the traditional phone call, direct contact with an external telephone caller

• Chat – text only, direct to one or more internal or external collaborators, who are using Teams.

• Meetings – from the chat a meeting can be started by clicking on a chat participant’s icon; a meeting link can be sent out on the fly to online and telephone dial in participants.

• The meeting can be audio only or audio and video.

What does Teams without a telephone number look like and allow me to do?

This is the standard set up for all UoE staff.

• Able to communicate with other Teams users by setting up a Teams-to-Teams call.

• Enter the name of the person you wish to call in the field ‘Type a name’.

• Participants can be internal or external contacts, but must have MS Teams

• The call can be audio only or audio and video.

I have just been assigned a telephone number but cannot see it in my Teams app.

Have you signed out of Teams and back in a again?

Click on the words “University of Essex” at the top right of the app then select “Sign out”

…… on the next screen

Click on Sign out again

…… on the next screen

Select your account to sign in again

Select the Calls icon in the left side of the Teams app

You should now see the dial pad

What does Teams with a telephone number look like and allow me to do?

In addition to the standard UoE set up, this licenced feature adds a telephone dial pad and access to make and receive telephone calls.

Microsoft call this licensed feature “Teams Voice”.

Teams users with a telephone number:

• Can call, and be called by, a standard telephone number (landline or mobile phone) directly.

• Enter the full STD code e.g. 01206 123456 in the field ‘Type a name or number’

• There is no need to prefix the external number with a 9

Can I still use Teams to meet people who don’t have Teams?

When setting up meeting using Outlook and/or Teams, make sure all participants receive the Teams meeting ID and passcode information, including the Dial in by phone information.

[N.B. Redacted here for demonstration purposes]

• An external participant can be invited to join a meeting using a phone number published in the meeting invite.

How do I receive a telephone call if I do not have a telephone number assigned to me?

The switchboard operators are using Teams to handle all calls to the UoE main number 3333.

Most (if not all) Department Admin teams will have at least one person taking telephone calls using Teams telephony.

An external call received by a member of staff that has a MS Teams Telephony licence (e.g switchboard), can be transferred to a member of staff that does not have a MS Teams Telephony licence.

• A call can be transferred to any telephone user, Teams user without telephony or a meeting dial in number.

How do I make a telephone call if I do not have a telephone number assigned to me?

Any Teams user who has a MS Teams Telephony licence - including switchboard operators - will be able to set up a call and then transfer it to the person requesting the call.

How do I transfer a call to a non Teams Telephony user

During the call

select Transfer

Follow the prompts

Enter the name of the person to transfer the call to