Having the right tools for seamless collaboration and communication is crucial for small and medium businesses (SMBs). To meet their ever-evolving needs, Microsoft has announced the availability of Teams Essentials and Teams Phone together, now offered as a convenient and cost-effective promotional bundle.
Teams Essentials is a stand-alone, cloud-based Teams app that provides online meetings, chat, and collaborative file sharing within one application, accessible on desktop and mobile devices. Designed for SMBs without an active Microsoft 365 Business subscription, Teams Essentials offers a comprehensive collaboration platform.
Teams Phone is a cloud-based phone system specifically tailored to complement Teams. By integrating with Microsoft or operator calling plans, users can make or accept calls from within Teams, bridging the gap between landlines, mobile phones, and PSTN. The system also offers private branch exchange (PBX) capabilities and automated call controls, streamlining communication for businesses.
Here are a few notable enhancements to Teams Phone:
- Microsoft 365 Copilot Integration: Coming soon to Teams Phone for customers participating in the Microsoft 365 Copilot Early Access Program, Copilot will enable real-time conversation summaries, key discussion point organization, and action summarization during VoIP and PSTN calls. This will reduce administrative tasks, freeing up valuable time for more critical business endeavors.
- Shared Calling: A new shared calling feature allows administrators to enable groups of users to make and receive PSTN calls using a shared phone number and calling plan.
- Click-to-Call Feature: Soon to be available in public preview, the click-to-call feature allows customers to connect directly with sales and support teams from web pages or apps. Developers can customize and program the widget to connect customers to specific Teams users, call queues, or auto attendants.
To get started with Teams Essentials and Teams Phone, Microsoft is offering a special promotional offer for new customers, which includes both applications with a choice of calling plans. For businesses already using Teams Essentials or Microsoft 365, adding Teams Phone with a choice of calling plans is a simple way to enhance collaboration and communication within the organization.
This offer is now available in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom from July 17, 2023, until January 17, 2024. Embrace the power of enhanced collaboration and communication with Teams Essentials and Teams Phone, propelling your business forward in the modern digital landscape.
