Make yourself more mobile...use your desk phone ext in Teams!

A couple of years ago, we upgraded our phone system to take advantage of some new features, one of which allows us to move our desk phone extensions (e.g., 01908 997583 / 87583) to Microsoft Teams.

A Potted History

All our desk phone numbers were originally managed through a system called Cisco Call Manager (CUCM). We also had the capability to have a phone number in Microsoft Teams to make and receive calls from any device with the Teams app installed.

The upgrade enabled us to integrate these two systems, allowing us to transfer existing Cisco Call Manager extension numbers to be managed entirely within the MS Teams Admin Portal.

This integration brought several key benefits:

Dial Internal Extension Numbers within MS Teams: You can now dial internal extensions directly from MS Teams.
Receive Internal Calls: Internal calls made to your extension number can now be received within Teams.
Caller ID: Incoming calls now display the correct caller ID within MS Teams, replacing the generic number that used to appear.
Cost Savings: 💰💰💰Since the system utilises Cisco Call Manager to route calls, there’s no longer a need for additional calling plan licenses in MS Teams.
Call 0845 Numbers: The previous MS Teams calling plans had restrictions on certain numbers, like 0845, to control costs. These restrictions have been lifted.
Work Seamlessly from Anywhere: You can work from home or abroad if you have access to the MS Teams app (mobile, PC, web).

Things to consider

📳Cisco UCCX agents using Finesse to answer call centre calls or supervisors are not able to move their extension into MS Teams at the moment, due to their extensions being utilised for the Call Centers.

📳Remember to put your MS Teams App to quiet mode 🤫 when you go on leave or do not wish to take work calls 🛫. See the linked article for MS Teams App Notifications

📳You MUST dial 9 to get an outside line, just like you would on your desk phone.

If you want in on the action, then request to move your extension here: Extension Number (New / Amend)

Please see linked solution: Overview of Teams Calls