Microsoft has announced that it’ll be merging Microsoft 365 Business Voice – a cloud-based phone system for small and medium businesses (SMBs) built for Microsoft Teams – with its Enterprise offerings into a new SKU called Teams Phone with Calling Plan. The new plan aims to simplify the purchase decision process and streamline the delivery of Enterprise-grade capabilities for SMBs.
Describing the product, Microsoft said:
“Teams Phone with Calling Plan is an all-in-one communication solution that helps SMBs reduce costs and simplify operations. It brings together calling, chat, meetings, and collaboration into a single app, enabling users to make phone calls from anywhere, on any device—including computers, smart phones, desk phones, and meeting rooms. It combines essential telephony components: A phone system and domestic calling plan, into a single package.”
Businesses that are interested in the plan will be able to buy it in 33 markets through partners from January 1, 2022. If you want to purchase the plan from Microsoft directly, you will be able to do so from January 3 if your business is in the U.S., UK, or Canada. Businesses in other markets can get the plan through Microsoft later in January.
With the service plan, businesses will be able to make secure, reliable, and rich calls while benefiting from features such as auto-attendants, call queues, consultative transfer, and voicemail transcription. The plan leverages Microsoft’s cloud infrastructure which provides reliable high-quality audio as well as AI-powered capabilities. Businesses that use other Microsoft 365 or Office 365 services will be able to manage this plan through the same admin console.