Microsoft Phone System (Teams / Phone System / PBX replacement)

[mb2k01]

Hi All,

 

Please excuse the slightly vague title!

 

I'm interested to know if anyone here has managed to navigate their way through a successful deployment of Office 365 / Teams with the full Phone System functionality?

I'm very interested in exploring the concept of utilising 365 this way, and it might be a perfect way of not having to do a direct replacement for some legacy PBX systems on some primary sites, but all the information I've been able to find out there appears to be sales related or general overview stuff (or even out of date and referring to Skype for Business rather than teams!)

 

If anyone has got a fully working set up where incoming and external calls can be made via teams and/or the 365 infrastructure, and are willing to share how they got there (what licensing / subscriptions are needed, any integration or 3rd parties required?) that would be great!

[mb2k01]

Does no one use it? (I like the idea of being a trailblazer, but have to admit I was hoping someone else had gone through the pain / had a nice set of handy hints!)

[localzuk]

Seems like a super expensive way of doing things, as you have to pay per user. Well, unless you have like 2 users or something.

 

For a single user, it works out at a minimum of £84.60 pa plus calls (£109.20 pa for a call package).

[FishCustard]

I imagine it's aimed at SMEs who don't need/can't afford a traditional PBX.

[mb2k01]

Seems like a super expensive way of doing things, as you have to pay per user. Well, unless you have like 2 users or something.

 

For a single user, it works out at a minimum of £84.60 pa plus calls (£109.20 pa for a call package).

 

Wow, that is a lot more than I'd envisioned!

 

The scenario I'm thinking of is for Trust central staff rather than deployment in schools (although it it was affordable and reliable then it might have been a consideration), as they would potentially be split between two different offices and also occasionally on school sites. My thinking was that their comms could/would essentially follow them around. However, if that price point doesn't come down it might not be something that moves forward!

[FishCustard]

If you do deploy it, let us know how it goes - likewise I have a cunning plan for it if it's viable.

[localzuk]

Wow, that is a lot more than I'd envisioned!

The scenario I'm thinking of is for Trust central staff rather than deployment in schools (although it it was affordable and reliable then it might have been a consideration), as they would potentially be split between two different offices and also occasionally on school sites. My thinking was that their comms could/would essentially follow them around. However, if that price point doesn't come down it might not be something that moves forward!

Pricing seems to be £6pm per user if you don't go for the Office 365 A5 package, which is £7.05pm per user for schools. Plus the calls. So, you'd basically be paying the equivalent of the price of half line rental per person, minimum.