MS Teams Calling for Small Businesses

If your team already lives in Microsoft Teams for chat and meetings, adding proper phone calling to it can mean one less system to manage — rather than running Teams alongside a completely separate phone system. Here's what that actually involves.

What Teams Calling Adds

By default, Microsoft Teams handles internal calls and video meetings, but it doesn't connect to the regular phone network on its own. Adding calling capability means your team can make and receive calls to normal landline and mobile numbers — including keeping your existing business number — directly from within Teams, on a desk phone, the Teams app, or a mobile.

Why Businesses Consider It

• One system instead of two — rather than switching between Teams for chat/meetings and a separate phone system for calls, everything runs through the same app.
• No extra hardware required — existing laptops, the Teams mobile app, or compatible desk phones can all be used to make and take calls.
• Works naturally for remote and hybrid teams — since Teams already works from anywhere, calling capability follows the same pattern.
• Simpler admin — managing users and permissions in one place, rather than across two separate systems.

What to Think About

• Whether your business already uses Teams properly — this makes far more sense for a business already relying on Teams day to day than one just dabbling with it.
• Keeping your existing number — almost always possible, but worth confirming with any provider before switching.
• Cost versus Microsoft's own calling plans — third-party providers connecting to Teams via Direct Routing are often more cost-effective than Microsoft's own calling plans, particularly for UK and international calls.
• Call quality and support — check who you'd actually contact if calls have issues, since this sits slightly differently to a standard phone system.

How Plustel Fits In

Plustel's MS Teams Direct Routing connects your existing Teams setup to the phone network through our own session border controller, working out as a cost-effective alternative to Microsoft's own calling plans while keeping your existing number. As with our other services, we work entirely through accredited partners rather than selling directly.

If you'd like to understand how Direct Routing actually works before speaking to anyone, our MS Teams Direct Routing guide covers it in more depth. Otherwise, get in touch below and we'll connect you with a partner.