Microsoft Teams Phone: Calling Setup and Basics

This article explains how to use Microsoft Teams Phone to make and receive phone calls using your Ithaca College work phone number. It covers calling features, equipment needs, voicemail, privacy considerations, and common configuration options.

Audience

Ithaca College faculty and staff who are making and receiving phone calls using Microsoft Teams Phone.

Platform

Microsoft Teams on desktop computers, laptops, tablets, smart phones, and supported web browsers.

Table of Contents

Instructions

What Is Teams Phone

Teams Phone is a phone feature within Microsoft Teams

  • It allows you to make and receive audio calls using your Ithaca College work phone number
  • Calls can be made to internal and external phone numbers
  • Teams Phone replaces a physical desk phone and is not tied to a specific office location

Make and Receiving Calls

  1. Open Microsoft Teams
  2. Click Calls
  3. Use the dial pad to enter a phone number or select a contact
  4. Click Call
  5. Answer incoming calls directly in Teams on your active device

Available call features include:

  • Hold
  • Mute
  • Transfer
  • Speed dial

Use the Dial Pad During an Active Call

  1. During an active call, click the Dial Pad icon in the call controls
  2. Press digits on the on-screen keypad to navigate automated menus or enter conference codes

Phone Numbers  and Caller ID

  • If you already have an Ithaca College phone number that is ported to Teams, the number remains the same
  • If you do not have an Ithaca College phone number, a new number can be assigned upon request
  • Assigned numbers appear in the Calls tab under the dial pad
  • Outbound calls display your Ithaca College phone number in caller ID

Use Teams Phone on Your Devices

Calls ring on the device where you are signed in to Microsoft Teams.

Supported devices include:

  • Desktop computers
  • Laptops
  • Tablets
  • Smart phones

Most calling features also work through a supported web browser.

Equipment Requirements

  • A device that can run Microsoft Teams
  • Cameras are not required for telephone calls
  • For improved audio quality and privacy
    • Use earbuds or a headset to keep conversations private
    • Bluetooth and wired headsets are supported
    • Headsets also help reduce background noise

Calls With People Outside Ithaca College

  • External callers can dial your 10-digit Ithaca College phone number as usual
  • Callers do not need to use Teams
  • Calls ring in Teams instead of on a physical desk phone

Use Teams Phone on a Personal Mobile Device

  • You can receive calls to your Ithaca College phone number through the Teams mobile app
  • Your personal cell phone number is not visible to callers
  • Outbound calls display your Ithaca College phone number in caller ID
  • This applies to both college-owned and personal devices

Prevent Calls After Hours or During Focus Time

  • Set your presence status to Do Not Disturb to send calls directly to voice mail
  • Configure Quiet Days or Quiet Hours on your mobile device to silence calls and notifications outside working hours

Call Queues for Department Numbers

  • Call queues allow multiple users to answer calls for a shared department phone number
  • Calls are routed to available members using methods such as round-robin or simultaneous ringing
  • Submit a service request to have call queues configured

Set Teams as the Default Dialing App

Windows

  1. Search for Settings from the task bar
  2. Click Apps
  3. Click Default Apps
  4. In Set a default for a file type or link type, search for TEL
  5. Select Microsoft Teams
  6. Click Set Default
  7. Close the Settings window

macOS

  1. Open FaceTime
  2. From the menu bar, click FaceTime > Settings
  3. Click the General tab
  4. Next to Default for calls, choose Microsoft Teams
  5. Close the Settings window

Voicemail Access

  • Voicemail messages are delivered by email with:
    • An attached audio file
    • A speech-to-text transcription
  • Voicemail messages are also available in Teams in both audio and text formats

Additional Resources

Teams Phone Support Request
Submit an Ithaca College IT service request for assistance with Microsoft Teams Phone troubleshooting or configuration. Use this option to get help from Ithaca College support staff if you experience issues with calling, voicemail, device setup, or other Teams Phone features.

Microsoft Support Resource Links
First things to know about calls in Microsoft Teams

Getting started with Microsoft teams phone

Getting started with teams phone (videos)

Microsoft Teams adoption guides

Microsoft Teams adoption help (video)

Microsoft Teams Phone overview

Microsoft Teams Phone Help Desk Guide

Microsoft Teams Phone FAQs

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