Updates coming to Teams calling

Over the next three or more months, we expect to see some improvements in how people use Teams calling functionality. Users will be able to have the ability to hand off calls (or transfer) to different Teams devices without any interruption to the call that is in progress. There is no drop in the call or change in quality.

Teams Admins will also see new bandwidth controls to enforce put limits on remote users, according to Microsoft. This should allow Admins to limit the call audio dropouts where the end user’s internet connection is not the best.

Another new feature called Operator Connect is a new service that provides simple access to Teams Direct Routing service providers with the capability of connecting a customer’s Teams environment with the PSTN (circuit-switched) telephone network. This will be in preview later this year with the service expected to open up to other partners in the future.

Customers can save on phone hardware and keep their existing Voice Carriage provider (maybe under contract). Customers then can allocate phone numbers via the Teams Admin portal, according to Microsoft. There are limited partners in the Australian region at the present time.

Microsoft also announced in April, Microsoft Teams Calling Plans will expand to eight new countries, totalling 26 markets, Microsoft said.