Office of Information Technology encourages OHIO employees to transition to Teams Phone

As part of the Office of Information Technology’s (OIT) ongoing efforts to enhance communication and streamline operations, OIT is accelerating the migration to Teams Phone, a modern and integrated solution designed to transform the way we connect and collaborate.

Several departments at Ohio University have been enjoying the benefits of Teams Phone since 2020. OIT is now rolling out Teams Phone to all single-line phone users at OHIO and invites users to make the switch now. 

Teams Phone is a softphone within the Microsoft Teams application. A softphone allows users to make phone calls over the Internet using a computer or mobile device. Instead of relying on traditional hardware phones, a softphone uses the device's speakers and microphone (or a headset) and leverages the internet to transmit voice data.

What are users saying?

Users have expressed their satisfaction with Teams Phone, highlighting the convenience of answering calls from various devices and the user-friendly nature of the service. Following are a few comments from Teams Phone users.

• “I love how it allows me to answer from my laptop, desktop or phone. I love that the voicemail is (transcribed) so I can read a voicemail while I'm in a meeting or another call and gauge the urgency. I love that I can easily call students and coworkers. It's great!”
• “It is so nice to have my phone through Teams! I love it! So user friendly!”
• “Ease of use, convenient, nearly all-in-one communication tool with chat, meetings, calls, etc. Better than Jabber. Better than the desk phone. Love the nearly all-in-one communication tool.”

Why switch to Teams Phone?

Unified platform: Teams Phone brings together chat, video meetings, and calling functionalities into one unified platform—Microsoft Teams. This integration ensures a seamless and efficient communication experience.

Flexibility and mobility: With Teams Phone, you will have the flexibility to make and receive calls from your laptop, mobile phone, or tablet; from any location; whether you're in the office, working remotely, or on the move. Stay connected wherever your work takes you.

Effortless collaboration: Transitioning from a chat or meeting to a call is as simple as a few clicks. This streamlined process fosters enhanced collaboration, reducing the need to switch between different communication tools.

Feature-rich solutions: Teams Phone offers a range of features, including voicemail, call forwarding, and intelligent call handling. These features are designed to improve your overall communication experience and boost productivity.

How to make the switch: Follow the directions provided on the Softphone: Calls in Microsoft Teams page to submit a service request to be transitioned to Teams Phone. Users will need to provide the following information:

• The statement that you would like to use Calls in Microsoft Teams
• OHIO email address
• OHIO work phone number

Within approximately one week after the service request has been submitted, OIT will transfer users from traditional phone service to Teams Phone and provide users with information on how to get started with the new service and further instructions about turning in their desk phone.

For further assistance, staff can reach out to the OIT support team by submitting a service ticket or sending an email to servicedesk@ohio.edu.

Your feedback matters

Your feedback is valuable, and OIT encourages you to share your thoughts and suggestions as we make this transition. Users who switch to Teams Phone will be contacted about two weeks after their transition to submit feedback from their experience.