Teams Voice Transition

Microsoft Teams Voice is a modern cloud-based phone system that lets you make and receive calls using your university-issued phone number—all within the Microsoft Teams app.

Instead of relying on a traditional desk phone, you can place and receive calls from:

• Your computer
• Your mobile phone
• An ETS approved* Polycom phone or Teams-certified device purchased by your department

Teams Voice brings your phone system into the same platform you already use for chat, meetings, and collaboration—helping you stay connected, wherever you are.

• To modernize the university’s phone system by transitioning from our Legacy VoIP telephony platform to Microsoft Teams Voice — providing a scalable, flexible, and unified communication platform that meets the evolving needs of our campus community.
• Enhance communication and operational efficiency by simplifying tools and improving accessibility across the university community
• Update and validate the University directory to ensure accurate user-to-number assignments.
• Reduce reliance on legacy hardware while supporting sustainability and lowering our carbon footprint

• ETS will work with departmental coordinators to validate all telephone numbers and telephony requirements for your department.
• Following directory review, coordinators will agree to a migration date for your team. Be sure to read the MSTV Readiness Checklist to prepare for this change
• Migration is seamless! Teams Calling is configured and activated on the backend. Once migrated, end users will notice that incoming calls from external callers will now ring to their MS Teams application.
• In addition to End User Guide and MSTV youtube tutorials, ETS will host scheduled MS Teams voice trainings in fall/winter 2025.
• For support, users are encouraged to contact the ETS helpdesk at HUhelpdesk@howard.edu or https://howarduniv.service-now.com/esc

• Speak with your departmental coordinator to ensure that your team’s directory has been submitted.
• Coordinators can contact the ETS helpdesk, CC jessica.starke@howard.edu to schedule a review of the directory and schedule a date that works for your team.

• Access to the Microsoft Teams application.
• A working computer, tablet, or smartphone with internet access
• A headset with microphone that is compatible with your device (if preferred)
  • Headsets will not be supplied by ETS.
  • Please contact the ETS helpdesk if your department would like to purchase MS Teams desk phones. Approved Polycom devices will remain on the current platform at this time, unless otherwise specified.

While downloading the Teams app to your personal device is not required, it is strongly recommended to ensure that you have the easy access and mobility that makes MS Teams Voice so great!

You can call external domestic calls to the US and Canada. International calling is available upon ETS approval. Please note users needing international call capabilities on your directory or contact the ETS helpdesk to request.