Typically, the Microsoft Teams app comes with support for VoIP connectivity, letting you have one on one calls, hold conferences, and share your desktop screen via the internet. Team members and external users can’t dial in on a PSTN number, limiting your reach.
- Participants need an internet connection to join the call
- VoIP communication could suffer from poor quality
- Users might need to install a dedicated app on their smartphones
That’s why Microsoft Teams also supports public-switched telephone networks (PSTN), which is essentially the global telephony environment used for traditional calls. Depending on your Microsoft Teams license, you might be able to access PSTN audio conferencing with dial-in numbers.
The PSTN feature supports both tolled and toll-free options, making it immensely popular.
If you’re interested in knowing more, head to Tom Arbuthnot’s excellent blog on this subject.
Microsoft Teams has several calling plans for PSTN users – you could opt for a domestic or a domestic + international version with the requisite add-ons.
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Typically, most users who choose PSTN dial-in come from outside your organisation. They might be unfamiliar with the Teams interface, not have the app installed, or work from a time zone where desktop access isn’t possible. In these scenarios, PSTN is extremely useful, as it lets users join a meeting just like they would call from a traditional desk phone.
Consider this scenario:
