In a hybrid and remote world, the work landscape has turned upside down. Companies and organisations are accelerating their journeys to cloud phone systems such as Microsoft Teams Phone.
Yet many organisations still have analogue devices:
Pure IP recognises that analogue devices are a notoriously misunderstood stumbling block.
For one, how does a business or organisation connect them to Microsoft Teams?
According to global providers Pure IP, businesses must understand that partial migration impacts the ROI of Teams Phone and means operational overheads increase — this is if a company insists on running a PBX for only analogue extensions.
Below, Pure IP outlines a number of different scenarios and options.
Telco Analogue Lines or PBX Analogue Ports?
Firstly organisations need to work out if they are using analogue lines or analogue ports. It’s necessary to differentiate between a device or devices running analogue lines that are delivered directly from a telecommunications company (telco) and a private branch exchange (PBX) (or existing analogue gateway) with analogue ports.
Analogue Lines Using a Telco
As long as the telco supports analogue, the line should continue to work. If using handsets drawing power from the analogue line, now is the time to change them, as analogue connectivity is in the process of being switched off now by most telcos.
Analogue Lines Using a PBX
A typical scenario for companies is a central legacy PBX and analogue lines going to it from various worksite areas. For the public branch exchange to be removed or decommissioned, businesses need to stop relying on analogue lines.
In the Event of No Network Cabling
A Wi-Fi (powered wireless IP) or a DECT phone is a suitable replacement if network cabling is absent. Powered wireless IP phones may be a solution which will need local power. Several Teams Phones support Wi-Fi for network connectivity. DECT Phones (Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications) are another wireless option to reach specific locations.
But What if a Business Wants to Keep its Analogue Phone?
Analogue phones need wire connections between them and local devices: such as a gateway with analogue ports or an analogue telephony adapter (ATA). Here we will use an ATAs as an example:
Analogue Telephony Adapters
Connections can be set up in a couple of ways; to a Teams Phone SIP gateway and connected to the operator:
- Connected to Teams Phone SIP Gateway
In this model, estate managers can register the analogue gateway directly to Microsoft Teams SIP (Session Initiation Protocol) gateway. Here are the following requirements with Teams Phone:
- For PSTN connectivity with an analogue phone, managers can use: Calling Plan, Operator Connect or Direct Routing — download further guidance here
- Business owners will need a Shared Device License for each analogue phone
- The analogue phone has a contact identity (for this model)
NB: The SIP Gateway method for the analogue telephony adapter is still in preview, and only certain ATAs are supported (at publishing).
- Connected to the Operator
An alternative for site managers is to connect their ATA or gateway with a SIP trunk or mobile connectivity to provide PSTN.
The advice for Teams Phone with this model is as follows:
- The ATAs are not directly connected to Teams Phone
- Teams Phone users can ring the analogue devices and vice versa
- The phones will not have an identity in Teams: so they will not be searchable by name
- Users have to dial the full number to connect
- No Microsoft Teams license is needed
Further Information
There is, of course, no right or wrong method; it’s all about the estate and business’ bespoke requirements.
However, it is critical that if business owners want to unlock all the ROI by migrating from their PBX and onto Teams Phone, they plan for the kind of service for analogue telephony on the estate.
Site and Comms managers with analogue gateways or with an ATA requiring further information can contact Pure IP to speak to an expert to find out how best they can be supported.
