Microsoft Teams is the ultimate collaboration tool for small to medium-sized businesses. It provides a way for team members across the globe to connect all in one place. One way that Microsoft Teams users can connect is by using the audio-conferencing feature. This feature assigns the user with a phone number that can then be used to join a meeting or to host an audio-only meeting. It's most beneficial to use this feature when:

● There's a limited internet connection
● It's an audio-only meeting
● Dialling in provides better phone quality
● Users who are joining are using a hands-free device
● The user does not have access to their computer

The Audio-Conferencing feature for Microsoft Teams is available in over 95+ countries across the globe. Click here to view the updated excel spreadsheet and see which countries have this feature available. Any users who are currently using Office E5, the audio-conferencing feature, is already a part of that package. If any users have Office E3 or Office E1, audio conferencing is available as an add-on for $5.10 CDN/month. It's important to note that any calls made to other Microsoft Teams members are free. If the user wants to call numbers that are not within the business, they should sign up for a calling plan. Click Here to learn more about the different calling plans available.

Once the add-on has been added to your Microsoft Teams license, a number will be assigned to the user. This number can start hosting audio-only meetings with up to 250 registrants. Both the employees and external numbers can dial into the conference, but the external numbers will be placed into a virtual lobby. Once the admin is ready, they can go ahead and allow these participants to enter the meeting. This makes the meeting more secure and ensures that the admin is ready for the meeting.

As a current customer of Skype for Business, Microsoft is inviting you to make the switch to Microsoft Teams. The upgrading phase might take some time, but Microsoft is here to help and provide the right level of support and guidance every step of the way. There is never a one-size-fits-all-solution so Microsoft has created two pathways that customers can take. Continue reading to learn more about both pathways and which one would be better for your company.



Upgrade Basic: Is designed for smaller organizations that use Skype for Business for the IM (instant messaging) only or IM + basic meeting functionality. A company who requires a simple deployment can expect a timeframe of 30-45 days for the process to be completed. Microsoft has provided 10 steps for a successful upgrade of moving the entire organization from Skype for Business to Teams.

Step One: Notify your Key Stakeholders
Step Two: Prepare your organization for Teams
Step Three: Know your Skype for Business Users
Step Four: Notify your users that they’ll be upgrading from Skype for Business to Teams
Step Five: Activate the user upgrade notification
Step Six: Remind your users that they’ll be upgrading from Skype for Business to Teams
Step Seven: Upgrade users to Teams
Step Eight: Monitor Teams usage against your baseline
Step Nine: Measure user satisfaction
Step Ten: Maximize your ROI with Teams

Click Here for more information
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/MicrosoftTeams/upgrade-basic

Upgrade Pro: Is designed for larger corporations that require a more complex deployment such as with hybrid or voice. This route is divided into three different phases and will require a longer duration to complete the upgrade process. It allows the company to run Microsoft Teams alongside Skype for Business until Microsoft Teams is ready for the business. In order to ensure this is successful, Microsoft will also provide resources to prepare both technical and everyday users.

Click Here for more information
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/MicrosoftTeams/upgrade-pro

Pre-Upgrade: The Pre-Upgrade phase will prepare your company for Microsoft Teams. This phase will introduce Teams into your organizations' workflow by using Skype for Business and Microsoft Teams together. Allowing employees to begin learning how to use the Teams application. Employees will have a lot of time to test out Teams at their own pace and slowly start to migrate all their activities, contacts, and calendars. You’ll get to experience the value of Microsoft Teams and help your corporation speed up the process of Teams becoming ready for your company. Read the pre-upgrade checklist below to see if your organization is ready for the upgrade phrase:

Days 1-7: Create your upgrade plan to help ensure your organization is set-up for long term success
Days 8-15: Evaluate your organization’s readiness for Teams
Days 16-60: Run a pilot to confirm that your organization is read and inform your optimal journey to Teams
Day 60 until upgrade: Deploy Teams in coexistence with Skype for Business

Learn more about Microsoft Teams by downloading our whitepaper Microsoft Teams Cheat Sheet: Meet the Hub for Teamwork in Office 365. This whitepaper contains all the benefits of Teams and why you should make the switch. Find out why Microsoft has made Teams the primary focus for its intelligent communication platform.

The reign of Skype for Business is coming to an end as Microsoft turns its focus on its newest vision for future intelligent communication, Microsoft Teams.

Microsoft had made Skype into a very successful communication platform since its purchase back in 2011. The application was characterized as the most reliable and easy to use communication platform and was very successful in both the business and consumer markets.
Skype for Business is going to be replaced by Microsoft Teams as its primary communication hub in the Office 365 suite. Microsoft Teams offers plenty of features that will allow businesses to communicate with one another easily and efficiently. Microsoft is going to grow this platform into something even bigger than Skype for Business.

With the Skype-to-Teams customer experience journey, you can see that by the end of 2018 Teams will offer the same features as Skype for Business. Corporations can begin the transition from Skype for Business over to Microsoft Teams, by using both platforms together. Microsoft recommends for firms to use Skype for Business and Microsoft Teams side-by-side until your company can solely rely on Teams.

Current and Updated Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams Capabilities Roadmap https://aka.ms/skype2teamsroadmap

Learn more about Microsoft Teams by downloading our whitepaper Microsoft Teams Cheat Sheet: Meet the Hub for Teamwork in Office 365. This whitepaper contains all the benefits of Teams and why you should make the switch. Find out why Microsoft has made Teams the primary focus for its intelligent communication platform.

Download our Whitepaper on Microsoft Teams Click Here to get started today