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Microsoft Teams Voice

UMass Dartmouth is migrating to Microsoft Teams Voice as next-generation phone system.  As of December 2024,  380 extensions have already been converted to MS Teams.

During the Spring 2025 semester, CITS is converting academic buildings from the Avaya phone systems to MS Teams.

CITS held an information session via Zoom webinar:

  • Tuesday, January 28, 2025: 1:00pm to 2:00pm

The information from the webinar is reflected on this web site.

Please see the following sections for more information:

Why are we making this transition?

  • Technology shift:
    Since COVID, video conferencing and collaboration platforms such as Zoom, MS Teams, or WhatsApp have widely replaced traditional phone calls. This is one of the main reasons for ATT's decision to terminate their landline long-distance call service by October 2025.
  • Aged Avaya phone system:
    For years, a 3rd party (not Avaya) provides support for the 20+ year-old phone system. This support is getting very limited as replacement parts are more difficult to obtain due to the age of the system.

UMass Amherst and UMass Lowell have already made this transition.

What changes?

Moving from desk phones to MS Teams app for phone calls

Traditional desk phones are replaced by the Microsoft Teams app. The MS Teams app is available in a web browser, as desktop app, and mobile app. Anyone with a university-owned laptop can use the MS Teams desktop app or their web browser.

Feature Comparison

MS Teams offers all of the functionality of the legacy phone system and more:

Feature Legacy Microsoft Teams
Custom greetings
Voicemail
Caller ID
Call forwarding
Call delegation
4-digit campus extension dialing
Dial by name  
Video calling  
Availability status  
Use campus extension anywhere  
Personalized contact list  

You can use your campus extension in MS Teams anywhere your university-owned laptop has an internet connection and MS Teams Voice is not blocked by the country you are traveling in.

What stays the same?

The impact on the daily work is minimal.

  • You keep your current campus extension!
  • Dial off-campus numbers using the dial pad in MS Teams:
    Microsoft Teams dial pad
  • You can call on-campus numbers using the 4-digit extension.
  • MS Teams has voicemail that is also sent to your email inbox.
  • You can forward and delegate calls.

Improvements with the new system

  • For on-campus "calls", you have more options in MS Teams. In addition to dialing the 4-digit campus extension, you can:
    • Place a voice or video call by name
    • Use the chat feature to message with colleagues
  • Similar to Zoom or MS Teams video-conferencing, for audio use:
    • Device speakers and microphone
    • Headset with microphone
  • Students working in labs or other shared spaces can use MS Teams on a computer or mobile device to reach faculty, staff, or other students. This does not require MS Teams Voice call capability.
  • In classrooms, CITS is adding a button to request assistance on the instructor control panel.
  • You can make work-related calls from your laptop wherever you are. There is no need to use your personal cell phone for a work call while at a conference. 

Privacy and Safety

Just like with Zoom, you can use:

  • The speakers and microphone built into your laptop, tablet, or phone.
  • For additional privacy, you can use any device you are currently using for Zoom meetings (e.g. airpods), a headset with microphone, or MS Teams USB-phone.
  • During time you don't want to be interrupted (e.g. while teaching), you can forward calls to voicemail and silence calls.

For campus safety:

  • All blue-light phones will remain operational.
  • All elevator emergency call buttons will remain operational.
  • The current "red-phones" will remain operational through the end of the semester.

Migration Timeline

As of December 2024, 380 phone extensions have been migrated to MS Teams Voice mostly part of the hybrid/remote work program. The majority of the remaining extensions will be migrated by campus building throughout the Spring 2025 semester. 

Building Migration Date Status
Hybrid/Remote Work Program Participants Prior to January 2025 Complete
LARTS February 2025 Tentative
CVPA February 2025 Tentative
CCB April 2025 Pending
Law School April 2025 Pending
SENG & Branches April 2025 Pending
DION April 2025 Pending
Admin Summer 2025 Pending
Athletics Summer 2025 Pending
Campus Center Summer 2025 Pending
Campus Police Summer 2025 Pending
Chace Road Summer 2025 Pending
CIE Summer 2025 Pending
Health Services Summer 2025 Pending
Library Summer 2025 Pending
Modular Buildings Summer 2025 Pending
SMAST Summer 2025 Pending
Residence Halls Summer 2025 Pending

The actual migration dates are subject to confirmation of the porting dates of the number blocks from Verizon to MS Teams Voice. Building occupants will be notified via email as soon as their migration date is confirmed.

CITS is going to announce details for the Summer 2025 groups later in the Spring. 

What is the migration process?

Per the above timeline, the migration happens by groups of buildings. For each building group, the migration consist of the following steps:

Leading up to the migration:

  • CITS requests the number migration with the provider. Processing takes about 5-6 weeks.
  • CITS works with college leadership to verify phone number assignments.
  • Once available, CITS communicates the exact cut-over date and time to the building occupants.
  • MS Teams Voice training session will be offered.

On the day of and following the cut-over:

  • After the time of cut-over, the legacy desk phone will no longer work for external calls.
  • CITS staff members are available to assist with MS Teams Voice onboarding in each building.
  • CITS provides USB-wired headsets upon request.
  • CITS collects old desk phones.

Training

CITS is offering MS Teams Voice training throughout the Spring semester. Please come back for training links. Each session is limited to 75 participants on a first-come-first-served basis.

Tips

  • Managing voicemail:
    Each voicemail received in MS Teams generates an email message in your Outlook inbox. When you delete this email, it will also delete the corresponding voicemail in MS Teams. If you would like to retain the voicemail recording, but remove the email from your inbox, either use Outlook filters or archive the email message.

Additional Resources

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