Microsoft Teams - Reliable Managed IT, Communications, Security & Energy Providers

Unified Communications Platform Built for UK Businesses

With the UK’s Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) permanently shutting down on 31 January 2027, over 500,000 business lines still need to migrate away from legacy ISDN and copper-based telephony. Rising Openreach costs and the deadline mean businesses relying on ageing PBX systems can no longer delay the transition.

Microsoft Teams Phone replaces traditional telephony with a cloud-based communications platform, combining enterprise calling, video conferencing, chat, and file sharing in one solution. Trusted by organisations of all sizes, Teams helps businesses modernise communication while reducing complexity and costs.

At Rydal Group, we deliver end-to-end Teams Phone deployments, integrating SIP trunks and Session Border Controllers into your Microsoft 365 environment for a smooth transition from legacy systems. One provider, a simpler migration, and reduced costs.

Key Benefits of using Microsoft Teams Phone

Unified Communication Platform

Single Platform for All Tasks
Microsoft Teams Phone integrates calling, chat, meetings, and file sharing into one familiar interface, reducing complexity and improving collaboration workflows.

Enterprise-Grade Calling Features

Advanced Capabilities: Includes call transfer, forwarding, voicemail transcription, auto-attendants, and call queuing — all natively within Teams.
Video and Multi-Device: Make and receive external and internal calls across PCs, mobiles, or Teams-enabled desk phones with a seamless experience

Cost-Efficiency & Flexibility

Cloud-Based Solution
Minimal hardware requirements dramatically reduce upfront costs compared to traditional PBX systems.
Scalability
Instantly add or remove users through the Teams Admin Centre; no dependency on complex scripts or PowerShell for day-to-day management.

Business Continuity & Resilience

SIP Trunk Call Manager (STCM)
Built-in disaster recovery ensures you never miss a call during network disruptions or outages. Real-time call diversion and centralised number management are included

Compliance & Recording

Dubber Call Recording
Capture and store recordings of Teams calls for MiFID II and GDPR compliance, dispute resolution, and training. Includes AI-driven transcription, sentiment analysis, and reporting via Power BI integration

Data-Driven Insights

Reporting & Analytics
Gain real-time and historical insights into call data with Akixi CX Analytics, helping improve performance, customer experience, and KPI tracking.

Features of Rydal’s Microsoft Teams Phone Solution

1. Operator Connect Integration

Make and receive external phone calls directly within Microsoft Teams.
Retain existing phone numbers without complex infrastructure.
Management is handled within the familiar Teams Admin Centre, streamlining administration.

2. Carrier-Grade Reliability

High network availability and resilience.
Built-in business continuity to keep operations running during outages or security threats.

3. Advanced Calling Capabilities

Features include consult and transfer, call forwarding, call queuing, auto-attendants, flexible CLI presentation, and voicemail transcription.
All features are accessible within the Teams environment.

4. Authorised User Management

Designate authorised users to control calling features and settings, enhancing security and access management.

5. Speech Recognition and AI-Powered Insights

Convert spoken conversations into accurate text for improved collaboration and productivity.
Conversation Intelligence provides AI-driven insights, including call transcription, sentiment analysis, and trend identification.

6. Cloud-Based Calling

Make, receive, and transfer calls within the Teams app on desktop and mobile, eliminating the need for physical phones and reducing hardware costs.

7. Secure and Compliant Recording

End-to-end encryption and compliance with industry standards such as MiFID II and GDPR.
Unlimited storage for call recordings, with options for legal hold and redaction on sensitive information.

How Microsoft Teams Phone Implementation Works

Step 1: Discovery & Telephony Assessment

We begin by analysing your current phone system-mapping line types (ISDN, copper PSTN), number inventory, usage patterns, and remote work requirements. We design your optimal Microsoft Teams configuration, identifying the right PSTN connectivity strategy (Operator Connect, Direct Routing, or Microsoft Calling Plans) based on your size, budget, and compliance needs. We plan your migration timeline to minimise disruption, accounting for edge cases like alarm lines, fax machines, and paging systems.

Step 2: Solution Design & Connectivity Planning

Designing the Teams Phone deployment.
Selecting PSTN connectivity.
Planning number porting.
Defining call routing rules.
Designing call menus and agent groups.
Identifying Teams certified handsets and devices if required.

Step 3: Microsoft Teams Phone Configuration

Teams Phone licensing.
Voice enablement of users.
Phone number assignment.
SIP trunk configuration.
SBC deployment and integration.
Auto attendant setup.
Call queue setup.
Voicemail configuration.
Call forwarding and routing policies.

Step 4: Testing, Migration & User Rollout

End to end call testing.
Inbound and outbound call validation.
Emergency calling verification.
Number porting execution.
Pilot user testing.
User training and adoption sessions.
Go live planning and deployment.

Key tests cover:

Internal calls
External calls
Mobile usage
Voicemail
Call transfers
Hunt groups
Auto attendants

Step 5: Ongoing Support, Optimisation & Analytics

User support and troubleshooting.
Service monitoring.
Moves, adds and changes.
Call flow optimisation.
Performance reviews.
Expansion to additional users or locations.
Reporting using Teams Phone analytics and insights. Rydal specifically highlights the visibility available through integrated call and contact analytics.

What Makes Our Microsoft Teams Service Different

End to End UK Expertise

As certified Microsoft Partners, we bring deep Teams Phone deployment experience across UK businesses of every size. We understand Openreach regulations, Ofcom requirements, number porting practices, and the specific challenges of the PSTN switch-off-including telecare obligations and legacy analogue device compatibility.

Managed Infrastructure Included

We handle SBC management, SIP trunk connectivity, emergency services registration, number management, and ongoing technical support. Unlike basic resellers, we take responsibility for the infrastructure that sits between your business and the pstn networks, so you don’t need in-house telephony expertise.

Proven Migration Process

Our structured methodology ensures smooth transition from legacy systems with measurable ROI. A 35-user UK professional services firm reduced monthly telephony costs by 38% after migrating from an ageing Mitel PBX to Teams Phone with Operator Connect-dropping from approximately £1,840 to £1,140 per month, with the £1,600 hardware investment recovered in just three months.

It’s safe to say you are in great hands utilising our product portfolio combined with Rydal Comms Award-Winning Customer Service. Together with our partners, we provide the most innovative and reliable systems within telecoms technology.

Proof That Microsoft Teams Phone Delivers Results

UK Home Office – 63,000 Users, 8 Working Days

The Home Office migrated 63,000 users, appliances, and meeting rooms across more than 200 sites from Skype for Business and legacy desk phones to Teams Phone. The entire migration was completed in 8 working days using pilot phases followed by overnight waves of up to 20,000 users. User satisfaction reached 97%, with an NPS of 9.8 out of 10. The department extended the life of existing desk phones via SIP Gateway, delivering substantial savings by consolidating platforms.

SCC – £500,000 Annual Savings

SCC migrated 7,000 users and 100 contact centre agents globally via Direct Routing, saving an estimated £500,000 annually on legacy voice contracts while harmonising communications across their international operation.

UK Professional Services Firm – 38% Cost Reduction

A 35-user firm replaced a 7-year-old Mitel on-premise PBX with Teams Phone and Operator Connect. Monthly telephony expenses dropped from approximately £1,840 to £1,140-a 38% saving. Staff working remotely benefited immediately from mobile app integration and unified communication across devices.

SME businesses (10–500 employees)

currently on ISDN or copper PSTN lines, facing the January 2027 switch-off deadline and needing a cost-effective migration path. Microsoft Teams was introduced in 2017 and gained popularity quickly, making it familiar to most workforces.

Organisations with remote or hybrid workforces

needing consistent communication across locations. Whether staff use video calls from home, make calls from a mobile device on site, or schedule meetings from the office, Teams keeps everyone on the same page. Secure external access allows collaboration with vendors and partners, and users can easily connect with external users without compromising security.

Companies seeking to consolidate IT vendors

and reduce overlapping communication tools. Microsoft Teams integrates with Microsoft 365 applications like Word and Excel, OneDrive for file sharing, and supports third party apps like Twitter and Dropbox via connectors. Custom bots can be created for Microsoft Teams using the Bot Framework, and Teams supports third-party plugins for enhanced functionality.

Businesses requiring advanced features

like call recording, analytics, auto attendants, and compliance tools for regulated industries-including public sector and financial services.

Who Microsoft Teams Phone Is For

Microsoft Teams Phone Plans and Pricing

Choose the plan that matches your business needs. Microsoft Teams Free is intended for personal or home use, while business calling requires a licensed plan.

Teams Phone Essentials – For Growing Businesses

Perfect for small businesses moving from traditional phone systems who need reliable calling and collaboration without complexity.

Includes features like PBX calling, voicemail, forwarding, the microsoft teams app on desktop and mobile, chat feature, and video chat capabilities. Microsoft Teams offers a free plan for home users, and Microsoft Teams for Home has a free plan available for personal use, but business calling requires a licensed plan.

Starting from £8.99 per user per month

Teams Phone Professional – For Established Operations

Designed for businesses requiring more advanced features and call management capabilities.

Includes everything in Essentials plus call recording, call analytics, auto attendants, call queues, advanced compliance tools, and integration with third party apps. Teams allows users to create public and private channels for collaboration, and enables real-time decision making through quick chats and polls.

Starting from £14.99 per user per month

Teams Phone Enterprise – For Large Organisations

Custom deployment for complex multi-site requirements with dedicated infrastructure and premium support.

Includes priority support, advanced compliance and security features, dedicated account management, and bespoke SBC/Direct Routing architecture. Microsoft-managed PSTN service options offer a 99.999% uptime SLA.

Bespoke pricing based on specific needs and user count

Frequently Asked Questions About Microsoft Teams

How quickly can we migrate from our current phone system?

Migration timelines depend on your business size and complexity. Small businesses (under 50 users) typically complete migration within 2–4 weeks, including assessment, number porting, and training. Larger organisations can move significantly faster with structured wave migrations-the UK Home Office migrated 63,000 users in 8 working days. We offer parallel running of old and new systems during transition to minimise risk. You can schedule meetings in Microsoft Teams easily from day one of go-live.

Will we keep our existing phone numbers?

Yes. Number porting is a standard part of every deployment. Your existing geographic and non-geographic numbers transfer to your Teams-connected PSTN service, whether you’re using Operator Connect, Direct Routing, or Microsoft Calling Plans. The process typically takes several days to a few weeks depending on your current provider and the volume of numbers. Your customers, suppliers, and contacts continue reaching you on the numbers they know.

What happens if Microsoft Teams has issues?

Microsoft-managed PSTN calling options deliver a 99.999% uptime SLA. For Direct Routing deployments, we configure SBC redundancy and failover to ensure business continuity. We also recommend internet connectivity redundancy-a secondary broadband or 4G/5G backup-so voice traffic remains unaffected during primary connection outages. Our support team monitors your environment and responds proactively. Teams is available on desktop and mobile devices for easy access, meaning users can switch to mobile data if office connectivity is disrupted. Teams supports virtual meetings that include HD video and audio conferencing, ensuring video conferences and calls continue regardless of location.

What about legacy devices like fax machines and alarms?

Analogue devices that rely on traditional PSTN connections may need gateways or replacement solutions. During our assessment phase, we identify every connected device-including alarm systems, door entry, paging, and fax-and recommend the appropriate adapters or digital alternatives. This is a critical step that many providers overlook.

Is call recording included?

Base calling features like voicemail, forwarding, and call queues are included in Teams Phone. Compliance call recording and interaction recording are available as add ons, typically £5–£10 per user per month, and must comply with UK data protection and GDPR regulations. We configure recording policies to meet your legal and regulatory requirements.