Organizations that rely on analog analog phone systems as their primary communication tool often face issues that adversely affect the way they operate.
Analog phone systems are out-of-date and lack many of the features offered by digital cloud-based phone solutions that many organizations need today.
Analog phone systems are often unreliable. However, the ability to convert them to Microsoft Teams enables outdated call services to offer the features that organizations need to communicate effectively.
Coeo has delivered thousands of phone solutions and knows how important a good calling service is to meet the communication needs of high-performing organizations.
We want to provide you with information on how to convert your analog phone system to Microsoft Teams so you can upgrade your calling service and take advantage of the updated technology available on the market.
By the end of this article, you will know what an analog phone system is, what Microsoft Teams is, and how you can convert your analog phone systems to Microsoft Teams.
What is an analog phone service?
Analog phone solutions are systems that consist of traditional landlines. These systems take audio signals and translate them into electronic pulses that are transferred over a wire from one line to the next.
The major difference between digital and analog phone systems is that digital phone systems are typically connected through the cloud and use the internet to make and receive calls.
As mentioned above, analog phone systems are transferred over copper wire.
Digital phone systems translate the phone signal into a binary formula and translate audio into codes represented by a series of “1”s and “0”s instead of electronic pulses over a wire.
An analog phone system requires an on-premise PBX with one or multiple phone lines. An on-premise PBX is a physical phone system installed at the customer’s location and owned by the customer.
A PBX phone system creates an internal phone network for the analog phone service to connect to.
This phone network places all service users into a shared phone system enabling your employees to make and receive calls using that network.
What is Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft Teams is a communications platform that allows you to make video calls, voice calls, and instant message in the cloud.
Teams enables organizations to operate in a remote work environment with the flexibility to use any device to connect to the internet and to make calls from anywhere.
However, Microsoft Teams is not just a collaborative platform that allows you to chat with employees and host video conferences and meetings.
It also serves as a phone system that enables your traditional phone lines to transfer to the cloud so you can make calls over the PSTN.
Converting analog phones to Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams will enable you to move your traditional phone service to the cloud and unlock updated features of your calling service.
There are a few ways that you can convert analog phone lines to Microsoft Teams including:
Analog lines connected to a telephone company
Your analog lines may still be connected to your telephone company and will continue to function as they did prior to implementing Teams.
However, most telephone companies are migrating customers away from analog phone systems making it a good time to migrate to a digital phone service.
Analog lines connected to your PBX
The most common analog connection in enterprises is through the central PBX that houses all analog lines throughout different parts of the building.
When organizations no longer use the PBX phone system, the analog lines must be replaced.
Locally powered wireless IP phone system
A locally powered wireless IP phone system can, in some cases, help convert analog lines to Teams. Teams phones that support Wi-Fi for network connectivity can make your transition much smoother.
Converting while still keeping your analog phone
You can also convert your analog phone service to Microsoft Teams while also keeping your analog phones. Analog lines require a wire connection between the phone system and a local device.
An example of a local device is an Analog Telephony Adapter (ATA). These can be set up in one of two ways:
Connecting analog telephony to Teams Phone SIP Gateway
With this model, your organization can register your analog gateway directly to the Microsoft Teams SIP Gateway.
Once your analog service is connected to the Microsoft Teams SIP Gateway, you can use Teams through Calling Plan, Operator Connect, or Direct Routing.
Using this solution will enable you to transfer your analog service to the PSTN and allow you to make and receive calls over the Internet.
Connecting analog telephony to the operator
The final way you can convert your analog phone system to the cloud is by connecting to the operator using a SIP Trunk. By doing this, no Microsoft Teams license is needed, only a SIP Trunk.
Next steps to connecting your analog phone service to Microsoft Teams
Now you know what an analog phone service is, what Microsoft Teams is, and how you can convert your analog phone service to Microsoft Teams.
This will enable you to update your analog phone service and receive the enhanced features that come with a digital phone solution.
A poor-performing or outdated phone service adversely affects your organization’s ability to communicate.
This impacts your employees, customers, prospects, and other entities critical to your organization’s success.
Knowing how to convert your analog phone service to Microsoft Teams will enable your organization to upgrade its outdated service. This will improve your calling experience.
Coeo has helped thousands of customers with their calling services and knows how important a good phone solution is to an organization.
We want to give you information on connecting your analog phone service to Microsoft Teams so you can improve your calling service.
If you would like to speak with our team about Microsoft Teams and other call services or ask any questions you may have you can schedule an appointment.
To learn more about Microsoft Teams, read this article to understand the differences between Direct Routing and Operator Connect to determine which is right for your organization:
