When was the last time you used a landline at home? You probably still use one to call your grandma but that’s about it. The office is different. There is more than likely still a good old-fashioned handset sitting on your desk. It still rings but not as often as it used to as we now use so many other communications methods.

The world is changing at a lightning pace and that includes telephony and the way we use phones but legacy telephony is still a central component of company infrastructure. This is where Microsoft Teams Phone can make the difference. It streamlines your technology stack, reduces the complexity of your systems and integrates your communications tools effectively.

As we strive to modernise and transition away from traditional IT systems, there remains one core business system that continues to persist – the telephone. These legacy systems are often viewed as somewhat of a “dark art” in terms of administration. They demand an entire job role solely dedicated to their management. Furthermore, in the unfortunate event of hardware failure, the costs of replacing equipment can be incredibly high. This is often compounded by confusing user interfaces within desktop applications; if they even offer them. These complexities only add to the burden of training your staff. Coupled with the emergence of hybrid and remote work arrangements, the challenges extend to those reliant on work mobiles or unable to engage in business calls altogether.

Moving to a cloud-based system

So, how do we have to modernise and streamline our technology stack? Microsoft Teams Phone is the answer. A fully cloud-based system means there’s no need for telephony equipment in your office and no hardware cycle or failures to worry about. Teams Phone is integrated into the already familiar Microsoft Teams used day-to-day with its modern and easy-to-use interface, placing all your calling in one app. That also means anyone working from home can make or receive business calls from anywhere in the world on any device that has Teams installed.

Why do you need Microsoft Teams Phone?

• Transform Your Communication: Embrace a modern, cloud-based system that streamlines your technology stack and eliminates the complexities of traditional phone systems. There is no need to equip every desk in the office with a phone handset, your staff can simply use the headset they already use for Teams native calling.
• Cost Efficiency – IT no longer has to worry about replacing failed devices and having a storeroom full of spare phones. There is a low per-user-per-month cost for as much domestic calling as you require, with the ability to make and receive UK calls from anywhere in the world as if they were sitting in the office.
• Unified Communication – Using Microsoft Teams Phone for all your collaboration, chat, calling, and meetings provides a familiar interface that needs less staff training and an intuitive user experience. From an administrative perspective, it’s one less thing to worry about patching and keeping up to date and one less potential area for vulnerability.
• Boost Productivity: Empower your staff with a familiar and intuitive interface that brings all communication tools under one roof, reducing training time and enhancing collaboration.
• Unleash Scalability and experience advanced features: Easily scale your communication system as your business grows, without the hassle of purchasing and managing additional hardware. Microsoft Teams Voice is a fully scalable solution offering a feature-rich enterprise-level phone system functionality such as Call Queues, Auto-Attendants, Interactive Voice Responses, Voicemail, Fax and much more enhancing your customer service and efficiency.  New users can be set up in minutes and without having to purchase additional handsets your new users can be up and running quickly and easily from anywhere.
• Embrace Mobility: Hybrid and remote work is here to stay, but with a legacy phone system it has been difficult to balance inbound call distribution or to give the ability for your remote users to make business calls. With Microsoft Teams Phone, as long as your users have an internet connection, they can make calls as if they were sitting in the office, coming from your recognised corporate phone number range and maintaining the same professional appearance and connectivity as if they were in the office. Users can choose to make and receive calls from:
  • Their computer
  • Your corporate VDI – Citrix or AVD
  • Desk phones that are Teams-Enabled
  • Microsoft Teams Rooms devices
  • Their mobile devices

How do you move to Microsoft Teams Phone?

Licences – If you have Microsoft 365 E5 you’re ready to go, the Teams Phone license is included in your license. Alternatively, you can purchase Microsoft Teams Phone Standard as an add-on license to your Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Business Standard or E3 license.

Teams Phone: Native vs. Direct Routing – As companies embrace modern communication through Microsoft Teams Phone, the decision between Native Calling and Direct Routing emerges as a pivotal point. Native Calling offers a straightforward setup, allowing users to conduct calls seamlessly within the Teams app, making it an apt choice for streamlined communication. However, in some jurisdictions, this is not possible for a multitude of reasons, that’s where Direct Routing comes in. Prosperity 24/7 works with our telecommunications partners to deliver Direct Routing to Teams. This allows us to port your existing number range into a cloud-hosted PBX solution and integrate your calling into Teams.

What’s not to like? More functionality, a better and more modern system, and money-saving. Take the first step towards modernising your communication infrastructure. Contact us today to explore how Microsoft Teams Phone can revolutionise the way you connect with your team and clients. Together, let’s shape the future of communication and make technology work better for everyone.

It’s time to hang up the phone.

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Cisco have long been dedicated to environmental sustainability. Their sustainability goals include reducing greenhouse gas emissions, conserving water, and promoting sustainable products and packaging. Their initiatives have already resulted in a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from operations, and they are committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040.

To achieve the specialisation, Prosperity had to demonstrate a commitment to contribute to Cisco’s circular economy and net-zero emission goals.  This included, Network Consultant, Dillon Walker undertaking exams to understand the requirements and means our Network Solutions Team are now able to make it easy for customers and partners to participate in the circular economy by offering the following reduce, reuse, recycle options on Cisco products:

• Customer Recycling Solutions (CRS) are environmentally sound disposal options for Cisco products that have reached the end of useful life.
• Takeback and Reuse Program lets Cisco equipment owners return hardware that has reached end-of-use, at no cost.
• The Cisco Refresh offers Certified Remanufactured products with the same quality and warranty as new equipment.

Jake Foster, Prosperity 24/7’s Chief Technology Officer, said…

We would like to thank Cisco for their leadership in promoting environmental sustainability and for recognising our commitment to this important issue. We look forward to continuing our partnership and working together to create a more sustainable future that makes technology work better for everyone.

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To achieve the Cisco Premier Integrator Partner certification, we were required to attain the Network Specialisation accreditation.  Cisco uses a variety of robust performance and skillset tests to determine the suitability of partners for Premier Integrator status.

The partnership status recognises us as industry-leaders in creating customised solutions, meaning our consultants take the time to get to know our clients’ requirements to supply a solution that is tailor-made to their needs, rather than just trying to fit a technology product into their business. Having the specialisations and certifications required to deliver such solutions and providing the required Pre-Sales and Post-Sales support is critical.

Jake Foster, our Chief Technology Officer, said,

Achieving this accreditation is tribute to the skills, knowledge and many years’ of experience our new networking team have in deploying and managing Cisco-based solutions, including firewalls, advanced networking, security solutions and Wi-Fi. It shines a light on how highly Prosperity 24/7 are regarded within the technology industry.

This stamp-of-approval from Cisco is a major boost for our clients. Simon Watkins and Robert Taylor have only recently joined the Prosperity 24/7 family and their hard work has immediately allowed us to join this prestigious Cisco partner programme which strengthens our relationship with Cisco, and our commitment to our clients locally in the Channel Islands and other offshore jurisdictions.

In addition, we have also become a Cisco Meraki partner which allows access to training and support to ensure that clients are able to make the most of the solutions delivered.

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Simon has a wealth of experience as a network design consultant with extensive experience in the design and deployment of client networks, with a specialist focus on solutions provided by Cisco Systems. With more than 20 years’ experience in designing and scaling networks, he has helped international businesses achieve worldwide aspirations through well deployed, resilient, IT infrastructure.

Specialising in global networking using both traditional and next generation technologies, Robert has almost 25 years’ experience in the voice and data communications industry, where he has developed as a multiskilled network design architect. His comprehensive business insight has enabled him to design and deliver tailored solutions to meet various sized businesses’ needs including budgets, resilience requirements and future growth ambitions.

Demand for this skillset within the technology sector is in high demand and was highlighted at our recent cyber security event. Due to increased malicious activity in this area, it is clear that it is not a case of if, but when, a security breach to company IT networks is likely to happen. Simon’s and Robert’s roles will help to ensure that Prosperity’s clients are up to speed with the latest threats and have the tools and techniques in place to ensure that their IT and operating environment is protected.

CEO, Chris Clark commented,

Simon and Robert have worked closely with Prosperity 24/7 over many years and we are delighted that they bring with them, an unparalleled wealth of knowledge to help increase our capabilities in this critical adjacent service area. Ensuring we have access to the best colleagues, who are able to deliver robustly architected network and cyber resilience, is simply critical for our multi-national clients whether they are in Financial Services, the Public Sector or Arms Length Organisations. No matter the vertical sector they operate in, in a digital first world, all demand impeccable connectivity and operational performance. With Simon and Rob, supporting our existing Technical Solutions colleagues, I am confident we can continue to deliver prosperity to our Clients.

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