Telephone Use and Making Calls (Teams)

To access the full Teams Training for Business Use Manual, please visit Inside.Sierra

Calls are a quick way to connect in Teams. You can have one-on-one calls or calls with several people. You can set them up ahead of time like a meeting, or you can start them on the fly while in a chat (for example). 

While meetings are a great way to collaborate in Teams, calls can be a more direct way of connecting for completing specific tasks or for getting questions answered quickly. 

Make or answer a call from anywhere

Select either Video call or Audio call. Any call can be a video call or an audio-only call. It's always up to you. 

Answering a call is simple too. Just select Video call or Audio call when prompted. When someone calls you, you'll get a notification that lets you accept or decline the call.

Turn a chat into a call

With one click, you can make any chat into a call in Teams. When you're in a chat, select Video call or Audio call in the upper-right corner of Teams. The person you are chatting with (or the people, if it's a group chat) will receive a call from you.  

Make a call from your call history, speed dial, voicemail, or contacts

  • Access your call history and quickly call anyone back from the list. Go to Calls and review the History section in the center of the screen. Select any item from the list and then choose Call in the Details section on the right side of Teams.
  • From your speed dial, you can quickly call people that you previously saved to this list. To access your speed dial, go to Calls and then find the Speed dial section on the right side of Teams.
  • From your voicemail, you can quickly call back anyone who left a message. To access your voicemail, go to History and select the Voicemail button in the upper-right corner. You can call someone back from your voicemail by selecting More actions next to their name > Call back from the call history list, or by clicking Call under the contact details.
  • To view your contacts, click Calls > Contacts in the upper-left of Teams. From here, you can call anyone by selecting Call to the right of their name.

     

Use the dial pad 

To dial a number from Teams, go to Calls, and then enter the number of the person you want to reach by using the dial pad located on the left. Then click Call.  

You can also type the name of a person or group and call them from the dial pad.

Hover over someone's profile picture

Throughout the Teams app, you will find profile pictures of people you're connected with.

At any time, you can mouse over a profile picture/icon and you will see options to make a video or an audio-only call to that person. Choose one of those options and your call will begin.

Place a call on hold 

Select More actions in your call window and choose Hold. Everyone in the call will be notified that they've been put on hold, and you can continue your call by clicking Resume.

Transfer a call

Select More actions > Transfer in your call controls. Then, type the name of the person you want to transfer the call to and select them. To finish, select Transfer

Consult then transfer 

If you want to check in with someone before you transfer a call to them, select More actions > Consult then transfer

Under Choose a person to consult, start typing the name of the person you want to reach and select them when they appear. You can call them or consult with them over chat. When you're ready, select Transfer.

 

Add a delegate

You can pick someone in Teams to be your delegate—to receive and make calls on your behalf. When you add a delegate, you’re essentially sharing your phone line with them, so they can see and share all of your calls. 

To designate a delegate, select Settings and more next to your profile picture at the top of Teams and choose Settings General. Under Delegation, select Manage delegates. There you can see who you're a delegate for and add/remove your own delegates.  

 

Share a line with a delegate

Select Settings and more next to your profile picture at the top of Teams and choose Settings General. Under Delegation, select Manage delegates. Click Your delegates and type the person's name in the Add a delegate box. 

 

Call history

Your call history is located in the center of the calls experience and shows a list of past calls (including missed calls).

Go to Calls > History. From any call in the list, select More actions > Call back to begin a call automatically. 

You can also chat with that contact, add them to speed dial, and add them to your contacts—all from the More actions menu.

Access your voicemail

Your voicemail is another familiar tool for getting the most out of your calling experience in Teams.

Go to Calls History and then select Voicemail in the upper-right. From here you can: 

  • Review messages and transcripts from calls
  • Customize call rules
  • Record a greeting
  • Call anyone who's left you a message 

Call someone back from your voicemail by selecting More actions next to their name > Call back from the call history list, or by clicking Calls under the contact Details on the right side of Teams.

How to use your desk phone

For instructions to use your desk phone, please visit the Sierra Solutions Center which includes a Yealink Phones Manual: https://solutions.sierracollege.edu/TDClient/1795/Portal/KB/ArticleDet?ID=130877

 

Tips from other users

  • There will be a short delay (one second) when answering your Teams call, whether you use your desk phone or the app; please allow the call to connect prior to answering the call.
  • You can transfer calls to a department or employee name as well as a number extension
  • Save your favorite contacts to your speed dial
  • You can view your calendar on your phone as well
  • Any USB headset will work for your desk phone

 

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