PanTerra’s Collaboration with Microsoft Teams

In 2017, Microsoft launched its collaboration tool, Teams. According to Computer World, “Microsoft Teams is a collaborative workspace within Microsoft 365/Office 365 that acts as a central hub for workplace conversations, collaborative teamwork, video chats and document sharing, all designed to aid worker productivity in a unified suite of tools.” Because it is a Microsoft app, it integrated well within their suite of existing tools. It gave remote workers the ability to stay connected regardless of their location. During the stay-at-home pandemic environment, Microsoft saw use of Teams rocket to 75 million daily active users. With this much demand, it became obvious that communication platforms like PanTerra had to find ways to integrate our environment with the MS Teams application.

PanTerra’s Microsoft Teams Plugin Features

PanTerra’s new Microsoft Teams plugin expands PanTerra’s ultra-reliable telecom service to customers who are Microsoft-centric on the front-end, using the Microsoft Teams client. The Streams Extension for Microsoft Teams integrates the Streams secure communications infrastructure within the Teams user interface allowing seamless Click-to-Call from any device. This gives users the ability to make outbound calls from MS Teams, through the chat window, speed dialing, by simply dialing a number or selecting an existing contact. Users can also initiate a Streams Connect Video call through the MS Teams interface.

The Microsoft Teams Plugin:

• Designed to integrate with Microsoft Teams.  
• Allows users to use the Streams service to make and receive calls directly from the MS Teams interface  
• Passes real-time call presence to the MS Teams presence engine.
• Allows a call to be made from ANY device (built-in softphone, registered IP phones, cell phones).

Once installed, the Streams MS Teams plugin will open a separate, but attached, window to the MS Teams window which will present the user with a softphone dial pad for direct outbound dialing. A search box is provided where the user can search both Streams and MS Teams contacts, by name or number, and place an outbound call. A recent events window will show active or historical call events where the user can transfer active calls, perform conference calls or redial a number. Additionally, a “Call using Streams” action is provided in the contact menu of the MS Teams window so a user can identify an MS Teams contact and call using the Streams service directly. Once initiated, the call will show up as an active call in the Streams "recent events" window. Communicating just got a whole lot easier and a lot more reliable and secure.

PanTerra Service Options for Microsoft Teams Users

PanTerra has launched a couple of options for MS Teams users. First, the MS Teams Connector Seat provides PanTerra’s basic Streams business telephony capabilities for MS Teams users including unlimited inbound and outbound calling. The MS Teams Connector Seat is intended for those businesses that use MS Teams as both a front-end for users and to manage all telephony features and functions, but want a highly reliable telephony back-end infrastructure. 

For those businesses that want enhanced UCaaS features, PanTerra additionally offers an MS Teams Connector Add-On, which can be added to an existing PanTerra Streams seat (Business, Professional or Call Center). The MS Teams add-on allows a user the flexibility to interact within the MS Teams environment, while gaining Streams features such as call queues, hunt groups, auto attendants, follow-me/find-me call routing and detailed analytics and reporting. Administrators can configure and manage these enhanced UCaaS features through PanTerra’s Streams admin portal.  

Microsoft representative was quoted, “PanTerra’s MS Teams Connector Seat and Add-On are a perfect complement to extend our collaborative reach, while providing a connected work environment. We like the flexibility with both products and how they complement MS Teams offerings.” 

As we continue to see diverse MS Teams integration a requirement for businesses, we are confident that both the MS Teams Connector and Add-On Seats will offer the ultimate flexible choice for companies operating in today’s remote, mobile, and multi-platform environment. Giving businesses a choice to decide the best way to integrate and interoperate ensures customers gain the best of both worlds. Integrating MS Teams front-end with PanTerra Streams reliable UCaaS infrastructure makes that happen.

Start using the free version of Streams or schedule a demo today.