Skype for Business Online (SFBO)/ Microsoft Teams + Phone System + Calling Plans + Microsoft Conferencing (Microsoft Offering)

Most of the Enterprise Administrators find it difficult to understand the Microsoft Calling Plans how to best utilize it, whom to assign the licenses and how to configure it for the users. Let’s understand the different Microsoft Licenses and the how best we can utilize the licensing with the cost effective and best usage.

Microsoft Conferencing Licenses are available for the customers with Enterprises Licenses only i.e. (Microsoft Enterprise E1, Microsoft Enterprise E3, Microsoft Enterprise E5, Microsoft). Let’s discuss the best usage of the licenses in details with addition of calling and conferencing services.

Microsoft Office 365 Enterprise E1 License

Microsoft E1 License comes with following Services

·         Microsoft Exchange Online

·         Microsoft One-Drive

·         Microsoft SharePoint Online

·         Microsoft Teams/Microsoft Skype for Business Online (Existing Customer until the services is retired in 2021)

·         Microsoft Stream etc.

This is the cheapest option for enabling basic services with PSTN Calling and PSTN Conferencing together. The Licenses Configuration for the users would be as follows

·         Microsoft Office 365 Enterprise E1 License

·         Phone System License

·         Domestic Calling Plan (Option1)

·         Domestic + International Calling Plan (Options 2)

·         PSTN Conferencing Licenses (This License would be useful for those users who tends to schedule external and internal meeting with their colleagues and other companies. Hence this license is an optional license for the Administrators)

Domestic Calling Plan (Option1): - With this plan Microsoft Offers calling Domestic within the country i.e. A United States user with the Domestic Calling Plan will be able to makes to any of the Domestic user within United States either Landline or Mobile.

Note: - The Domestic Calling Plan comes with the limit of 3000 Minutes per month in the US and 1200 minutes in rest of the countries. In case you need any additional minutes there is a flexibility to add more minutes with the top up recharges.

Domestic Calling + International Calling Plan (Option2): - With this plan Microsoft Offer Calling both the Domestic and International Calling around the world. There is restriction to calling some handful list of countries but apart from that we would be able to call all the International Countries.

Note: - The Domestic Calling & International Calling Plan comes with the limit of 3000 Minutes per month for Domestic Calling in United States and 1200 minutes in rest of the countries and 600 Minutes for International Calling. In case you need any additional minutes there is a flexibility to add more minutes with the top up recharges.

 Microsoft Office 365 Enterprise E3 License

Microsoft E3 License comes with following Services

·         Microsoft Exchange Online

·         Microsoft One-Drive

·         Microsoft SharePoint Online

·         Microsoft Teams/Microsoft Skype for Business Online (Existing Customer until the services is retired in 2021)

·         Microsoft Stream

·         Microsoft Office Pro Plus Subscription etc.

This is the next option for Enabling PSTN Calling and PSTN Conferencing together. The Licenses Configuration for the users would be as follows

·         Microsoft Office 365 Enterprise E3 License

·         Phone System License

·         Domestic Calling Plan (Option1)

·         Domestic + International Calling Plan (Options 2)

·         PSTN Conferencing Licenses (This License would be useful for those users who tends to schedule external and internal meeting with their colleagues and other companies. Hence this license is an optional license for the Administrators)

Domestic Calling Plan (Option1): - With this plan Microsoft Offers calling Domestic within the country i.e. A United States user with the Domestic Calling Plan will be able to makes to any of the Domestic user within United States either Landline or Mobile.

Note: - The Domestic Calling Plan comes with the limit of 3000 Minutes per month in the US and 1200 minutes in rest of the countries. In case you need any additional minutes there is a flexibility to add more minutes with the top up recharges.

Domestic Calling + International Calling Plan (Option2): - With this plan Microsoft Offer Calling both the Domestic and International Calling around the world. There is restriction to calling some handful list of countries but apart from that we would be able to call all the International Countries.

Note: - The Domestic Calling & International Calling Plan comes with the limit of 3000 Minutes per month for Domestic Calling in United States and 1200 minutes in rest of the countries and 600 Minutes for International Calling. In case you need any additional minutes there is a flexibility to add more minutes with the top up recharges.

Microsoft Office 365 Enterprise E5 License

Microsoft E5 License comes with following Services

·         Microsoft Exchange Online

·         Microsoft One-Drive

·         Microsoft SharePoint Online

·         Microsoft Teams/Microsoft Skype for Business Online (Existing Customer until the services is retired in 2021)

·         Microsoft Stream

·         Microsoft Office Pro Plus Subscription

·         Phone System License

·         PSTN Conferencing Licenses etc.

This is the most expensive and feature rich option for Enabling PSTN Calling and PSTN Conferencing together. The Licenses Configuration for the users would be as follows

·         Microsoft Office 365 Enterprise E5 License

·         Domestic Calling Plan (Option1)

·         Domestic + International Calling Plan (Options 2)

Domestic Calling Plan (Option1): - With this plan Microsoft Offers calling Domestic within the country i.e. A United States user with the Domestic Calling Plan will be able to makes to any of the Domestic user within United States either Landline or Mobile.

Note: - The Domestic Calling Plan comes with the limit of 3000 Minutes per month in the US and 1200 minutes in rest of the countries. In case you need any additional minutes there is a flexibility to add more minutes with the top up recharges.

Domestic Calling + International Calling Plan (Option2): - With this plan Microsoft Offer Calling both the Domestic and International Calling around the world. There is restriction to calling some handful list of countries but apart from that we would be able to call all the International Countries.

Note: - The Domestic Calling & International Calling Plan comes with the limit of 3000 Minutes per month for Domestic Calling in United States and 1200 minutes in rest of the countries and 600 Minutes for International Calling. In case you need any additional minutes there is a flexibility to add more minutes with the top up recharges.

Microsoft Office 365 Calling Plans Availability

It’s always a challenge to find in which countries we have Microsoft PSTN Calling Feature Available. So here we go with the list of countries.

·         Belgium

·         Canada

·         France

·         Germany

·         Ireland

·         Puerto Rico

·         Netherlands

·         Spain

·         United Kingdom (U.K.)

·         United States (U.S.)

·         Australia (Offered with Telstra on Third Party Basis)

·         Japan (Offered with Softbank on Third Party Basis)

So, what now if my country is not listed in above list. Can’t I use Microsoft SFBO (Skype for Business Online) and PSTN Calling. The Answer is No. Administrators can still configure PSTN Calling using Third Party ISP providers Example Tata Communications, Vodafone, Vodafone, Singtel.

Most of the ISP providers provide SIP with the Microsoft SFBO (Skype for Business Online) offer very competitive offering for calling plans. More in Details in my next article…

Reference Article

Microsoft Enterprise License Comparison

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business/compare-more-office-365-for-business-plans

Microsoft Calling Plan Rules and Restriction

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/calling-plan-landing-page