When we implemented Microsoft Teams we added it to the existing capability for our staff. Previously we had been using Skype for Business for external phone calls.
When we investigated switching off Skype for Business we discovered that the equivalent licencing for external calling within Teams was around 3 times more expensive. So far this has put us off migrating fully to Teams. However the situation can't last for ever as Microsoft have announced an end date for support to Skype for Business in January 2024. We also recognise that operating multiple platforms that offer similar capability (such as calling and video calling) is confusing.
Our model for staff is that meetings and internal calls/messages should use Teams and external calling uses Skype. However, Skype is still being used for internal calls and messaging.
Having reviewed the call data we had hoped to find that most of our users only required access to internal calls and messaging, but we discovered that 99% made or received calls to and from external numbers. We have also looked at licence consolidation services which we thought might allow us to limit the number of licences we bought to the maximum number of simultaneous users needing to make or receive calls. Exploration of that solution suggested it would be expensive too.
We are now wondering whether there is any possibility of federating public sector Microsoft tenancies more widely that we have done to date, which would allow for greater collaboration between organisations as well as allow for calls and messaging to be within Teams without buying an external calling plan. If this was possible it would allow us to provide external calling to staff whose calls were to or from non-federated organisations. Assuming this number was around 1/3 or less than the total number of staff currently licenced on Skype it should be possible to contain our costs to the same level we pay today.
If we can't make the federated option work we will find ourselves waiting to see whether Teams calling plans reduce in price as the deadline approaches for the end of Skype for Business. We would really welcome ideas from anyone else who has overcome this challenge. If you have, please get in touch by emailing digital@plymouth.gov.uk.