51°µÍø

While the goal of this project is not to take away desk phones from employees, many will find that the use of headsets and the software client provides more options and flexibility not available with the desk phone. For those interested in switching to a wired headset, it will be provided to you by OIT at no additional cost to your department in exchange for your current desk phone.

Yes. Users will keep their current phone numbers.

The wireless headset, it is an option if the department is willing to pay for it. The wired options are funded by OIT and the wireless options would be funded by the department.

Yes. Non-wired headset options shall be funded by the department, and not OIT. We recommend Teams-certified endpoints, and there are other devices that meet the criteria, including earbuds, speakers, and over-the-shoulder options.

Jabra is our preferred provider, and end users can work directly with Purchasing to order the desired device format. While non-Teams certified devices will technically work, our support options are limited.

Yes, there is an option to forward calls to external numbers.

It depends on the device. We are encouraging users who currently use an IP phone to exchange their device for a Teams-certified headset, and use the soft clients on their desktop instead. We sent a survey to IP phone users earlier this year, and those who opted in are currently receiving their Teams headsets.

Users can contact the Help Desk if they are interested in the exchange and didn’t respond to the survey. More info on the .

For those who opt to keep using an IP phone, they will receive a Teams-certified phone/handset upon migration. We still have at least another month of analysis before we begin scheduling pilot and production migrations, but we typically employ members of OIT for the pilot. We have had lots of requests for early adoption, so it is possible that we may expand the pilot!

We currently have many users who use Teams today for conferencing and peer-to-peer calling within 51°µÍø. The user migrations will port 51°µÍø phone numbers from Skype to Teams, after which users will have the ability to make outbound (off-campus) phone calls using Teams.

Our project site will be continually updated with timeline information.

The user migrations will port 51°µÍø phone numbers from Skype to Teams, after which users will have the ability to make outbound (off-campus) phone calls using Teams. Users will not get a Teams dial pad until their migrations are complete. However, they can still use a Teams-certified headset with Skype.

Please contact Project Manager Nerissa Grigsby at ngrigsby@smu.edu.

We will be posting updates to the , in our monthly newsletter, and on this project page. 

The OIT is currently working on developing new focused training for our users related to Microsoft Teams. Links will be posted when available. 

Suppose you want to get started right away. In that case, the Microsoft Teams service page has a Documentation and Training section available now. Plus, our LinkedIn Learning has over two dozen courses related to Teams, including and .

As to support, the IT Help Desk team has been using Microsoft Teams since launching the service on campus and is always willing to assist. Feel free to contact the IT Help Desk at 214-768-HELP (4357) or email help@smu.edu.