In short
A Teams phone number is a business number assigned to a licensed Teams Phone user, auto attendant or call queue. Numbers are not included in the Teams Phone licence: they come from Microsoft, an operator or your carrier, depending on the calling option. Forever Systems can supply new numbers or port existing ones with our Teams calling service.
Get a quote for Teams numbers and calling
Tell us roughly how many users and numbers you have and we will come back to you with options and a quote.
How Teams phone numbers work
Microsoft states (opens in a new tab) that telephone numbers are not included with Teams Phone licensing. They are acquired through the service provider that gives the tenant its connection to the phone network, then assigned to accounts licensed for Teams Phone.
Once numbers are in the tenant they are managed in the Teams admin centre or with Teams PowerShell. A user with a number and a connection to the phone network has what many people call a Teams phone line: a direct business number that rings in Teams.
Types of Teams phone number
| Number usage | What it is for | Number types Microsoft lists |
|---|---|---|
| User | A person's direct number | Geographic |
| Voice app | An auto attendant or call queue, through its resource account | Geographic and toll-free |
| Conference | A dial-in number for Teams meetings | Geographic and toll-free |
Microsoft notes that a service number can handle hundreds of calls at the same time, where a user's number can handle only a few. That is why a main switchboard number belongs on an auto attendant or call queue, not on a person.
Not sure which option fits? Ask us
Tell us what you need and we will recommend the right option for your organisation, with a quote.
Where numbers come from, by calling option
| Calling option | Who supplies the numbers | How existing numbers are kept |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Calling Plan | Microsoft. At least one Calling Plan licence is needed before numbers can be acquired | Ported to Microsoft |
| Operator Connect | The operator. New numbers appear in the Teams admin centre | Ported to the operator, where it supports porting |
| Teams Phone Mobile | The mobile operator: the number on the user's SIM | The mobile number stays with the mobile operator |
| Direct Routing | Your carrier or Direct Routing provider | Kept with your carrier, or ported to the provider |
Teams calling explains the four options. Our Teams calling service uses Direct Routing, and your existing numbers are ported to it.
Porting existing numbers to Teams
Most organisations want callers to keep dialling the numbers they know. A port moves a number from your current provider to the new one, and the number is then assigned to a user, auto attendant or call queue in Teams.
With our Teams calling service we check which numbers can move, plan the port date with you and assign the numbers in Teams. For numbers going to Microsoft, Microsoft says a tenant-level Know Your Customer (KYC) check may be needed before numbers are acquired or ported in some countries, and that most reviews are completed within three working days.
Want your numbers moved to Teams?
Tell us which numbers you have and where they sit today and we will plan the move with you.
What a Teams phone number costs
There is no single price for a Teams phone number, because numbers come from the calling option, not from the Teams Phone licence. What drives the cost is:
- The calling option and who supplies the numbers
- How many user numbers and service numbers you need
- Whether numbers are new or ported
- Call usage, or the minutes included
Not every user needs a number of their own. With Shared Calling, Microsoft lets users share the number of an auto attendant's resource account for inbound and outbound calls. Contact us for a quote that covers numbers, calling and licences together.
Sources (checked 11 November 2026): Microsoft Learn, "Get telephone numbers in Microsoft Teams", "Set up Teams Phone in your organization", "Get Microsoft Teams Calling Plan phone numbers for your tenant", "Microsoft Teams Calling Plans", "Plan for Operator Connect", "Plan for Teams Phone Mobile" and "Plan for Shared Calling".
How Forever Systems helps with Teams Phone
Forever Systems can quote and set up Microsoft Teams Phone for your organisation and connect it to the phone network.
- Licence and calling check: we look at the Microsoft 365 plan you hold and recommend the Teams Phone licences and calling option that fit
- Numbers kept: we plan and manage the porting of your existing numbers
- Call flows set up: auto attendants, call queues and opening hours built and tested with you
- Works with what you use: the Teams apps on desktop and mobile
- Licensing in one place: licences can be billed monthly, with terms confirmed at quote
We work with businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations. Pricing depends on users, licences and calling, so ask us for a quote.
Frequently asked questions
How does an organisation get a phone number in Teams?
Numbers come from the service that connects Teams to the phone network: Microsoft with a Calling Plan, an operator with Operator Connect, a mobile operator with Teams Phone Mobile, or a carrier with Direct Routing. They are then assigned to licensed users, auto attendants and call queues.
Can we keep our existing numbers when we move to Teams?
Usually, yes. Existing numbers can normally be ported to Microsoft, to an operator or to a Direct Routing provider. With our Teams calling service we check your numbers and plan the port with you.
How much does a Teams phone number cost?
It depends on the calling option, the number of user and service numbers, and call usage. Numbers are not part of the Teams Phone licence. Ask us for a quote covering numbers, calling and licences.
Does every Teams Phone user need their own number?
No. Microsoft's Shared Calling lets a group of users make and receive calls through the number of an auto attendant's resource account, which suits people who rarely call outside the organisation.
What is a Teams phone line?
It is the everyday name for a business phone number assigned to a Teams Phone user, together with the connection to the phone network that carries its calls. It rings in the Teams app in place of a traditional line.
Still have a question about Teams phone numbers?
Ask us and a member of our team will get back to you.