Do I need Microsoft Teams Phone System licenses with Mitel integration?
No. Mitel Telephony Only Client combined with Mitel Assistant eliminates the need for Microsoft E5 or Phone System licenses ($8-12 per user monthly). You keep your existing Mitel infrastructure and devices while accessing full telephony capabilities within Teams. Duplicate licensing costs are avoided while maintaining advanced call routing, hunt groups, and enterprise features.
Will my existing Mitel desk phones work with Teams integration?
Yes. Mitel integration preserves your existing desk phone investment. Users can continue using Mitel IP phones, softphones, and mobile devices while managing calls through Teams interface. The integration provides unified experience where Teams handles collaboration and meetings while Mitel manages telephony. Bi-directional presence shows availability across both platforms.
How does bi-directional presence synchronization work?
Mitel call server presence integrates with Microsoft user presence in real time. When someone is on a Mitel call, their status automatically shows as busy in Teams, Outlook, and anywhere Microsoft presence displays. Similarly, Mitel users see Teams status (in meeting, away, etc.) on their Mitel devices. This creates unified presence awareness across your entire organization regardless of which platform someone is using.
Can contact center agents use Mitel CX with Teams integration?
Yes. The integration supports both UC (unified communications) and CX (contact center) users. Contact center agents can access Mitel CX omnichannel capabilities for customer interactions while using Teams for internal collaboration with supervisors and other departments. Call recording, quality management, and workforce optimization features are maintained without Teams Contact Center licensing.
What's the difference between Mitel Assistant and Direct Routing with OpenScape SBC?
Mitel Assistant is a Teams tab application providing call control, presence sync, and directory access for users working primarily in Teams. Direct Routing via OpenScape SBC provides SIP trunk integration between Teams and Mitel platforms, offering embedded softphone experience for organizations requiring specific routing scenarios. Many deployments use both—Mitel Assistant for user interface and OpenScape SBC for network connectivity.