It’s not an understatement to say that work has changed dramatically since the COVID pandemic, which brought a massive shift from in-office to remote working. Platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams are now integrated into our work environments, remote or not. According to Digital Information World, Zoom held a staggering 48.7 percent share of the video conferencing market in 2021, with MS Teams at 14.5 percent¹. Despite this disparity in market share, both platforms combine video conferencing and chat with voice calls. While MS Teams Phone and Zoom Phone are similar in some respects, they are quite different in others. Let’s learn more about the similarities, differences, and how navitend can help you find your business voice.
One major similarity is that both platforms enable users to make and receive business phone calls on compatible devices, no matter where in the world they are. With its entry-level MS Teams Phone with Calling Plan package, Microsoft gives users the ability to make calls through the MS Teams app on any Teams-equipped device². Zoom Phone also lets users receive phone calls from multiple devices and/or apps, if they are equipped with Zoom Phone capabilities³.
Also, both MS Teams Phone and Zoom Phone let users integrate existing phone systems with the software. For example, with Direct Routing, MS Teams users can utilize Microsoft’s Phone System with a phone carrier of their choice⁴. They can also connect an SBC, or session border controller, directly to the MS Phone System⁴. Meanwhile, Zoom’s “Bring Your Own Carrier” initiative similarly lets Zoom Phone users leverage their existing PSTN service providers⁵. Either way, you won’t have the hassle of switching to an all-new system.
However, despite their similarities, MS Teams Phone and Zoom Phone have plenty of differences. For example, according to Alan Shen at No Jitter, Zoom Phone offers greater support for legacy devices⁶. In other words, it’ll support more of the devices you already have, without the need for costly new equipment. On the other hand, MS Teams Phone has limited legacy support, instead encouraging customers to buy new devices based on Microsoft’s proprietary Teams code base⁶. If you’re a new business owner without any existing devices, this isn’t necessarily a disadvantage to you because you’ll have to purchase new devices anyway⁶. If you have an existing telecommunications network, though, you must replace it with new Microsoft-certified devices⁶. This is a rather costly investment.
Perhaps the most important difference between MS Teams Phone and Zoom Phone involves safety. Like Teams video conferencing, Teams Phone is built on the secure Microsoft Trustworthy Computing Development Lifecycle foundation⁷. Although Teams-related cyber incidents occur, they are rare, and built-in integration with Microsoft Azure gives you security and much-needed peace of mind⁷. Also, Microsoft never sells data to advertisers, instead using it to improve the Teams experience⁷. Zoom, however, has repeatedly been subject to controversy for sharing user data with companies like Facebook⁷. It’s also worth noting that Zoom Phone lacks a dedicated IT command center, making it more prone to data leaks and breaches⁷. If your data is leaked, then the consequences could be disastrous.
While both MS Teams Phone and Zoom Phone have their respective pros and cons, we recommend MS Teams Phone as your go-to business voice solution. With its key emphasis on safety, enhanced direct routing capabilities, and built-in Office 365 integration, MS Teams Phone gives you seamless enterprise communications in one convenient package.
Whether you’re installing MS Teams for the first time or looking to integrate voice calling with your existing MS Teams interface, navitend offers phone consulting services tailored to you and your business. We can help you integrate voice calls with MS Teams and other software applications so you can have a strong foundation for communications at an affordable price.
Navitend can help you. Call 973.448.0070 or setup an appointment today.
Sources:
¹Digital Information World – “Zoom vs. Google Meet vs. Microsoft Teams: New data reveals the world’s most popular video calling platform.” Retrieved from https://www.digitalinformationworld.com/2021/04/top-video-call-platform-by-market-share.html.
²Microsoft – “Teams Phone: Voice and Video Calling – Microsoft Teams”. Retrieved from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/microsoft-teams-phone.
³Zoom Video Communications, Inc. – “Zoom Phone Plans & Pricing”. Retrieved from https://zoom.us/pricing/zoom-phone.
⁴Microsoft – “Direct Routing – Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Docs”. Retrieved from https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/MicrosoftTeams/direct-routing-landing-page?msclkid=16bac402c7e511eca96e14aa5a5af4fe
⁵Unify Square – “Microsoft Teams vs. Zoom: How to Determine the Right Fit”. Retrieved from https://www.unifysquare.com/blog/microsoft-teams-vs-zoom/?msclkid=fc0c3740c7cc11ecbd8912bf494c5264.
⁶NoJitter.com – “The Looming Zoom vs. Teams UcaaS Phone Battle” by Alan Shen. Retrieved from https://www.nojitter.com/unified-communications-collaboration/looming-zoom-vs-teams-ucaas-phone-battle.
⁷G12 Communications LLC – “Microsoft Teams Voice vs. Zoom: Which is the best choice for your business?” Retrieved from https://www.g12com.com/microsoft-teams-voice-vs-zoom/?msclkid=c4ac7ed9c7e211ec8d098a3fc9352b00.
Contact us at 973.448.0070