Outsourced Information Technology (OIT) just set up our brand‑new main line 6037 8816 on Microsoft Teams Phone.
Below is a guide on what we learned.
1. What Teams Phone actually does
- Lets your staff pick up and dial desk calls straight from the Microsoft Teams app.
- Replaces clunky desk phones if you want – or works with them if you don’t.
- Puts everything in one portal secured by Azure AD and 2‑factor authentication.
2. SBO vs FBO
| Word | Think of it as | Example |
|---|---|---|
| FBO (Facilities‑Based Operator) | The company that owns real phone numbers and cables in the ground | Singtel, M1, StarHub, MyRepublic |
| SBO (Service‑Based Operator) | The company that runs the phone system in the cloud | Microsoft Teams Phone, many VoIP start‑ups |
Microsoft holds an SBO (Class) licence from IMDA.
Why OIT still asks “Who’s your FBO?”
Your phone number lives with an FBO.
If you ever move away, the port‑out request passes through that FBO. Microsoft’s number‑port form mentions M1 – so M1 likely handles the lines behind Teams Phone.
3. How much does Teams Phone cost in Singapore?
| Plan (per user / month) | Price* | Outbound minutes | Notes |
| Teams Phone + Domestic Calling | US$20 | 1 200 SG minutes | Pool shared across all users |
| Teams Phone + Domestic + International | US$36 | 1 200 SG or 600 global minutes | Unlimited inbound calls |
*Source: Microsoft Singapore pricing page → microsoft.com/en‑sg (microsoft.com)
Compliance call recording
Need every call recorded for regulators? Add Compliance Recording at about US$14.50 per user per month for unlimited storage.
4. What we liked
- Quick setup – our new number went live in two days.
- One dashboard – create hunt groups, voicemail rules and holidays with clicks, not code.
- Strong security & audit logs – see Microsoft’s Trust Center → microsoft.com/teams/security (microsoft.com)
5. What could be better
| Topic | Asterisk / FreePBX (common SBO stack) | Microsoft Teams Phone |
| Automatic call recording | Built‑in (just add disk) | Extra licence (see § 3) |
| Tweak‑every‑setting freedom | Full control of dial plan | Portal hides low‑level SIP knobs |
| Vanity numbers | Often possible | Digits ending in 8 were always missing in our tests |
6. Number blocks & porting
Most SBOs buy phone numbers in blocks of 10.
Port‑outs can fail if that block is split across many customers.
Microsoft seems able to issue single numbers and forum users report successful port‑outs – a positive sign.
We will keep you updated on real-world experience when we have tried to port out a number from
Numbers ported into Microsoft will not encounter issues when ported out.
7. Verdict
- On a tight budget? Open‑source PBXs like FreePBX cost less upfront.
- Need safe record‑everything lines for finance compliance? Teams Phone + the recording add‑on ticks that box.
- Already using Microsoft 365? Teams Phone feels like just switching on another module – no new passwords, no extra app.
In short, Teams Phone costs more than hobby‑grade VoIP but rewards you with proven security, simpler management and local regulatory comfort.
In our individual careers before OIT, we have experience in running everything from bare‑metal Asterisk servers to carrier‑grade SBCs, giving us the know‑how to spot risks – and the confidence to put our own main line on Microsoft Teams Phone first.
