What you need to know
- Microsoft is extending support for Skype for Business third-party IP phones beyond 2023.
- They'll continue to work as companies switch to Microsoft Teams devices.
- Core calling features on SIP phones will be supported on Teams as well.
If your company already uses Skype for Business third-party IP phones (3PIP), you'll have a bit longer to use them before they're phased out. Originally, Microsoft announced plans to end 3PIP phones support with Teams in 2023. In a new blog post, the company says it will now support 3PIP phones "beyond 2023."
"We also realize that being able to use existing hardware can provide important cost savings when moving to a new phone system." Microsoft said in a [blog post](/e?link=https%3A%2F%2Fclick.linksynergy.com%2Fdeeplink%3Fid%3DkXQk6%252AivFEQ%26mid%3D24542%26u1%3DUUwpUdUnU79332%26murl%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.microsoft.com%252Fen-us%252Fmicrosoft-365%252Fblog%252F2020%252F08%252F03%252Ftake-communnext-level-microsoft-teams%252F&token=fvJsejtE "Today, we are announcing extended support for Skype for Business (3PIP) phones beyond 2023, so you can continue to use your existing Skype for Business phones as you move to Teams. Additionally, we will be supporting core calling features on SIP phones from Cisco, Yealink, Polycom, and others with Teams. Support for SIP phones will be available in the first half of 2021."
There's no word on how much longer Microsoft plans to support 3PIP phones. However, it will be handy as companies continue to make the transition to Teams phones.
Microsoft has a slate of Teams Displays and Teams phones with physical buttons in the pipeline. While it pushes partners to make the switch to these purpose-built devices for Teams calling, continued support for 3PIP phones is intended to give companies additional time to transition.
