Revolutionizing Communication: Telviva Launches Call2Teams for Microsoft Teams

Telviva is making waves in the unified communications space with the launch of Call2Teams—a South African first-to-market SaaS solution that brings native voice capability directly into the Microsoft Teams environment. This innovative integration not only enables users to make, receive, and transfer calls seamlessly within Teams but also introduces rich PBX functionality, drastically reducing the costs and complexities typically associated with traditional Microsoft Teams Phone systems.

A New Chapter in Microsoft Teams Communication​

In today’s collaboration-driven world, Microsoft Teams has long been the go-to platform for meetings, chats, and file sharing. However, one missing link has been its native voice telephony—until now. With Call2Teams, Telviva leverages its expertise in cloud-based communications to fill that gap. The solution integrates Telviva’s voice system with Microsoft Teams, offering a native calling experience that feels fully part of the ecosystem rather than an add-on.
Key highlights include:

• Cost Efficiency: Organizations can achieve up to a 40% saving compared to traditional Teams Phone licenses.
• Streamlined Implementation: The cloud-native SaaS solution promises a minimal learning curve and rapid deployment.
• Enhanced Functionality: Users benefit from extended PBX features such as call transfers, conferencing, and comprehensive call history—all within the Teams interface.

This integration solves a long-standing pain point, where businesses had to grapple with additional expensive voice licenses and convoluted deployment procedures. By embedding voice directly into Teams, Telviva is not just offering a tool, but a transformative enabler for unified communications.

Deep Dive: Understanding Call2Teams​

Seamless Integration​

Call2Teams is designed to work in perfect concert with Microsoft Teams. By merging Telviva’s robust voice system with Teams’ intuitive interface, users experience a unified platform where every call, message, and meeting is interconnected. There is no need for users to juggle between disparate systems—everything is accessed within Microsoft Teams, thereby enhancing productivity and minimizing disruptions.

Rich PBX Features​

Beyond basic calling, Telviva’s solution brings a suite of PBX functionalities, including:

• Call Transfers and Conferencing: Elevating the calling experience by enabling smooth transfer between users and facilitating multi-party calls.
• Native Interactions: All call-related actions are recorded in Teams, meaning features like call history, presence, and real-time status updates are inherently accessible.
• Enhanced Security and Compliance: By staying within the secure Microsoft 365 framework, the solution ensures that every conversation is protected by stringent data protection and compliance protocols.

The native approach augments the collaborative qualities of Teams, allowing for a more cohesive work experience that feels both integrated and intuitive.

Flexible Licensing Options​

Telviva is offering two licensing tiers tailored to different Microsoft 365 environments:

• Telviva Call2Teams: Ideal for Microsoft 365 licenses that already include standard phone system licensing.
• Telviva Call2Teams Go: Designed for Microsoft 365 Business Options that do not have a built-in phone system license.

This dual-tier approach ensures that a wider array of organizations—from large enterprises to small businesses—can benefit from advanced telephony integration without facing prohibitive costs.

Market Impact: A Game Changer for South African Businesses​

The rollout of Call2Teams is significant in a market that is ripe for enhanced digital communication. According to recent estimates:

• Globally, Microsoft Teams boasts over 280 million monthly active users.
• Of these, approximately 12 million have enabled voice functionality.
• In South Africa, around 1.3 million users are active on Teams, yet only about 51,000 have adopted voice features.

This discrepancy points to a huge untapped market potential. As Rob Lith, Telviva’s Chief Commercial Officer, noted, the strong demand for making and receiving calls within the familiar Teams environment is largely driven by the shift toward hybrid working and increased online collaboration. With Call2Teams, Telviva positions itself to tap into this vast market, enabling businesses to bridge communication gaps with a solution tailored for local market nuances.

The Strategic Advantages of Call2Teams​

Cost Savings and Efficiency​

Cutting costs by 40% is nothing short of revolutionary in today’s competitive market. By eliminating the need for expensive additional voice licenses that often inflate IT budgets, Call2Teams makes high-quality, integrated telephony accessible to both large corporations and smaller enterprises.

Simplified Communication Flow​

Picture this: Instead of switching between a separate telephony system and a collaboration platform, employees now have one unified interface. This means:

• Increased Productivity: With everything consolidated into one platform, employees can manage meetings, calls, and data sharing without interruptions.
• Enhanced Collaboration: The integration ensures that all telephony activities are embedded within the digital collaboration fabric. This comprehensive approach not only streamlines daily operations but also strengthens team connectivity.

Advanced Security and Compliance​

Operating within Microsoft Teams leverages the robust security protocols of Microsoft 365. For organizations that handle sensitive information or must adhere to stringent industry regulations, this integration provides peace of mind by ensuring all communications are protected and compliant with industry standards.

Quick and Easy Implementation​

Telviva’s cloud-native approach means there’s no need for extensive on-premise infrastructure or laborious setup procedures. Companies can transition to Call2Teams with minimal disruption and training, making it a smart solution for businesses looking to rapidly modernize their communication systems. This agility is particularly beneficial as organizations continue to adapt to fast-changing digital trends.

Broader Implications in the Unified Communications Landscape​

Call2Teams isn’t just a new feature—it’s a trendsetter. In an era where digital transformation is accelerating, integrated solutions like this one are essential. They encapsulate the broader industry movement towards unified communications, where voice, messaging, conferencing, and collaboration are all housed under a single digital roof.
Consider these industry implications:

• Enhanced User Adoption: With more than 280 million Microsoft Teams users globally, integrating native voice capabilities could significantly boost overall user productivity and satisfaction.
• Scalability: As organizations grow, having a unified system that scales effortlessly to handle increased communication demands is invaluable.
• Interoperability: By remaining within the Microsoft ecosystem, Call2Teams guarantees that all voice interactions adhere to familiar protocols, thereby reducing the learning curve and ensuring smoother interoperability with existing tools.

From an IT perspective, solutions like Call2Teams offer a breath of fresh air in a traditionally fragmented telephony market. Companies can now consolidate their communication pipelines, thereby reducing both operational costs and administrative overhead while still bolstering robust security measures.

Telviva’s Vision for the Future of Communication​

Rob Lith’s comments reflect a bold and forward-thinking strategy: “There is no doubt a massive addressable market... we intend to be at the forefront of more voice integration in Teams environments in South Africa.” This forward-looking vision suggests that Telviva is not merely responding to current needs but is strategically positioning itself for future technology trends where integrated communication systems become the norm.
With the rise of hybrid work environments and the ongoing demand for seamless digital communication, Telviva’s launch of Call2Teams could serve as a catalyst for further innovation in the telephony space. By addressing both the cost and complexity barriers, Telviva paves the way for broader adoption of native voice capabilities, potentially influencing the global market trends for unified communications.

Conclusion: A Seamless, Cost-effective Future for Team Collaboration​

Telviva’s Call2Teams marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Microsoft Teams. By integrating native voice capabilities directly into Teams, businesses are now empowered to manage all aspects of communication—calls, messaging, and collaboration—within one secure, efficient platform. The benefits are compelling:

• Considerable cost savings of up to 40%.
• Elimination of complex, costly implementation processes.
• Enhanced PBX functionalities combined with Microsoft’s robust security frameworks.

For IT decision-makers and business leaders, Call2Teams offers a strategic advantage in today's fast-paced digital era, enabling a seamless and cost-effective transition toward centralized communication systems. As the unified communications market continues to evolve, Telviva’s innovative approach stands as a testament to the growing demand for integrated, agile, and secure communication platforms.
In a world where digital interconnectivity is paramount, solutions like Call2Teams are not merely enhancements—they are essential building blocks for the future of efficient business communication.

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Source: TechCentral Telviva launches Call2Teams: native voice capability in Microsoft Teams - TechCentral

 

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Telviva’s latest offering is making waves by seamlessly blending native voice capabilities within Microsoft Teams for Windows users. The new Call2Teams solution delivers a native calling experience backed by robust PBX functionality—all while trimming costs by a striking 40% compared to traditional Microsoft Teams Phone licensing. For IT administrators and business leaders navigating an increasingly hybrid work environment, this news is poised to transform communication strategies and reduce operational complexity.

Bridging Communication Gaps in a Hybrid World​

As organizations pivot to digital-first work models, the integration of voice services directly into familiar collaboration platforms like Microsoft Teams has become paramount. Telviva’s Call2Teams is a timely answer to this call. By embedding telephony within Teams, employees can make and receive calls without ever leaving their workspace. Key highlights include:
• Native integration within Microsoft Teams
• Up to 40% cost savings compared to conventional Teams Phone licenses
• Extended PBX functionalities, including call transfers, conferencing, and comprehensive call history
• Compliance with Microsoft’s licensing and security frameworks
Rob Lith, Telviva’s Chief Commercial Officer, emphasizes the solution’s ability to tap into a massive addressable market. With over 280 million monthly active Microsoft Teams users worldwide and a significant growth in hybrid communication, the timing is perfect for organizations looking to consolidate communication channels.

Unpacking Call2Teams Technology​

At its core, the Call2Teams solution bridges the gap between cloud-based communications and the ubiquitous Microsoft Teams interface. Its architecture isn’t just built for cost savings—it’s designed to simplify deployment and enhance user experience. Here’s how:

• Seamless Integration
  Telviva’s solution marries Microsoft Teams with its own robust voice system. This integration means no more juggling separate tools or facing steep learning curves—everything is accessible in one unified interface. The design ensures that familiar features like presence, call history, and user policies are retained, which in turn mitigates training challenges and accelerates user adoption.
• Extended PBX Functionality
  Beyond basic calling, Telviva offers rich PBX features comparable to traditional phone systems. Users can effortlessly transfer calls, set up conferences, and manage advanced call routing options—all within the Teams environment. For IT administrators, this means enhanced control over call management without the need for an entirely new system.
• Compliance & Security
  With tight integration comes the assurance of compliance. Telviva’s Call2Teams adheres fully to Microsoft MS365’s stringent security and licensing frameworks, ensuring robust data protection and regulatory compliance—a crucial factor for businesses operating in heavily regulated sectors.
• Flexible Licensing Options
  Understanding that one size does not fit all, Telviva has introduced two tiers:
• Call2Teams: Tailored for Microsoft 365 licenses that already include a standard phone system license.
• Call2Teams Go: Engineered for Microsoft 365 business options that do not necessitate a separate phone system license.
  This flexibility not only extends the solution’s market reach but also allows organizations to choose a model that aligns perfectly with their existing infrastructure and budgetary constraints.

Market Impact and User Adoption​

The numbers paint a compelling picture. Globally, while Microsoft Teams enjoys vast usage, only a fraction of users have enabled voice capabilities. In South Africa alone—with an estimated 1.3 million active Teams users—only about 51,000 have harnessed voice functionalities. This disparity signals substantial untapped potential, which Telviva is strategically positioned to capture.
• Cost Efficiency: With a 40% cost reduction, organizations can redirect saved resources to other strategic IT projects.
• Simplified Management: The integration reduces the need for additional voice licenses and minimizes the complexity of deployments—a boon for IT departments managing multi-platform environments.
• Enhanced Collaboration: Native voice integration fosters a more cohesive user experience, reducing friction and streamlining communication workflows.
• Industry-Leading Compliance: For businesses with rigorous data security and compliance standards, the assurance that telecommunications remain within the secure bounds of Microsoft Teams is invaluable.
Moreover, Telviva’s inclusion in South Africa’s largest cloud free-call community—with the added perk of zero-rated calls to any customer on its network—reinforces the value proposition. Users within the Telviva ecosystem can enjoy uninterrupted, cost-effective communication, a feature that is particularly attractive in a region where communication costs can quickly add up.

Benefits for IT Professionals and End Users​

For IT professionals, the new solution promises a significant reduction in the headaches often associated with multi-system integration. Instead of dealing with the complexities of interfacing separate telephony and collaboration systems, IT teams can now manage operations from a unified dashboard within Microsoft Teams. This congruence not only trims down administrative overhead but also enhances troubleshooting and maintenance efficiency.
From an end user’s perspective, the benefits are equally pronounced:
• Familiar Environment: Users continue to leverage the Microsoft Teams interface they know well, now enriched with advanced voice calling features.
• Quick Onboarding: With minimal training required, teams can begin leveraging advanced telephony features almost immediately—a critical advantage in fast-paced business settings.
• Enhanced Communication: The seamless integration means that call history, presence, and interactive features are all native to Teams, fostering a more natural communication flow.

Wider Implications for the Microsoft Ecosystem​

Telviva’s Call2Teams is more than just another tool—it’s a reflection of broader trends influencing the Microsoft ecosystem. As enterprises increasingly opt for integrated, all-in-one solutions, it’s clear that native voice capabilities within Teams are no longer a luxury but a necessity. Microsoft’s own push towards an integrated 365 environment makes third-party solutions like Call2Teams highly complementary. They extend the functionality of standard offerings, thereby enabling businesses to customize their communication framework without reinventing the wheel.
The Telviva approach also aligns with the current trend toward cloud-based, scalable solutions that match the pace of modern business. With the increased adoption of Microsoft Teams on Windows-based devices, having a seamless, secure voice platform integrated within one of the world's most popular collaboration tools is a significant competitive advantage.

Potential Considerations and Future Developments​

While the advantages are clear, organizations should consider potential limitations:
• Dependency on the Microsoft Ecosystem: The success of Call2Teams is inherently tied to the Microsoft Teams environment. Any changes or updates from Microsoft could necessitate rapid adjustments from Telviva.
• Market Maturity: As early adopters in the South African market, Telviva still faces the challenge of expanding voice integration beyond the current user base.
• Integration Complexity in Larger Enterprises: While the solution is presented as simple and quick to implement, larger organizations with more complex telephony needs might require additional customization or support.
Looking ahead, it will be interesting to see how competitors respond and whether similar solutions emerge in other markets. With the ongoing digital transformation and the convergence of communication platforms, the industry as a whole seems poised for an era where unified communications become the norm rather than the exception.

Final Thoughts​

Telviva’s Call2Teams represents a significant milestone in simplifying business communications for Windows users. Its promise of cost savings, simplified integration, and extended PBX capabilities within Microsoft Teams is a compelling proposition for both small businesses and larger enterprises. By delivering a familiar and secure voice communication experience, Telviva is not only addressing current market demands but also setting the stage for future innovations in unified communications.
For IT professionals and business executives keen on streamlining operations while cutting costs, this innovative SaaS offering could well be the catalyst for a more integrated and efficient communication strategy. As organizations continue to seek ways to consolidate their digital tools and reduce complexity, solutions like Call2Teams will likely play an increasingly pivotal role in shaping the future of business communication on the Windows platform.
The Telviva Call2Teams story underscores a broader industry trend: the merging of voice and digital collaboration into a unified, cost-effective, and user-friendly ecosystem. As the landscape of remote and hybrid work evolves, such innovations are not just welcome—they’re essential for staying ahead in an ever-competitive digital world.

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Source: ITWeb Telviva's Call2Teams helps businesses reduce cost, complexity by enabling native voice calling within Microsoft Teams