In short: Teams phones are desk, common area and conference phones, displays and headsets certified for Microsoft Teams, running the Teams experience with sign-in, calendar join and call queue controls. Shared phones use the Microsoft Teams Shared Space licence, named Teams Shared Devices before April 2026, and Microsoft's SIP Gateway lets compatible SIP and DECT devices work with Teams.
Types of Teams device
Microsoft and device makers offer several categories. We describe them generically; we will recommend specific devices once we know your users.
| Device type | What it is for | Typical users |
|---|---|---|
| Personal desk phone | A Teams handset signed in as one user, with their calls, contacts, voicemail and meetings | Reception, finance, managers, anyone on the phone all day |
| Common area phone | A shared handset signed in to a shared account, with a limited, privacy-friendly interface | Kitchens, corridors, warehouses, lobbies |
| Conference phone | A speakerphone for small rooms, joining Teams meetings and calls | Huddle rooms and offices without a full room system |
| Teams display | A desk device with a touch screen showing calls, calendar and chat alongside your PC | Hybrid workers and executives |
| Headsets and speakerphones | USB, Bluetooth or DECT audio devices certified for Teams, with Teams call controls | Everyone using the Teams app |
| DECT and SIP devices via SIP Gateway | Compatible SIP desk phones, DECT systems and analogue adapters that sign in to Teams | Sites with existing handsets, cordless users and door entry |
For meeting rooms, see Microsoft Teams Rooms. For handset advice across every platform, see VoIP phones.
What certification gives you
Devices that are Certified for Microsoft Teams run the Teams experience natively and are tested by Microsoft. Microsoft's documentation lists features available on Teams-certified phones, including:
- Modern authentication, with sign-in on the phone or from another device
- Contacts, call history, voicemail and speed dial synced with Teams
- One-touch join for Teams meetings from the calendar
- Call queue controls so agents can opt in and out
- Delegation, so an assistant can answer, place and pick up calls for a manager
- Hot desking: sign in to any phone and get your own settings
- Video on phones with a camera, with privacy shutters where available
- Lock and unlock together with a Windows PC running Teams
Certified devices are managed in the Teams admin centre, where you can update firmware, apply configuration profiles and see device health.
Licensing shared phones
A personal Teams phone uses the signed-in user's own Teams Phone licence. Shared devices need their own licence:
- Microsoft Teams Shared Space (named Microsoft Teams Shared Devices before April 2026) licenses common area phones, Teams panels for BYOD rooms, desk docks for bookable desks and Android phones used as shared devices. It includes Teams Phone, Intune and cloud voicemail. Each licence covers one device.
- A shared phone still needs a PSTN option for outside calls. Microsoft notes that with Direct Routing, a common area phone does not need a Calling Plan.
- Microsoft says Teams Rooms Basic licences do not work on Teams phones (an account with one is blocked from signing in), and Shared Space licences do not work on Teams Rooms devices.
Our Teams Phone licensing page covers every licence in one table.
Keeping existing handsets: SIP Gateway, DECT and analogue
You may not need to replace every phone. Microsoft's SIP Gateway lets compatible SIP devices sign in to Teams with corporate credentials and make and receive calls. Microsoft's compatibility list includes SIP desk phones from several makers, a number of IP DECT systems and analogue telephone adapters.
Through SIP Gateway, devices support calling, hold, transfer, voicemail with a message waiting light, conference calls, dial-in to Teams meetings and use as call queue agents (without presence-based routing). Users need a phone number with PSTN calling enabled.
Where SIP Gateway is not suitable, for example for alarms, lift lines or fax, devices can connect through an analogue gateway using Teams Direct Routing. Cordless needs in larger buildings are covered on our cordless DECT phones page.
Choosing and rolling out Teams devices
A few practical points make Teams devices work well:
- Match the device to the role. Reception may want a phone with a sidecar of busy lamp keys; most hybrid staff only need a good headset.
- Power and network. Most desk phones take Power over Ethernet; plan switch capacity and a voice VLAN.
- Shared areas. Use common area phones with Shared Space licences rather than a spare user account.
- Emergency locations. Configure network-based locations so 999 calls from desk phones show the right site.
- Buy or reuse. Check SIP Gateway compatibility for existing handsets before buying new ones.
We supply, provision and support Teams-certified devices as part of Microsoft Teams Phone and Forever Teams. Contact us for device advice and a quote.
Why choose your cloud phone system with Forever Systems
We are vendor-neutral. Forever Group supplies and supports several cloud phone platforms, so we recommend the one that fits how your organisation works rather than the one we happen to sell.
- Side-by-side comparison of hosted 3CX, Microsoft Teams Phone, Forever UC, Forever Teams and Webex Calling for your users
- Contact centre and call recording options matched to your call volumes and CRM
- Number porting, handsets and set-up handled for you, including the move off analogue and ISDN lines
- Connectivity checked so call quality is right from day one
- UK support for moves, adds, changes and faults
- For BT Cloud Voice, see our BT Business Partner site cloudvoice.cloud
We work with businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations. We do not sell consumer phone services.
Want a vendor-neutral cloud phone system comparison and quote?
Tell Forever Systems what you need and we will come back to you by email with options, not a hard sell.
Contact usFrequently asked questions
Can I use a normal desk phone with Microsoft Teams?
Some existing SIP desk phones can work with Teams through Microsoft's SIP Gateway, which supports calling, transfer and voicemail on compatible devices. For the full Teams experience, including meetings and calendar, choose a phone certified for Microsoft Teams.
What licence does a Teams common area phone need?
A common area phone uses a Microsoft Teams Shared Space licence, called Teams Shared Devices before April 2026. It includes Teams Phone and cloud voicemail, and the phone also needs a PSTN option for outside calls.
Do I need a desk phone for Teams Phone?
No. Teams Phone works in the Teams desktop and mobile apps with a headset. Desk phones are optional and useful for reception, shared areas and people who prefer a handset.
Do cordless DECT phones work with Teams?
Yes. A number of IP DECT systems are on Microsoft's SIP Gateway compatibility list, and DECT headsets certified for Teams are also available. We check coverage and compatibility before recommending a system.