Update April 11, 2018: The update reflects the latest plans on Lync Phone Edition (LPE) as well as updates on the supported features.
Update April 18, 2018: We added links to the update offers of our partners.
Update July 5, 2018: Updated note in regards to using LPE with Skype for Business Server or Lync Server.
Certified Skype for Business 3rd Party IP Phones (3PIP) for Skype for Business Online will be supported by Microsoft Teams.
Skype for Business Online has a wide range of IP Phones that have been tested and certified as documented in Getting phones for Skype for Business Online. Since we just announced at Ignite, that “Teams will evolve as the primary client for intelligent communications in Office 365, replacing the current Skype for Business client over time” (source: A new vision for intelligent communications in Office 365) customers are wondering, if their Skype for Business Online phones will work against Microsoft Teams as well.
This FAQ should answer the many questions raised at Ignite and post around Skype for Business Online phones and Microsoft Teams.
3rd Party IP Phones (3PIP) Devices
Q: Will my 3PIP (3rd Party IP Phone) continue to work when I switch to Microsoft Teams?
A: Yes, we plan to support all Certified Skype for Business Phones (3PIP).
Q: When will these 3PIP phones be supported with Microsoft Teams?
A: We are planning to support these phones with Microsoft Teams in the second quarter 2018.
Q: What features will be supported on these 3PIP phones after switching to Microsoft Teams?
A: We plan to support the following Skype for Business Online existing features with no change in user experience:
Supported capabilities
- Authentication: All Skype for Business sign-in capabilities will remain unchanged.
- Calling: Skype for Business users will be able to make and receive calls on their phones with no change to their current experience.
- Presence and picture information: Presence information will work.
- Corporate and local directories: Users will still have access to their corporate and local directories.
- Joining Skype for Business scheduled meetings (Online or Server): All existing Skype for Business meeting capabilities will continue to work.
Additionally, the following IP phone features are expected to be supported when an IP Phone user is enabled for Teams:
- Incoming/outgoing P2P calls (when calling a Teams-enabled Skype for Business phone user)
- In-call controls via UI (mute, hold/resume, transfer, end call)
- Phone notifications about upcoming meetings
- Calendar access and meeting details
- One-click join for prescheduled meetings
- Mute/unmute for conferences
- List of meeting participants
- Hold/resume for conferences
- Hang up from conference calls
- Ability for IP phones to add another Skype for Business user to an ongoing meeting by using the Add Participant feature
Q: Will 3PIP phones user interface change (i.e. branding to Microsoft Teams) once I switch the user account?
A: The user experience on 3PIP phones will not change when a user moves to Microsoft Teams.
Q: Will Skype for Business Server connected 3PIP phones get affected?
A: There will be no change to 3PIP phones connected to Skype for Business Server. They will be able to join Microsoft Teams scheduled meeting with the experience detailed above.
Q: What tenant-admin or user action is required for 3PIP phones to support Teams?
A: No tenant-admin or users action or configuration is required when users are switched to Microsoft Teams.
Q: Will there be any Teams specific devices?
A: Yes, we are working with partners to create new personal devices for Teams. Please refer to Bringing Intelligent Communications in Microsoft Teams across devices for more information.
Lync Phone Edition (LPE) Devices
Q: What about Lync Phone Edition (LPE)?
A: While we originally planned to support LPE against Teams, there are multiple factors that prevent us from enabling them to work with Teams:
- Mainstream support for LPE ends with April 10, 2018, see Lifecycle page for Lync Phone Edition
- Office 365 will not support any version of TLS older than 1.2 later this year. Since the underlying operating system of LPE does not support TLS 1.2, LPE will not be supported to connect to Office 365 anymore. See Preparing for the mandatory use of TLS 1.2 in Office 365 for more details.
Q: Which LPE Phones will be affected by the change to TLS 1.2?
A: Devices impacted:
- Polycom: CX500, CX600, and CX3000
- Hewlett-Packard: 4110 and 4120
- Mitel-Aastra: 6721ip and 6725ip
Q: Can I connect to on-premises deployments of Skype for Business Server or Lync Server?
A: LPE device users can continue connecting to on-premises deployments that use TLS 1.0. However, compliance requirements—such as the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS)—may force your customers to upgrade to TLS 1.2.
If you are using Exchange Online features like Calendar and Voicemail will also be effected by the enforcement of TLS 1.2 and will not be supported after October 31.
Q: What are my options for new devices?
A: We have offers available from our partners (AudioCodes, Jabra, Plantronics, Polycom and Yealink) to support a transition plan to new devices:
- Plantronics: Microsoft LPE Replacement Program
- Jabra: Replacing Lync Phone Edition (LPE) devices for Skype for Business and Microsoft Teams
- Polycom: Polycom Solutions to Work with Microsoft Teams
- Yealink: Lync Phone Edition (LPE) Devices Replacement
- AudioCodes: Replace Lync Phone Edition Devices + Maximize the Value of Skype for Business & Microsof...
Hopefully this covered the most important questions – if not, let us know in the comments section!