Octobits Blog – With all the remote working and global teams these days, virtual meetings have become a pretty standard part of our daily routines. Learn more about how much Microsoft 365 audio conferencing add-on price and benefits for your team.
That’s why Microsoft Teams is now the go-to platform for making these connections.
But what if some of your participants can’t get online or prefer the old-fashioned way of joining a virtual meeting via a phone call?
That’s where the Microsoft 365 Audio Conferencing add-on helps you connect the dots between digital and traditional communication methods.
So, let’s talk about many things about Microsoft 365 Audio Conferencing add-on price, benefits, how it works, and many more here.
Microsoft 365 Audio Conferencing Add-on Price Information
The price of the Microsoft 365 Audio Conferencing add-on can change depending on what you need and what kind of Microsoft 365 subscription you already have.
You can get the Audio Conferencing licence in different versions, with each one offering a different level of service.
For example, the standard Audio Conferencing licence includes toll-free numbers for all supported countries, 60 minutes of outbound calls per user per month to Zone A countries, and Operator Connect Conferencing.
It’s worth mentioning that these minutes are shared across all users in the same tenant.
There’s also a free Audio Conferencing licence option, which gives you all the same features as the standard licence but you can only make calls to the United States and Canada.
Then there’s the option of Pay-Per-Minute Audio Conferencing as a different way of licensing it.
This option is available for Volume and Licensing customers and lets you pay for Audio Conferencing usage by the minute, without a monthly licence fee.
You’ll need to set up your Communications Credits and a budget for your outbound call minutes.
So, if you’re in Australia or another region, it’s best to choose your country or region on the Microsoft pricing page to get the most accurate and up-to-date pricing for the standard audio conferencing licence.
As a starting point, it might be helpful to take a look at “Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 Price: What Is It and Price Details“
Features
The main thing is how you can join a Microsoft Teams meeting by dialling in on your phone.
This is really handy for people who don’t have access to the Microsoft Teams app or a stable internet connection.
On the other hand, there’s the option to dial out, which lets meeting organisers add participants to the meeting by calling their phone numbers directly from the Teams app.
You can also use the add-on with toll and toll-free numbers, so it suits different participants better.
If you’re already with a certain carrier, you might want to check out the Operator Connect Conferencing feature.
You can use your current phone carrier for audio conferences.
Another handy feature is the ‘Call me’ option, which lets the system call participants back at their provided phone number – ideal for those on the go.
Privacy is also a big deal. You can also use the add-on to dial in anonymously, which is great for when you need to keep things private.
And for those who like to multitask, the hands-free option lets them join the meeting without having to hold the phone to their ear, so they can keep their hands free for other tasks.
Benefits
Microsoft 365 Audio Conferencing add-on price is subject to change, especially with international call rates, which are updated every month to reflect market conditions.
But, the main thing that is important is how it makes sure everyone on the team, no matter where they are or if they can get online, can take part in meetings.
The add-on is also great for keeping things flexible and convenient. You can join meetings from pretty much any device with a phone line, whether it’s your mobile, a landline, or even a hotel room phone.
And there’s more! For administrators, the add-on makes it easier to set up and manage.
You can add, monitor, and manage it easily from the Teams admin centre, which saves valuable time and effort.
And let’s not forget about productivity! The hands-free option and dial-in capability let you multitask during meetings, like taking notes, reviewing documents, or even grabbing a coffee, all while staying engaged in the conversation.
For more on Defender, have a look at “Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 vs Plan 2 Price: Overview & Features.”
How to Purchase and Set Up
In a nutshell, getting started with Microsoft 365 Audio Conferencing involves a few key steps:
- Checking availability in your region
- Purchasing the appropriate licences
- Assigning them to the right users
- Setting up Communications Credits if necessary
- Adding any optional customisations.
Yes, the process is designed to be straightforward, but it’s important to choose the right licence type for your organisation’s needs.
If you’re currently on the Office 365 E1 or E3 subscriptions, you’ll need to buy the Audio Conferencing add-on separately.
However, if you’re on the E5 subscription, you’re in luck – you’ll get Audio Conferencing as part of the package.
Once you’ve got the right licences, the next thing to do is give them to the people in your company who will be running or scheduling meetings.
The good news is you don’t need to worry about licences or additional setup for meeting attendees who dial in.
You can easily manage the purchase and assignment of licences through the Microsoft 365 admin centre.
If you’ve gone for the pay-per-minute licensing model, there’s one more thing you need to do: set up Communications Credits.
These are like a prepaid budget to cover the costs of any outbound calls made during audio conferences. Once you’ve got that sorted, you’re almost ready to go.
If you want to add a personal touch, Microsoft has a range of optional configurations you can use.
You can make your meeting invites look the part by adding your company logo or specific instructions, choose which phone numbers to include, set up the language used by the Audio Conferencing auto attendant and even adjust the PIN length for meetings.
If you’re still unsure, you can also have a look at this Microsoft Learn page. Or you can try using Octobits as a license management platform.
Octobits is a great way to get a bird’s eye view of your software ecosystem, including your Microsoft 365 and Teams licence.
This visibility lets you spot and get rid of any unused or underused licences, which helps you save money and make sure you’re only paying for what you need.
And the great news is you can use Octobits free of charge until December 2024. That way, you have plenty of time to look into it and get a clear picture of what you’re spending on SaaS.
Over time, you can make smart choices about all your Microsoft products investments.
In Closing
Microsoft Teams is a great platform for communicating and working together. Meanwhile, the Microsoft 365 Audio Conferencing add-on is a great way to combine traditional and digital communication.
As with any game-changing technology, the price of the add-on can vary quite a bit depending on many factors.
So, the best way to find out how much the Microsoft 365 Audio Conferencing add-on price is to start using it.
