Over the summer months, MacEwan Telecom has been working to migrate the university’s phone system to Microsoft Teams, providing faculty and staff with communication tools in one collaborative space.

A lot has happened and there are many new features you can now take advantage of, including:

Use your phone from anywhere: Simply log in to the Teams desktop application (which offers the best calling experience) or through an internet browser (all browsers except Firefox support Teams calling features) to access your team files, chats, calendar, and now your MacEwan phone line. All individuals with MacEwan phone numbers can place and receive calls using Teams.

Voice messages to text: Your voice messages are now translated to text and delivered to your inbox.

Dial by name: Rather than dialing a four-digit extension for internal phone calls, you can search the directory by the name of the person you wish to call. External callers can also reach a person by name. For example, when an external caller dials the main phone number (e.g., 1-780-497-5800), they can either say the person’s name or use their phone’s keypad to enter the person’s last name.

See the quick start guide for Microsoft Teams calling, or watch the introductory video.

The MacEwan Phone System is also undergoing several additional changes, including updates to the physical and virtual infrastructure for many essential phone services (e.g., fax services, upgrading analog lines servicing emergency calls, 911 operations, and the overall health monitoring of the phone system).

These updates will extend our project into the Fall term. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we implement the new phone system at MacEwan.

If you have questions or would like more information, please contact microsoft365@macewan.ca.

From MacEwan Telecom