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Phone System FAQ
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Microsoft Teams Phone Resource Page

Antelope Valley College is modernizing campus communications by transitioning from the current Mitel telephone system to the Microsoft Teams Phone System. This resource page provides faculty and staff with key project information, training details, support resources, and answers to common questions as the college prepares for the official go-live date on September 8, 2026.

About the Transition

The Microsoft Teams Phone System will provide a more integrated, flexible, and user-friendly communication experience for faculty, staff, and administrators. Teams Phone is a cloud-based calling platform that supports calling through Microsoft Teams on desktop, mobile, and supported desk phone devices.

Why AVC Is Moving to Microsoft Teams Phone

The Mitel phone system has supported the college for many years, but communications technology has evolved. Moving to Microsoft Teams Phone will help AVC reduce dependency on aging infrastructure while improving reliability, collaboration, and long-term sustainability.

  • Integration with Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 tools employees already use.
  • Ability to make and receive calls from computers, mobile devices, and supported desk phones.
  • Improved flexibility for hybrid and mobile work.
  • Enhanced voicemail, call history, call forwarding, and call management features.
  • Simplified collaboration through one communication platform for calls, chats, and meetings.
  • Increased reliability and a more sustainable long-term phone service model.

Implementation Timeline

Microsoft Teams Phone Implementation Timeline
TimeframeMilestone
Current PhaseSystem implementation, configuration, migration planning, and testing.
August 2026Faculty and staff training sessions begin.
September 8, 2026Official go-live date for Microsoft Teams Phone.
After Go-LiveContinued support, assistance, and system optimization.

Training and Support

Training opportunities will be available throughout August to help employees become comfortable with the new phone system before go-live. Sessions will introduce the Teams Phone interface and demonstrate common tasks such as placing and receiving calls, managing voicemail, transferring calls, and adjusting call settings.

 

Recorded Training Videos

  1. How to Make and Receive Calls
  2. How to Set Up Call Forwarding
  3. How to Transfer Calls with a Ringback
  4. How to Merge Calls
  5. How to Transfer Calls to Another Device
  6. How to Transcribe VoIP 1:1 Calls
  7. How to Transcribe PSTN 1:1 Calls
  8. How to Share Calls for Group Pickup
  9. How to Access Your Voicemail
  10. How to Change Your Ringtone

What Employees Can Do with Teams Phone

  • Make and receive work calls directly in Microsoft Teams.
  • Use call history and voicemail from within Teams.
  • Transfer calls, including consultative transfers when needed.
  • Set call forwarding and answering rules.
  • Manage voicemail greetings and access voicemail transcriptions where available.
  • Stay connected from a campus workstation, mobile device, or supported desk phone.

What to Expect

Over the coming weeks, Information Technology Services will share additional communications about training schedules, department migration activities, equipment information, and support options. Employees are encouraged to review these updates and attend training before the September 8 go-live date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The Microsoft Teams Phone System is scheduled to go live on September 8, 2026.

On the go-live date, AVC will officially retire the Mitel phone system and transition supported users and services to Microsoft Teams Phone.

Yes. Faculty and staff training sessions will begin in August 2026, with additional resources such as videos, quick reference guides, and FAQs.

Yes. Teams Phone supports calling through Microsoft Teams on computers, mobile devices, and supported desk phones where applicable.

Physical Phone

A traditional desk phone located in your office or workspace that is connected to the Microsoft Teams Phone System.

Softphone

A phone application within Microsoft Teams that allows you to make and receive calls directly from your computer, laptop, or mobile device—no desk phone required.

Legacy Voicemails Will Not Transfer to Microsoft Teams
As part of the transition to Microsoft Teams Phone, voicemails stored in the current Mitel/ShoreTel system will not migrate to Teams. Users who wish to keep existing voicemail messages must save them before Sep. 3, 2026.
 
What You Need to Do
  1. Review your existing voicemails in the Mitel system.
  2. Identify any messages you need to retain.
    1. From Mitel Connect Client app on your computer.
      1. Go to your Voicemail tab and find the message you want to save (under All, Saved, or Deleted tabs).
      2. Right-click the message or click the More button in the toolbar.
      3. Select Download Voicemail as WAV file (or Save Voicemail / Export).
      4. Choose the destination folder on your computer and click Save.
    2. Alternative Methods
      1. Email Integration: If your system is configured to send voicemails to your email, open the email notification and download the attached .wav file directly.
  3. Complete this process before Sep. 3, 2026.
Important: Once the legacy phone system is retired, voicemails remaining in the old system will no longer be accessible.

Need Assistance?

If you have questions about the Microsoft Teams Phone transition, training opportunities, or support resources, please contact Information Technology Services. Additional details will be shared as the project progresses.

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