SMS and MMS for Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams, a leading collaboration platform, has continually evolved to meet these demands. Beyond its robust features for video conferencing, document sharing, and team collaboration, Fusion Connect now offers a powerful new addition: the integration of Registered Business Messaging with SMS and MMS capabilities within the Microsoft Teams App.

This new feature isn’t just about adding tools—it’s about providing a seamless, compliant, and comprehensive communication experience. By incorporating Registered Business Messaging, organizations can communicate with customers, partners, and colleagues through text messaging, all while adhering to industry regulations like 10DLC.

The Evolution of Communication: From Calls to SMS and MMS

In today's fast-paced world, communicating via text has become second nature. Short Message Service (SMS) and Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS) have transformed how we interact, allowing us to share information quickly and concisely.

With the integration of the SMS and MMS apps in Microsoft Teams, this convenience now extends to professional communications, making it easier than ever to stay connected with colleagues, clients, and partners.

What is 10DLC?

10-Digit Long Code (10DLC) is the sanctioned standard for Registered Business Messaging, using a traditional 10-digit phone number for business communication. It provides a reliable messaging channel specifically designed for business text messaging, with higher throughput levels that are ideal for SMS campaigns.

10DLC is supported and sanctioned by mobile operators to ensure compliance with industry regulations, including 10DLC standards. In addition to SMS, 10DLC also supports voice calls on the same number, making it a versatile solution for both messaging and voice communication.

Who Needs to Register for 10DLC?

Any business that wants to send SMS using Registered Business Messaging on 10DLC to communicate with customers or employees must register their campaigns. This applies to businesses engaging in both mass texting for marketing purposes and those sending individual messages. Even non-marketing messages are considered business messaging under 10DLC regulations, and all such communications must comply with industry standards. By ensuring your campaigns are registered, you adhere to regulations designed to maintain a high-quality, compliant messaging ecosystem.

What is the Campaign Registry?

The Campaign Registry (TCR) is the reputation authority for registered A2P 10DLC campaigns. If you want to use SMS/MMS messaging for your business, read up about the Campaign Registry rules and regulations.

SMS and MMS Features in Microsoft Teams

• No App Required for End User
  Expand the reach of Microsoft Teams to mobile phones without needing customers to download any additional apps on their devices.
• Registered Business Messaging
  Our platform supports Registered Business Messaging, compliant with 10DLC (10-Digit Long Code) regulations. This ensures that all your business text messages follow industry standards, protecting your company from compliance risks while enabling high-quality, scalable messaging.
• Message to Mobile
  Send business messages from Microsoft Teams to any text-enabled mobile phone, ensuring that communications are delivered securely and reliably.
• Mobile Integration
  Native mobile messaging capabilities enable communication between partners or companies using different collaboration platforms, all while maintaining compliance with FCC regulations.

Benefits of SMS and MMS for Microsoft Teams

• Seamless Connection via Communications Gateway
  By connecting Microsoft Teams to a Communications Gateway and providing Registered Business Messaging, companies can bridge the gap between digital communication and traditional texting. This integration supports two-way communication between Microsoft Teams and mobile devices, allowing you to reach your audience via text while ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Enhanced Reach and Engagement
  Enabling registered text numbers that feed directly into Microsoft Teams extends your reach and engagement capabilities. Customers, clients, and partners can interact with your teams through these dedicated numbers, opening up new avenues for customer support, feedback collection, and information dissemination—all while ensuring compliance with 10DLC.
• Seamless Bidirectional Communication
  Responses from team members are seamlessly delivered back over text, completing the bidirectional communication loop. This feature ensures that external parties can initiate conversations and receive responses from internal teams. With Registered Business Messaging, your communications are secure and compliant, ensuring that all interactions adhere to industry standards.
• Empowering Users with Mobile Capability
  The integration empowers users to receive and send messages via text directly from their mobile phones. Whether it’s an urgent update or a critical decision, Registered Business Messaging enables teams to stay connected securely, even when on the go.

Using SMS and MMS for Business:

Here are a few examples of how businesses can use Registered Business Messaging with Microsoft Teams:

• Scheduling Video Interviews
  Coordinate video interviews with candidates via compliant text messages directly through Microsoft Teams.
• Professional Service Scheduling
  Streamline the scheduling of services like accountants or lawyers, using compliant messaging to secure appointments and consultations through your Teams work number.
• Efficient Product Support
  Create support tickets or report product issues by sending texts, and receive assistance within the Microsoft Teams ecosystem—all using Registered Business Messaging to ensure compliance.
• Public Infrastructure Maintenance
  Enable citizens to report public road maintenance issues via text, securely managed within Microsoft Teams while adhering to 10DLC regulations.
• Sales Engagement
  Schedule calls or meetings with prospective clients through compliant texts, ensuring that all communication follows industry guidelines.
• Streamlined Insurance Claims
  Simplify the process of reporting insurance claims with text-based communication, ensuring regulatory compliance throughout the interaction.

All of the above can be accomplished without ever using your personal cell phone number. The interactions will take place within your Teams environment, using your Teams-assigned work number.

Fusion Connect’s Microsoft Calling Services Features

• Analog/Fax
  Fusion Connect recognizes businesses' diverse communication needs, including traditional methods like analog and fax. By seamlessly integrating these elements with Microsoft Calling Services, Fusion Connect caters to a wider range of preferences and requirements, ensuring that no communication avenue is left unattended.
• Attendant/Receptionist Console
  Efficient call handling is vital for smooth business operations. Fusion Connect's integration includes an Attendant/Receptionist Console, providing a centralized platform for managing incoming calls. This feature streamlines call routing, enhances customer service, and ensures that calls are directed to the right individuals or departments.
• Compliance/Call Recording
  Compliance and record-keeping are critical aspects of modern communication. Fusion Connect offers robust compliance and call recording features within its Microsoft Calling Services integration. This ensures that businesses meet regulatory requirements, maintain transparency, and have a clear record of important conversations.
• Business Continuity
  Fusion Connect's design and implementation of Operator Connect deliver uninterrupted voice service even if Microsoft Teams service is unavailable, allowing clients to maintain full business operations.
• Management Portal
  Fusion Connect believes in empowering its users. Through its intuitive management portal, users gain control over their communication settings, configurations, and preferences. This self-service capability enables quick adjustments, minimizing dependency on external support and allowing businesses to adapt to changing communication needs with ease.
• CCaaS (Contact Center as a Service)
  Contact centers are the frontlines of customer interactions. Fusion Connect's integration includes CCaaS (Contact Center as a Service) capabilities, enabling businesses to provide exceptional customer service. This feature includes tools for call routing, agent management, analytics, and more, enhancing the overall customer experience.
• API (Application Programming Interfaces) Integration
  Customization is key to tailoring communication tools to specific business needs. Fusion Connect's API integration offers the flexibility to create custom solutions, seamlessly connecting Microsoft Calling Services with other applications and systems, enhancing efficiency, and expanding communication possibilities.
• SMS/MMS
  In the digital age, text messaging is a powerful communication tool. Fusion Connect stands out by integrating SMS and MMS capabilities into Microsoft Calling Services. This feature enables businesses to engage with clients and stakeholders through text and multimedia messages, fostering better engagement and accessibility, while maintaining compliance through Registered Business Messaging.
• 100% SLA (Service Level Agreement)
  Reliability is a cornerstone of effective communication. Fusion Connect demonstrates its commitment to excellence with a 100% SLA, assuring businesses of uninterrupted service and a dependable communication platform that they can trust.
• Operator Connect Audio Conferencing
  Efficient collaboration often involves conference calls. Fusion Connect's Operator Connect Audio Conferencing feature ensures crystal-clear audio quality, smooth call management, and robust security, creating an environment conducive to productive meetings.

Embracing the Future of Communication

In the digital age, seamless communication is essential for productivity, collaboration, and maintaining strong relationships. Integrating Registered Business Messaging and MMS capabilities into Microsoft Teams elevates the platform to new heights, offering a unified hub for text and multimedia communication while adhering to 10DLC regulations.

Whether you're coordinating projects, sharing updates, or engaging with clients, this integration empowers you to communicate effectively, efficiently, and securely. As Microsoft Teams continues to evolve, it's clear that the future of communication is brighter than ever before.

References:

Find the right app | Microsoft AppSource

Can Microsoft Teams send text messages? By Reda Chouffani, TechTarget, January 24, 2023

Originally Posted September 6, 2023.
Edited August 8, 2024 and October 7, 2024 to reflect recent changes to Fusion Connect's SMS/MMS features.