Getting Started with Teams Audio Conferencing

Audio Conferencing in Microsoft 365 enables users hosting any Teams meeting the ability to allow meeting participants the flexibility to join via their telephone vs their computer (Teams desktop, web client) or Teams mobile app.  Teams audio only meetings can have up to 1000 phone attendees.  Meeting attendees who dial in do not need any licenses assigned to them or other setup.

How to Request Service

Teams audio conferencing at Northwestern is available for purchase through iBuyNU via CDW.  Please review the Audio Conference Bridging service page for more information.

Newly Licensed Users

An email notification is sent to users after their Teams Audio Conferencing license is successfully provisioned.

Scheduling and Hosting a Teams Meeting with Audio Conferencing

There is no difference to scheduling an audio conferencing meeting vs a meeting without dial in details.   The meeting can be scheduled from Outlook (be sure to select Teams Meeting) or the meeting can be scheduled from Teams. 

Joining

Participants joining meetings that are scheduled by organizers that are licensed for Teams Audio Conferencing have the flexibility to join the meeting via their computer or dial in via their phone.  A Teams meeting example is shown below.  (Note:  a unique conference ID is automatically generated for every meeting)

Hosting

The organizer must use their PIN (received via email when the audio conferencing license is provisioned) to start the meeting when all attendees will be joining via telephone.   Otherwise the host can join the meeting via their computer, mobile app or room device. A more detailed workflow for hosts is provided.

• Call the audio conference phone number listed in the 'call in (audio option)' section from the Teams meeting invite.  You should hear a prompt welcoming you to the Audio Conferencing Center.

• Next, enter the Conference ID followed by the # pound sign.

• The automated voice will say "If you are the meeting organizer, press star now."  You will be prompted to enter your five-digit Teams PIN followed by the # pound sign.

• The automated voice will announce "You are now joining the meeting as the leader."

• NOTE:  When a meeting starts, the organizer needs to admit all dial-in users in the lobby to join the meeting. For example, if two participants try to join a meeting before it has started, they will be put in the lobby and will listen to music on hold, and when the meeting organizer joins using their PIN via phone, the meeting will start and the organizer can use the in-meeting command (press *21) to admit all dial-in users in the lobby.

Other System Generated Notifications

• Is received when a user resets their PIN
• Is received when a user's license is removed (sample shown)

Your feedback on this article is welcome, and we review comments regularly. However, if you have an issue or question requiring immediate attention or want to discuss your feedback on this article, please get in touch with the Northwestern IT Service Desk at 847-49(1-HELP) or consultant@northwestern.edu