How to configure Private Line in Microsoft Teams

How to configure Private Line in Microsoft Teams

Introduction

Microsoft has quietly introduced a new feature to its Teams calling platform called "Private Line," which allows for the assignment of a second phone number to a user, functioning as a dedicated "hotline." This feature isn't entirely new—it was originally launched with Skype for Business back in 2015, nearly a decade ago, which makes me feel a bit old right now.

The question arises: Why would one need a dedicated phone number in Microsoft Teams? It appears that this feature is primarily designed for executives at the C-level, who can distribute this exclusive number to a limited circle of colleagues and partners, ensuring they can always make direct contact.

In addition to this, while the standard Teams phone number may be set up to initially connect to an assistant, the private line offers a direct connection straight to the user of that line.

Identifying additional use cases may be challenging, but the primary intent is clear: this feature is tailored to provide direct and immediate communication for those who require it.

Technical Requirements

  • Users can be assigned one private line only.
  • Internal or external reverse number lookup (RNL) works with private lines.
  • Private lines must be the same number type as the user’s primary line (this means all numbers must either be Calling Plan, Operator Connect, or Direct Routing numbers.
  • Private lines must have the same licensing requirements as the user’s primary phone number. (This one is pretty obvious given the previous requirement, if you have a Phone System addon License, you may only assign a private line Direct Routing, Operator Connect, or Teams Phone Mobile)
  • Users must be "voice-enabled" for private lines (a pretty obvious requirement as well)


How are private line calls handled within Teams?

For calls to a user’s private line, all inbound call handling rules are ignored, including call forwarding, simultaneous ringing, and call groups. For example, if a user has a private line and a primary line, and the user has a call forwarding rule set up to forward calls to a delegate, the call still rings the user's primary line and isn't forwarded to the delegate.

If a user with a private line has voicemail enabled, the call goes to voicemail per normal.

If the user doesn't have voicemail enabled and the call is unanswered, the busy signal will be played after 1 minute. Calls to a user's private line don't follow "do not disturb" rules.

Incoming calls to a user's private line have a special ringtone to distinguish them from calls to the user's primary line. Currently, the ringtone used cannot be changed.

The Teams notification for the call tells the user that the incoming call is on their private line. The call history in Teams will also show a label that an incoming call was made to the private line.


How does it look if a private line call is incoming?

Incoming call notification on Windows

Note that reverse number lookup is also working for private line calls.

Incoming call notification on MacOS.

Call history in Microsoft Teams.

Private Line calls get a special Private line tag in your Teams call history.

How to configure Private Line?

Currently, it is only possible to configure it via PowerShell. You may need to update your Teams PowerShell module to be able to set a private line number.

Use the following command to update your Teams PS Module.

Update-Module MicrosoftTeams -Force        

Microsoft introduced a new switch called AssignmentCategory Private. In my example below I used a Direct Routing number.

Set-CsPhoneNumberAssignment -Identity [email protected] -PhoneNumber +xxxxxxxxxxx -PhoneNumberType DirectRouting -AssignmentCategory Private        

You can check the assignment with get-csphonenumberAssignement. There will be two outputs. One output for your primary line and one output for your private line.

Set-csphoneNumberAssignment -AssignedPstnTargetId [email protected]        

Example output:

If you want to unassign the private line number again use:

Remove-CsPhoneNumberAssignment -Identity [email protected] -PhoneNumber +xxxxxxxxxx -PhoneNumberType DirectRouting          

Note: If you remove a user's primary number but not their private number, the user will still be able to use their private line for calls.


For reference https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/private-line

#microsoftteams #microsoftteamscalling #expertsinside Experts Inside AG

Hi Daniel, Thank you for this information. When I do the commands, I receive this error Set-CsPhoneNumberAssignment : A parameter cannot be found that matches parameter name 'AssignmentCategory' I am using this Set-CsPhoneNumberAssignment -Identity [email protected] -PhoneNumber +xxxxxxxxxxx -PhoneNumberType DirectRouting -AssignmentCategory Private

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H?fflin Martin

IT Systemspezialist bei Hubert Burda Media

5 个月

Hallo Daniel, vielen für ihre beiden sehr hilfreichen Step by Step Artikel im Bereich Teams. Das analoge Endger?t hat ja auch einen User bei Teams, um sich entsprechend zu registrieren. Besteht hier auch die M?glichkeit eine Private LIne zu hinterlegen? Das würde uns eine M?glichkeit schaffen, Personen im Chef/Sek Umfeld, welche nicht gerne mit Teams am PC arbeiten, eine M?glichkeit zum Durchstellen zum Chef zu erm?glichen. Hast du damit schon Erfahrungen gemacht?

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Gra?iela Maciovan

IT Database Admin at Draxlmaier

6 个月

As a regular user with no access to Powershell, where can I find my assigned private line? I'm using the new Teams.

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Elazar Ohayon

Senior Cloud | UC Consultant @ Abra

7 个月

where I can see the output of the assignment private line? ?I have been unable to find any output on Get-CSOnlineUser

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Luca Vitali

Microsoft MVP - Collaboration Chapter Lead @FAR Networks

7 个月

Hi Daniel, sad to say that from my recent test, the Private Line continue to honor the DND rules of the user, and that's a very bad news. I wasn't able to receive any calls from my Private Line number is I set my status to DND :-( Have you tried? Thanks Luca

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