What Handsets Work with Microsoft Teams Calling?

Microsoft Teams Calling works natively with certified desk phones from Yealink, Poly (formerly Polycom), AudioCodes, and Crestron. These devices log directly into a user's Teams account and behave like a traditional handset, but with Teams features built in — calendar integration, one-touch meeting join, and hardware buttons that mirror the Teams interface. You don't strictly need a handset at all, though — calling works perfectly well from the Teams app on a laptop, desktop, or mobile.

Do You Need a Handset at All?

No. Every Teams Calling feature is available from the Teams app itself, using a headset or the device's built-in microphone and speaker. Plenty of businesses run Teams Calling entirely without desk phones, particularly hybrid or remote teams who are already used to working from a laptop.

A physical handset is worth considering if your team is used to picking up a phone, works from a fixed desk most of the day, or needs a device that's always on and ready without opening an app first.

What Are "Teams-Certified" Handsets?

A Teams-certified handset is a device Microsoft has tested and approved to run the Teams software natively. Rather than acting as a basic SIP phone connected to Teams in the background, these devices boot straight into a Teams interface, with the same calendar, contacts, call history and voicemail as the desktop app.

Certified handsets are managed centrally too — IT can deploy, update, and troubleshoot them through the Teams admin centre, the same place calling policies and auto attendants are managed, rather than logging into each phone individually.

Which Manufacturers Make Teams-Certified Phones?

Microsoft has partnered with four main manufacturers to build the certified handset range:

• Yealink — one of the widest ranges, spanning the entry-level MP52 through to the touchscreen MP58 and the VP59 smart video phone, plus the CP960 and CP965 conference phones for meeting rooms
• HP Poly — the CCX series, including the CCX500 and CCX700, aimed at everything from a single desk to a shared meeting space
• AudioCodes — the C450HD and C455HD, colour-screen phones with a straightforward, business-focused interface
• Crestron — mainly room and conferencing systems, such as the Flex range, rather than individual desk phones

Which one suits your business usually comes down to budget, screen size preference, and whether you need video calling built into the handset itself.

Can You Use a Non-Certified SIP Phone with Teams?

Not natively. A standard SIP phone that isn't Teams-certified can't log into a Teams account directly, since it doesn't run the Teams software. Some businesses route calls through non-certified devices via Direct Routing and separate SIP registration, but this loses the native Teams experience — calendar integration, presence, one-touch meeting join — and generally isn't the setup Microsoft designs for or officially supports.

If you're planning to invest in handsets for a Teams rollout, it's almost always worth buying certified devices from the outset rather than trying to repurpose existing SIP phones.

What About Conference Room Phones?

Meeting rooms have their own certified category, generally built around video as much as audio. The Yealink CP960/CP965 and Poly CCX700 handle small to mid-sized rooms well, while Crestron's Flex range is designed for larger spaces needing dedicated room systems with camera and screen integration. These are a different purchase decision from individual desk phones, usually driven by room size and whether video conferencing matters.

How Do You Choose the Right Handset?

A few practical questions narrow this down quickly:

• Does the user need video calling built into the phone, or is a laptop/mobile enough for that?
• Is a touchscreen worth the extra cost, or is a simple colour screen sufficient?
• Will the phone sit at a fixed desk, or does it need to move between spaces?
• How many users need handsets versus how many are happy calling from an app?

Most businesses end up with a mix — desk phones for reception or heavy phone users, and app-based calling for everyone else.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my existing Yealink or Poly phone with Teams? Only if it's a Teams-certified model. Older Yealink and Poly SIP phones built for systems like 3CX or Gamma Horizon are not automatically compatible, since they run different firmware.

Do Teams-certified phones work with any PSTN connectivity method? Yes. Whether your organisation uses a Calling Plan, Operator Connect, or Direct Routing, a certified handset works the same way, since it connects through the user's Teams account rather than the connectivity method directly.

Are Teams-certified phones more expensive than standard SIP phones? Generally, yes, a little — you're paying for native software integration and centralised management as well as the hardware itself.

Can headsets be used instead of desk phones? Yes, and many businesses do exactly this. A good headset paired with the Teams desktop or mobile app covers most calling needs without the cost of dedicated handsets.

Choosing the right mix of handsets, headsets and app-based calling makes a real difference to day-to-day usability. Request a quote for independent advice on hardware for your rollout, or read our guide to how Teams Phone works for the setup behind it.