Microsoft Teams Shared Devices: Everything You Need to Know About Them

Microsoft Teams Shared Devices (abbreviated as TSD), formerly known as Microsoft Common Area Phone before it was rebranded to Teams Shared Devices in 2022, is a suite of services developed for enterprise users.

It requires a license, and organizations can set up Microsoft Teams on various devices to synchronize the whole organization and improve the overall workflow and management of rooms, conferences, meetings, brainstorming sessions, and so on.

Here’s a list of all the advantages of using the TSD license:

• The Microsoft Teams Shared Device License allows organizations to use devices not made explicitly for Microsoft Teams Rooms with the Teams app.
• It can be used for Teams Phones set up in common areas, such as an office lobby or shared workspace.
• The license includes hotdesking on Teams Displays, which allows users to log into any available desk setup, use it for a while, and then log out, making it flexible for multiple users.
• The license also supports Teams Panels that are used independently and not linked to a specific Teams Room.

However, it’s worth noting that this license doesn’t cover devices made explicitly for Microsoft Teams Rooms setups.

Microsoft Teams Shared Devices: All the supported Devices

As mentioned earlier, the program implies that this license can be used on various devices for various situations. These include:

• Teams Displays can be used in smaller meeting rooms, offices, etc.
• Teams Panels can be in larger meeting rooms, conference rooms, and offices.
• Teams Phones: they can be in hallways, waiting rooms, desks, and so on.
• Session Initiation Protocol Phone: these phones are connected to Microsoft Teams and can be used in meetings via the Teams Shared Device license.

How to acquire a TSD license

Organizations must acquire a license to use the program. According to Microsoft’s support page, here’s the process:

1. In the Microsoft 365 admin center, go to Billing > Purchase services.
2. Find the Purchase from Microsoft section, and select View products.
3. Select the Collaboration and communication filter.
4. In the product list, find Microsoft Teams Shared Devices and select Details.
5. Enter the number of licenses you need and the billing frequency.
6. Select Buy.

It’s available to purchase globally to commercial, public sector, GCC, GCC High, or DoD tenants.

Once purchased, the Microsoft Teams Shared Devices license customers will have access to the following service plans:

• Microsoft Teams
• Microsoft Teams Phone (Previously known as Phone System)
• Microsoft Intune (Microsoft Intune Plan 1 and Plan 2)
• Microsoft Entra ID P1
• Exchange Online Plan (Cloud-based voicemail capabilities only.)

Should you get it? If you’re the founder of a medium—to large enterprise, these services can significantly improve workflow, reduce costs, and keep everything organized. Employees can book their desks and meetings without having to rely on their managers to do so.