Microsoft Teams Calling Plans vs Google Voice: Lessons from a Recent Migration

When a mid-sized law firm recently contracted Marcoby to migrate from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365, one question came up immediately: What about phones?

The firm is a remote-first organization—attorneys and staff work from home offices, courtrooms, and client sites. Traditional desk phones weren’t an option. They needed a modern solution that would work anywhere, across multiple devices.

For years, they used Google Voice. But once email, calendars, and documents moved into Microsoft 365, keeping phones tied to Google no longer made sense. The natural next step was to evaluate Microsoft Teams Phone with Calling Plans.

Here are the key lessons from that migration.

Why Teams Calling Plans Made Sense

• Remote flexibility: Attorneys could answer client calls from laptops or the Teams mobile app—no desk phones required.
• Lower cost per user: Adding a Calling Plan to Microsoft Teams was more cost-effective than stacking Google Voice on top of Workspace.
• Simplified IT: One vendor, one bill, one support channel—ideal for lean IT teams and distributed workforces.

Pros of Microsoft Teams Calling Plans

• Unified platform
  Calls, chat, meetings, and files all live inside Microsoft Teams.
• Predictable billing
  A flat per-user cost simplifies forecasting and scaling.
• Enterprise call routing tools
  Teams supports auto attendants, call queues, and call delegation so calls can be routed to the right attorney or paralegal, even during peak or after-hours periods.
• Shared voicemail and transcription
  Voicemails are delivered directly into a user’s Exchange mailbox, with transcription enabled by default (unless an admin disables it). Shared voicemail can be configured for groups or queues, ensuring no client call goes unnoticed.
• Custom greetings and music on hold
  Firms can configure greetings, rules, and even custom hold music to present a more professional experience to clients.
• Device flexibility
  Teams calling works across desktop, mobile, tablets, and certified desk/IP phones—critical for a remote-first workforce.

Limitations Compared to Google Voice

Even with the benefits, several gaps surfaced:

• No MMS support
  Teams SMS is text-only. Unlike Google Voice, it doesn’t support images, PDFs, or video.
• Compliance setup required
  U.S. carriers mandate 10DLC registration. Without proper setup, business texts risk being blocked.
• Regional restrictions
  Teams SMS works only in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada, and only with Microsoft Calling Plan numbers.
• Message caps
  SMS longer than 160 characters splits into multiple billable segments. No group texting or emojis.
• Support delays
  Number porting and troubleshooting go through Microsoft’s Telephone Number Services (TNS) team, which can be slower than traditional carriers.

Google Voice vs Microsoft Teams Calling Plan: Side-by-Side

This comparison highlights the trade-off: Google Voice offers lightweight SMS features and MMS support, but Teams Calling Plans deliver enterprise-grade voice functionality (auto attendants, call queues, voicemail transcription, compliance integration) and deep Microsoft 365 alignment. For remote-first professional firms already committed to Microsoft 365, Teams is the more strategic long-term fit.

Real-World Impact on the Law Firm

• Texting evidence and discovery files
  With Google Voice, attorneys sometimes texted clients photos or quick PDF excerpts. Teams SMS blocked this—it’s text-only. The firm shifted these exchanges into Teams chat or Outlook email, which improved security by keeping sensitive documents inside Microsoft 365’s compliance framework.
• Client intake and quick updates
  Google Voice allowed paralegals to send one-to-many updates via SMS. Teams SMS doesn’t support group texts, so staff moved these communications into Teams channels and distribution lists—tools that provide better visibility and auditability.
• Compliance delays
  Setting up 10DLC registration added several extra days to the rollout. Attorneys couldn’t text from Teams until approval came through, but once complete, all business texting was fully compliant with carrier regulations.

Overall, while the transition required retraining and workflow changes, it led to better data security and compliance. By keeping calls, voicemails, and messages within Microsoft 365, the firm can now leverage built-in auditing, retention, and eDiscovery tools—critical for a law practice handling sensitive client information.

FAQ: Teams Calling Plan vs Google Voice

1. Is Microsoft Teams Phone better than Google Voice for law firms?
It depends. If your team already runs on Microsoft 365, Teams Phone creates a unified experience with Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint. But if texting client's images or files is central to your workflows, Google Voice still has the edge.

2. Does Microsoft Teams support MMS?
No. Teams SMS is limited to text only. Attachments, images, and video require email, Teams chat, or another channel.

3. Can you use Teams Calling Plans outside the U.S.?
Voice Calling Plans are available in multiple countries, but SMS is limited to the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada. For global messaging, you’ll need another provider.

4. What about voicemail transcription?
Both Google Voice and Microsoft Teams Phone include voicemail transcription. In Teams, transcription is part of Cloud Voicemail and is enabled by default unless an administrator disables it via policy.

5. Which is more cost-effective?
Google Voice is a flat per-user add-on ($10–$30/month) to Google Workspace. Teams Calling Plans are an add-on to Microsoft 365 (starting around $17/user/month in the U.S. for domestic plans). For businesses already paying for Microsoft 365, Teams often comes out cheaper overall, especially when factoring in integrated collaboration and compliance features.

Lessons Learned for Remote Professional Firms

• Ecosystem alignment matters: If your business lives in Microsoft 365, Teams Calling Plans reduce complexity and cost.
• Expect compliance friction: Business texting now requires registration. Plan for that extra time.
• Know the gaps: No MMS, no group texting, slower support compared to direct carriers.
• Recognize the enterprise gains: Teams delivers advanced call routing, shared voicemail, and built-in transcription—features better aligned with professional services.

In the end, the firm achieved what they needed most: a modern, remote-ready phone system that integrated with Microsoft 365, strengthened compliance, and supported long-term scalability.