Since November 1, the allocation of individual phone numbers linked to Teams has changed for some of our staff. This message is meant to clearly explain what is changing, address the questions several of you have already raised, and let you know how to get help if needed.

What's not changing: Teams remains your communication tool
Teams calls and meetings remain available to everyone, with no changes, including with people outside the Institute who use Teams themselves or join a meeting via a link. Chat, screen sharing, and file access are unchanged. The Institute's key and emergency contact numbers, including the Security desk, can still be reached through Teams by all staff, as saved contacts. The contact list is currently being updated on ePasteur.

What's changing: your individual phone number
The only change concerns the individual phone number linked to Teams, which lets you dial a regular landline or mobile number and be called on that number from outside. As part of the three-year renewal of our Microsoft contract effective November 1, the IT Department has reviewed the allocation of these licenses.

A review of usage between May 1 and October 15 showed that 1,900 out of 3,324 licenses had not been used for a single call, incoming or outgoing, and 524 had been used fewer than ten times. In the interest of responsible use of the Institute's resources - not renewing these licenses saves €171K over the life of the contract, it has been decided to assign individual phone numbers based on actual needs, rather than providing them to all staff by default.

Who keeps their phone number
The following people keep their phone number: everyone who has used it regularly, unit heads and team leaders, assistants, and shared lab and department numbers.

How to know if you're affected
Anyone whose license is not being renewed was notified by a personal message on October 28. If you did not receive anything, your number is being kept. If you received that message and then a follow-up confirming your number would be kept, the follow-up message applies.

If you're unsure, please reach out to informatique@pasteur.fr or your local IT contact, who can point you in the right direction.

How to get or restore a phone number
The IT Department wants to be clear: no one should have to use their personal phone for work calls.

If you need a phone number -  whether you joined recently, were away during the review period, or your needs have changed - your manager can submit a request at any time to informatique@pasteur.fr. Your original number will be restored quickly, with no call volume justification required.

Of the 1,390 licenses under contract, around 1,200 are currently assigned and about 100 are still available; additional licenses can be added if needed. Teams that need a shared phone (desk, cordless, or wall-mounted) can also submit a request. Situations involving poor mobile coverage in specific areas will be given priority.

What's next: regular reviews, announced in advance
The license pool will be reviewed periodically, with sufficient advance notice and according to rules that will be shared with you ahead of time. Your feedback on this new setup is welcome — it will help us adapt it to the realities on the ground.

The Information Systems Department remains available to answer any further questions.