Retirement of Azure Communication Services
Microsoft has announced several retirement and breaking changes in September 2026. One notable change is the retirement of Azure Communication Services as a standalone offering, scheduled to take effect on September 30, 2028. Organizations currently using Azure Communication Services should review the announcement, assess the potential impact on their environments, and begin planning accordingly. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/communication-services/acs-retirement-and-breaking-changes-guide Which Microsoft service would be the best option for sending approximately 10,000 bulk emails per day?
Issue with Speech-to-Text Integration in Azure Communication Services Using C#
Context: We are building a bot using Azure Communication Services (ACS) and Azure Speech Services to handle phone calls. The bot asks questions (via TTS) and captures user responses using speech-to-text (STT). What We’ve Done: Created an ACS instance and acquired an active phone number. Set up an event subscription to handle callbacks for incoming calls. Integrated Azure Speech Services for STT in C#. Achievements: Successfully connected calls using ACS. Played TTS prompts generated from an Excel file. Challenges: User responses are not being captured. Despite setting InitialSilenceTimeout to 10 seconds, the bot skips to the next question after 1–2 seconds without recognizing speech. The bot does not reprompt the user even when no response is detected. Help Needed: How can we ensure accurate real-time speech-to-text capture during ACS telephony calls? Are there better configurations or alternate approaches for speech recognition in ACS? Additional Context: Following the https://github.com/Azure-Samples/communication-services-dotnet-quickstarts/tree/main/callautomation-openai-sample-csharp. Using Azure Speech Services and ACS SDKs. Code Snippet (C#): // Recognize user speech async Task<string> RecognizeSpeechAsync(CallMedia callConnectionMedia, string callerId, ILogger logger) { // Configure recognition options var recognizeOptions = new CallMediaRecognizeSpeechOptions( targetParticipant: CommunicationIdentifier.FromRawId(callerId)) { InitialSilenceTimeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(10), // Wait up to 10 seconds for the user to start speaking EndSilenceTimeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5), // Wait up to 5 seconds of silence before considering the response complete OperationContext = "SpeechRecognition" }; try { // Start speech recognition var result = await callConnectionMedia.StartRecognizingAsync(recognizeOptions); // Handle recognition success if (result is Response<StartRecognizingCallMediaResult>) { logger.LogInformation($"Result: {result}"); logger.LogInformation("Recognition started successfully."); // Simulate capturing response (replace with actual recognition logic) return "User response captured"; // Replace with actual response text from recognition } logger.LogWarning("Recognition failed or timed out."); return string.Empty; // Return empty if recognition fails } catch (Exception ex) { logger.LogError($"Error during speech recognition: {ex.Message}"); return string.Empty; } }
How to Fix Azure Event Grid Entra Authentication issue for ACS and Dynamics 365 integrated Webhooks
Introduction: Azure Event Grid is a powerful event routing service that enables event-driven architectures in Azure. When delivering events to webhook endpoints, security becomes paramount. Microsoft provides a secure webhook delivery mechanism using Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) authentication through the AzureEventGridSecureWebhookSubscriber role. Problem Statement: When integrating Azure Communication Services with Dynamics 365 Contact Center using Microsoft Entra ID-authenticated Event Grid webhooks, the Event Grid subscription deployment fails with an error: "HTTP POST request failed with unknown error code" with empty HTTP status and code. For example: Important Note: Before moving forward, please verify that you have the Owner role assigned on app to create event subscription. Refer to the Microsoft guidelines below to validate the required prerequisites before proceeding: Set up incoming calls, call recording, and SMS services | Microsoft Learn Why This Happens: This happens because AzureEventGridSecureWebhookSubscriber role is NOT properly configured on Microsoft EventGrid SP (Service Principal) and event subscription entra ID or application who is trying to create event grid subscription. What is AzureEventGridSecureWebhookSubscriber Role: The AzureEventGridSecureWebhookSubscriber is an Azure Entra application role that: Enables your application to verify the identity of event senders Allows specific users/applications to create event subscriptions Authorizes Event Grid to deliver events to your webhook How It Works: Role Creation: You create this app role in your destination webhook application's Azure Entra registration Role Assignment: You assign this role to: Microsoft Event Grid service principal (so it can deliver events) Either Entra ID / Entra User or Event subscription creator applications (so they can create event grid subscriptions) Token Validation: When Event Grid delivers events, it includes an Azure Entra token with this role claim Authorization Check: Your webhook validates the token and checks for the role Key Participants: Webhook Application (Your App) Purpose: Receives and processes events App Registration: Created in Azure Entra Contains: The AzureEventGridSecureWebhookSubscriber app role Validates: Incoming tokens from Event Grid Microsoft Event Grid Service Principal Purpose: Delivers events to webhooks App ID: Different per Azure cloud (Public, Government, etc.) Public Azure: 4962773b-9cdb-44cf-a8bf-237846a00ab7 Needs: AzureEventGridSecureWebhookSubscriber role assigned Event Subscription Creator Entra or Application Purpose: Creates event subscriptions Could be: You, Your deployment pipeline, admin tool, or another application Needs: AzureEventGridSecureWebhookSubscriber role assigned Although the full PowerShell script is documented in the below Event Grid documentation, it may be complex to interpret and troubleshoot. Azure PowerShell - Secure WebHook delivery with Microsoft Entra Application in Azure Event Grid - Azure Event Grid | Microsoft Learn To improve accessibility, the following section provides a simplified step-by-step tested solution along with verification steps suitable for all users including non-technical: Steps: STEP 1: Verify/Create Microsoft.EventGrid Service Principal Azure Portal → Microsoft Entra ID → Enterprise applications Change filter to Application type: Microsoft Applications Search for: Microsoft.EventGrid Ideally, your Azure subscription should include this application ID, which is common across all Azure subscriptions: 4962773b-9cdb-44cf-a8bf-237846a00ab7. If this application ID is not present, please contact your Azure Cloud Administrator. STEP 2: Create the App Role "AzureEventGridSecureWebhookSubscriber" Using Azure Portal: Navigate to your Webhook App Registration: Azure Portal → Microsoft Entra ID → App registrations Click All applications Find your app by searching OR use the Object ID you have Click on your app Create the App Role: Display name: AzureEventGridSecureWebhookSubscriber Allowed member types: Both (Users/Groups + Applications) Value: AzureEventGridSecureWebhookSubscriber Description: Azure Event Grid Role Do you want to enable this app role?: Yes In left menu, click App roles Click + Create app role Fill in the form: Click Apply STEP 3: Assign YOUR USER to the Role Using Azure Portal: Switch to Enterprise Application view: Azure Portal → Microsoft Entra ID → Enterprise applications Search for your webhook app (by name) Click on it Assign yourself: In left menu, click Users and groups Click + Add user/group Under Users, click None Selected Search for your user account (use your email) Select yourself Click Select Under Select a role, click None Selected Select AzureEventGridSecureWebhookSubscriber Click Select Click Assign STEP 4: Assign Microsoft.EventGrid Service Principal to the Role This step MUST be done via PowerShell or Azure CLI (Portal doesn't support this directly as we have seen) so PowerShell is recommended You will need to execute this step with the help of your Entra admin. # Connect to Microsoft Graph Connect-MgGraph -Scopes "AppRoleAssignment.ReadWrite.All" # Replace this with your webhook app's Application (client) ID $webhookAppId = "YOUR-WEBHOOK-APP-ID-HERE" #starting with c5 # Get your webhook app's service principal $webhookSP = Get-MgServicePrincipal -Filter "appId eq '$webhookAppId'" Write-Host " Found webhook app: $($webhookSP.DisplayName)" # Get Event Grid service principal $eventGridSP = Get-MgServicePrincipal -Filter "appId eq '4962773b-9cdb-44cf-a8bf-237846a00ab7'" Write-Host " Found Event Grid service principal" # Get the app role $appRole = $webhookSP.AppRoles | Where-Object {$_.Value -eq "AzureEventGridSecureWebhookSubscriber"} Write-Host " Found app role: $($appRole.DisplayName)" # Create the assignment New-MgServicePrincipalAppRoleAssignment ` -ServicePrincipalId $eventGridSP.Id ` -PrincipalId $eventGridSP.Id ` -ResourceId $webhookSP.Id ` -AppRoleId $appRole.Id Write-Host "Successfully assigned Event Grid to your webhook app!" Verification Steps: Verify the App Role was created: Your App Registration → App roles You should see: AzureEventGridSecureWebhookSubscriber Verify your user assignment: Enterprise application (your webhook app) → Users and groups You should see your user with role AzureEventGridSecureWebhookSubscriber Verify Event Grid assignment: Same location → Users and groups You should see Microsoft.EventGrid with role AzureEventGridSecureWebhookSubscriber Sample Flow: Analogy For Simplification: Lets think it similar to the construction site bulding where you are the owner of the building. Building = Azure Entra app (webhook app) Building (Azure Entra App Registration for Webhook) ├─ Building Name: "MyWebhook-App" ├─ Building Address: Application ID ├─ Building Owner: You ├─ Security System: App Roles (the security badges you create) └─ Security Team: Azure Entra and your actual webhook auth code (which validates tokens) like doorman Step 1: Creat the badge (App role) You (the building owner) create a special badge: - Badge name: "AzureEventGridSecureWebhookSubscriber" - Badge color: Let's say it's GOLD - Who can have it: Companies (Applications) and People (Users) This badge is stored in your building's system (Webhook App Registration) Step 2: Give badge to the Event Grid Service: Event Grid: "Hey, I need to deliver messages to your building" You: "Okay, here's a GOLD badge for your SP" Event Grid: *wears the badge* Now Event Grid can: - Show the badge to Azure Entra - Get tokens that say "I have the GOLD badge" - Deliver messages to your webhook Step 3: Give badge to yourself (or your deployment tool) You also need a GOLD badge because: - You want to create event grid event subscriptions - Entra checks: "Does this person have a GOLD badge?" - If yes: You can create subscriptions - If no: "Access denied" Your deployment pipeline also gets a GOLD badge: - So it can automatically set up event subscriptions during CI/CD deployments Disclaimer: The sample scripts provided in this article are provided AS IS without warranty of any kind. The author is not responsible for any issues, damages, or problems that may arise from using these scripts. Users should thoroughly test any implementation in their environment before deploying to production. Azure services and APIs may change over time, which could affect the functionality of the provided scripts. Always refer to the latest Azure documentation for the most up-to-date information. Thanks for reading this blog! I hope you found it helpful and informative for this specific integration use case 😀
Events for an agent not picking up the call
Hi, We have a requirement where the caller should be transferred to voicemail recording when the agent does not pick up the call. Currently, if the agent does not pick up the call, the caller reaches the agent's personal voicemail. Is it possible to interrupt that and redirect the call to ACS voicemail recording mechanism? The ACS framework send a "CallTransferAccepted" if the personal voicemail is reached. Are there any events which can be used to detect that agent did not pick the call. We tried the Job router, but it does not seem to detect that agent is not picking the call. Any suggestions? ThanksCalling a phone and playing a message from logic apps
Hi, My objective is to have a logic app that makes a server side outbound phone call, and plays a prerecorded message, that's it. I've been looking at https://github.com/Azure-Samples/communication-services-dotnet-quickstarts/tree/main/OutboundCallReminder but I'm getting lost in understanding all the moving parts. Is there a demo walkthrough article or webinar available ? Alternatively, is there a power automate connector available for this scenario ? Or has anybody done this just using REST API for Azure Communication Services ? A simplified sample would be exactly what I'm looking for. StephaneTransition smoothly from Twilio Video to Azure
If your company relies on Twilio for its video communications, now is the time to explore alternative solutions before its service deprecation. Join our livestream where we'll talk about Azure Communication Services real-time video calling solutions as an alternative to Twilio video. We will also cover the top-of-mind considerations for customers while making this transition. Register here to access the livestream - Events | Microsoft ReactorAzure Communication Services AMA
Join us for the Azure Communication Services Ask Microsoft Anything session! Following the exciting announcements of new features at Microsoft Build, we invite you to engage with us through this AMA. Whether you have general inquiries about Azure Communication Services or specific questions regarding our latest updates, we are eager to talk to you and foster meaningful discussions. Don't miss this opportunity to interact with our experts and gain valuable insights. The AMA will take place on Thursday, June 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. PT in the comment section below. This AMA is text only – meaning there will not be any video nor audio. An AMA is a live online event similar to an “Ask Me Anything” on Reddit. This AMA gives you the opportunity to connect with members of the product engineering team who will be on hand to answer your questions and listen to feedback. Feel free to post your questions anytime in the comments below beforehand, if it fits your schedule or time zone better, though questions will not be answered until the live hour.Azure Communication Services and Microsoft Teams AMA
We are excited to welcome you to the Azure Communication Services and Microsoft Teams AMA. We'll talk about the possibilities of connecting Teams with the communication capabilities in Azure and the cool stuff we can build with it. We are looking forward to hearing your ideas, concerns or top of mind and answer any questions you might have about Azure Communication Services interoperability into Microsoft Teams. The AMA will take place on Wednesday, March 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. PT in the comment section below. This AMA is text only – meaning there will not be any video nor audio. An AMA is a live online event similar to an “Ask Me Anything” on Reddit. This AMA gives you the opportunity to connect with members of Microsoft trainers and the product engineering team who will be on hand to answer your questions and listen to feedback. Feel free to post your questions anytime in the comments below beforehand, if it fits your schedule or time zone better, though questions will not be answered until the live hour.
Is calling a cellphone using ACS available from France?
Hello, I am trying to use Azure communication services to call cellphones and successfully called the echo bot from the ACS sdk. But when trying to call a real phone, I need (I think) to follow this tutorial https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/communication-services/quickstarts/telephony/get-phone-number?pivots=platform-azp&tabs=windows But according to this page https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/communication-services/concepts/numbers/sub-eligibility-number-capability this feature is not available for France at the moment. Is this phone number configuration mandatory to call a cellphone from ACS? If yes do you know when this feature would be available for france? Best regards, Quentin Garlan
