The pros and cons of Microsoft Teams Direct Routing

The rise in remote working has accelerated the take-up of Microsoft Teams. Yet businesses commonly ask how they can connect their existing phone infrastructure to Microsoft Teams.

How do I route calls to and from Microsoft Teams?

Businesses can see the benefit of collaborative working, brought by Microsoft Teams, yet they are left with the challenge of what to do with their existing lines and numbers. Trying to figure out how to help staff make and receive calls via Microsoft Teams …to and from any device, anywhere.

Three ways to bring calling to Microsoft Teams

Organizations can:

  1. Transition 100% over to Microsoft and adopt a Microsoft Calling Plan

Through Microsoft Calling Plans an organization buys phone numbers and call minutes from Microsoft. Bringing calling and IT within the Microsoft realm means a reduced number of services to manage.

Yet Microsoft Calling Plans do not work for everyone. Moving over to Microsoft Calling Plans poses a challenge if you are locked into contracts with existing providers. Additionally, key technical integrations may not work, meaning compliance, reporting, call center set-ups, etc may not be supported.

  1. Speak with their Voice, Telco and IT service providers about building Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams by installing on-premise Session Border Controls (SBCs)

Direct Routing enables you to make and receive phone calls to or from landlines and mobiles via the public switched telephone network (PSTN).

This is done by using a Microsoft approved Session Border Control (SBC) to connect existing phone lines, numbers, and minutes to Microsoft Teams. (An SBC is a special type of router or firewall that manages voice rather than data.)

Although Direct Routing, when in place, can be more cost-effective than Microsoft Calling Plans, building SBC connections to Microsoft Teams requires significant levels of expertise. And it can be prohibitively expensive, not to mention disruptive. They also need to be maintained.

  1. Speak to their Voice, Telco and IT service provider about Direct-Routing-as-a-Service (DRaaS)

An alternative approach is to consider Direct-Routing-as-a-Service (DRaaS). Being cloud-based this is less disruptive and can be deployed relatively quickly. And often comes with technical support.

What is Direct Routing as a Service?

Direct-Routing-as-a-Service is a cloud-based solution that utilizes SBC technology.

Call2Teams offers Direct-routing-as-a-service (DRaaS).

Call2Teams is a cloud-native, middleware product that sits between any phone system, PBX or SIP Trunk provider, and Microsoft Teams. Sold exclusively through channel partners, Call2Teams allows business users to make and receive calls from any device using the Microsoft Teams workspace.

The advantages of Call2Teams DRaaS:

  • Keep your existing phone system
  • Bring your existing carrier with negotiated minutes and plans intact
  • No need to port or change numbers
  • Utilize the advantages of Teams by working in any location, on any device

With over 250+ partners across the globe, we offer businesses a flexible way to voice-enable Microsoft Teams around existing infrastructure and commercial commitments.

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