Microsoft Teams Direct Calling

Direct Routing refers to the process of routing Microsoft Teams to the PTSN (traditional phone network). Although until recently Teams has been mainly used as an internal communications tool, it is now possible to develop the platform to be used as a fully fledged business telephone system. There are essentially two ways of doing this:

Microsoft Teams Direct Routing:

Created and maintained by Microsoft in the cloud, these plans essentially turn Teams into a fairly light-touch hosted PBX, tightly integrated with the rest of Teams’ functionality. This option is expensive and only available in a limited number of geographical areas. Porting numbers can also be confusing and time consuming, with no dedicated contact to help with the process.

EBC Direct Routing:

Enables your business to connect Microsoft Teams to a telephony provider such as EBC Group. This allows you to take advantage of cheaper call rates, more flexibility with full support provided by EBC Group. Direct routing is seen as attractive to organisations because it gives them the flexibility to choose their own telephony provider, whilst retaining full integration with the Microsoft Teams platform.

EBC Direct Routing is a full cloud solution that allows businesses to use Microsoft Teams to make and receive external calls without requiring Microsoft Calling Plan licenses or on-premise equipment. To place and receive calls, Phone System users can use their mobile devices, a headset with a laptop or PC, or Microsoft-certified IP Phones.

Existing Users:

Businesses who already use Microsoft Teams within their organisation for internal communication, can now encompass their external communications too. Rolling all your communications into one manageable platform eliminates the need for an external business phone system (PBX) and its associated costs, as well as providing a more solid integration between systems.

Limited Support:

Through reputable and certified Microsoft Partners such as EBC Group, businesses with limited in-house expertise, such as small IT teams (or lack of) can leverage providers to install and support Microsoft Teams and EBC Direct Routing, as well as any other associated equipment.

High call users:

Additionally, businesses who are still using Microsoft Calling can now move away from this expensive alternative, in favour of EBC Direct Routing, which is the obvious choice for businesses that make a reasonable amount of outbound and international calls. Direct Routing will always provide a much cheaper reoccurring price per user, per month than Microsoft ’s own calling plans.