Microsoft users have turned to Teams, the premier collaboration platform, to fulfill their business’ voice solution needs. Teams’ users benefit from cloud-based features, such as video conferencing, instant messaging, and file sharing, which are particularly valuable for hybrid and work-from-anywhere-employees.
However, companies can bring their business voice capabilities to new heights by integrating Microsoft’s Teams Phone System and telephony solutions.
The Benefits of Microsoft Teams Phone System Voice Solutions
Cloud telephony is a cloud-calling telecom solution. Microsoft’s Teams Phone System is a cloud-telephony technology capable of making phone calls by connecting to a private branch exchange (PBX) and the public switch telephone network—PSTN—(i.e., the international telephone system).
Phone System offers cost-effective, modern communications solutions complete with cloud-based features and capabilities, yielding significant benefits including, but not limited to:
- Broader Geographic Coverage
- Comprehensive Technical Support
- Heightened Efficiency
- Increased Mobility/Enhanced Collaboration
- Improved Customer Service
- No New On-Site Equipment (may differ on voice solution needs)
- Seamless Communications
- Reduce Overhead and Maintenance Costs
What Is Microsoft’s Phone System?
Microsoft’s Phone System enables call control and private branch exchange (PBX) capabilities in Microsoft Teams and the Microsoft 365 cloud, allowing businesses to replace their existing PBX system with Microsoft 365-delivered features. In other words, MS Phone System customers can apply a private telephone network within their enterprise to secure internal employee communication.
To establish a connection between Phone System and the public switch telephone network, customers can choose from Microsoft’s Teams three voice solutions:
- Phone System with Calling Plan
- Phone System with Operator Connect – merging Phone System with your current voice carrier
- Phone System with Direct Routing – merging Phone System with your current voice carrier (using an existing on-premises session border controller)
1. Phone System – Calling Plan
You may select MS Phone System with added Domestic or International Calling Plans. This all-in-the-cloud PSTN Calling Plan operates entirely out of Microsoft 365, eliminating the need to deploy and maintain on-premises equipment.
Through Direct Routing, businesses can integrate their MS voice solution with third-party PBX, analog devices, and other voice solution equipment with a supported SBC.
Additionally, businesses may easily assign phone numbers to their organization’s Teams users from the user-friendly Teams Admin Center.
A business’s voice solution infrastructure must provide an uninterrupted connection to Microsoft 365 to deploy this voice solution.
Session Border Controller (SBC)
An SBC is a dedicated hardware device or software application that governs the phone calls (i.e., sessions) that are:
- Initiated,
- Conducted, and
- Terminated on a VoIP Network.
A business’s on-premises SBC also acts as a router between the VoIP network and voice carrier service, enabling authorized-only sessions; they may also function as firewalls for session traffic.
2. Phone System – Operator Connect
Your business can leverage its existing contract with its telecommunications operator (service provider) by connecting its operator-managed, on-premises voice solutions infrastructure and simultaneously utilizing the Teams Phone System collaboration tools and simple operations.
The operator-managed infrastructure encompasses PSTN calling services and SBC. At the same time, the Microsoft 365 cloud environment offers fast solutions deployment—its Teams Admin Center allows you to quickly connect with your service provider and assign phone numbers to employees.
Merging your current carrier with the Teams Phone system with Operator Connect enhances your telecom voice solution support and reliability with consistent technical support and shared service level agreements from your service provider.
Infrastructure requirements for a business to deploy this voice solution include:
- Uninterrupted Connection to Microsoft 365
- Contract with a Third-Party Carrier
3. Phone System – Direct Routing
Businesses can link on-premises and cloud-based phone infrastructure by connecting their SBC with MS Phone System, enabling you to use almost any third-party carrier with MS Phone System. When considering this voice solution, it is essential to note that companies may configure and manage their services themselves or delegate such tasks to their carrier/partner (if the carrier provides this service).
Infrastructure requirements for a business to deploy this voice solution include:
- Uninterrupted Connection to Microsoft 365
- Deployment and Maintenance of a Supported SBC
- Contract with a Third-Party Carrier
Upgrade Corporate Telephony with Expert Solutions Providers
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Let us integrate your business with the market’s most competitive services and technologies by contacting us at https://cc3solutions.com/contact.