Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams has seen massive growth since 2019 as it kept us all connected. It surpassed 250 million monthly active users this summer and this rise is only set to continue. As we all know, Teams connects remote and in-office workers by chat and video calls, manages documents, and integrates apps. Now, Microsoft has announced phone capabilities for the platform so you can connect to the traditional phone network by direct routing. What does this mean for your business? You can upgrade and unify your internal collaboration by combining connections, file management, and your phone system alongside many added benefits. Read on to learn about direct routing for teams and how it can maximise the productivity of your business.

What is Direct Routing?

Direct Routing involves routing Microsoft Teams to the public switched telephone network (PSTN) to transform Teams from your internal communications platform into a business phone system (PBX) to call employees and customers throughout the world.

Connecting Teams to a telephony provider, like Microtalk, means you can access cheaper call rates, increased flexibility, and great support. Microtalk simply hosts a Microsoft Teams-certified Session Border Controller (SBC) — a layer of security and protection — within our own network. SIP Trunks then create a virtual link between your PBX and the standard phone network (the PSTN) via an internet connection.

Who should use Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams?

Does your business already use Microsoft Teams and make national or international calls? If so, you’re ready to benefit from Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams! As Teams is essential to the internal communications of your business, it’s ideal to use the same platform for your external communications too.

Microsoft does offer a calling plan, but it lacks flexibility and support. So, if your business has a small IT team (or no need for one), you can benefit from added external support when you choose a provider to transform your Teams into a PBX. Using our experience, Microtalk can offer easy installation and support when you need it.

Benefits of Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams

There are countless reasons to embrace Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams for both your employees and customers:

• Using Teams as a PBX is the epitome of unified communications. Combine your internal and external communications to create a better working environment for your staff and increase customer satisfaction.
• You’re in control. Direct Routing means you can choose who manages and hosts your PBX. This equates to instant access to expertise and guaranteed reliability.
• Easily keep your existing numbers or access new ones. So, you can ensure continuity as you switch to your new phone system and also choose new national or international numbers.
• Take advantage of the features you expect from a PBX alongside the Teams services you love. Cloud PBX solutions for your business from Microtalk come with a range of features: call routing, call control, a digital receptionist to establish an immediate interaction with your customers, real-time call logs, and more.
• How much does it cost? With all the benefits and seamless integration into your existing business set-up, you’d expect Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams to be pricey. However, converting Teams into your PBX is not only a quick process but cost-saving too. As all your needs are in one place, your expenditures are streamlined too.

Microsoft Teams was there for us during the lockdown and, as remote and hybrid working continues to grow in popularity among business owners and employees, the ability to convert Teams into your PBX is welcome news. With Direct Routing, Microsoft Teams can house your internal and external communications by connecting landlines and mobiles, alongside file sharing and productivity apps so your business can thrive and stay connected wherever your colleagues are located. Talk to Microtalk about Cloud PBX solutions for your business that are reliable, remote-ready, and offer significant savings.