Microsoft Teams

When evaluating Microsoft Teams as your UCaaS solution, you need to be aware of the options available for connecting your organization's Microsoft Phone System to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN). To do this, you have 4 options to choose from:

Microsoft Calling Plan - an all-in-cloud solution with Microsoft as your PSTN carrier. Purchased from Microsoft directly this can be a simplistic solution that can also be the most expensive deployment methodology.

Operator Connect - also known as Direct Routing Lite... Operator Connect allows accredited carriers to manage PSTN calling and session border controllers on your behalf which can alleviate management headaches but also limits configurability to your Teams deployment.

Teams Phone Mobile - provides a user's Microsoft Teams phone number as their SIM-enabled phone number.

Direct Routing - enables you use your own PSTN carrier by connecting session border controllers to Phone System.

What you select will alter how certain Phone System features are configured, so you should ensure you consider what is right for your organization. You can also select a combination of options, which can help manage a multi-step migration or a complex environment.