How Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams simplifies your business communications

Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams offers many benefits for your business.

A main reason so many organisations are making the switch is to simplify their communications into a single platform, Microsoft Teams.

But first, what is Direct Routing exactly and how does it work?

How Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams Simplifies Your Business Communications

What is Direct Routing and how does it work?

Direct Routing is a modern cloud-based telephony solution that integrates into Microsoft Teams in Office 365. Microsoft Teams unifies calling, chat, meetings, calendar, and email for an all-in-one communication solution, boosting overall productivity.

To place and receive calls, Microsoft Teams users can use their mobile devices, a headset with a laptop or PC, or Microsoft-certified IP phones. To connect Microsoft Teams to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) to enable calls to landlines and mobile phones you have two options:

Microsoft Calling Plans
Direct Routing

If you choose Microsoft Calling Plans, you will need to purchase a calling plan per user (starting from £9.10 per user per month for a domestic calling plan) which is not particularly cost-effective. Microsoft Calling Plans are also only currently available in 11 countries (Australia, Belgium, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, United States and Puerto Rico).

Direct Routing is a hugely popular alternative to Microsoft Calling Plans, allowing businesses to choose their own telephony provider. Direct Routing allows Microsoft Teams users to make and receive calls to landlines and mobile phones without needing a Microsoft Calling Plan or on-premises equipment.

Here’s how it works: Direct Routing uses Infinitel’s SIP Trunks to route your calls over the Internet. Our SIP Trunks are connected to a Ribbon Communication’s Microsoft-Teams certified Session Border Controller (SBC), which is hosted within the Infinitel cloud. The SBC then routes to your Office 365 tenant and DID numbers will be allocated to Teams users using PowerShell (we will assist with this).

Once connected and configured, users that have the Microsoft Phone System add-on can make and receive calls using Microsoft Teams. Calls can be made using a mobile phone, a laptop or PC with a headset or a Microsoft-certified IP phone.

How does Direct Routing simplify your business communications?

Direct Routing can simplify and streamline business communications in many ways, including:

An all-in-one communication solution — Rather than having to juggle numerous different products from multiple providers, Direct Routing allows you to manage a single unified and consolidated communication platform that offers audio, video and web conferencing capabilities.
Cost-Effective — Direct Routing allows Microsoft Teams users to make and receive calls in Microsoft Teams without needing a Microsoft Calling Plan. A Microsoft Calling Plan starts at £9.10 per user per month for a domestic plan and £18.20 for an international plan, which can quickly add to your business costs. Direct Routing from Infinitel reduces costs as you only pay for the number of concurrent calls needed with lower call charges.
Cloud-based telephony solution — Direct Routing is a fully cloud-based communication platform while providing you with all the features and capabilities you need from a traditional phone system. This saves you from having to invest in and install an on-premise phone system. Our SIP Trunks route your calls over the Internet while our Microsoft-certified Session Border Controllers are all hosted within the Infinitel cloud.
Easy to set-up –– Whether you’re already using Microsoft teams or replacing your existing phone system, Direct Routing is simple, smooth and stress-free. You can choose your own telephony provider, easily port your existing phone numbers and provision new numbers in minutes. At Infinitel, we manage your service from start-to-finish, ensuring your migration is seamless and fully supported.
Global coverage — With full PSTN (public switched telephone network) replacement in over 40 countries and number coverage in more than 100 countries, Direct Routing allows you to communicate with the rest of the world using Microsoft Teams. Microsoft Calling Plans, on the other hand, are only available in 11 countries worldwide, with Direct Routing from Infinitel you will benefit from over 4 times more coverage.

Direct Routing is an ideal communication solution if your business uses Microsoft Teams or you’re looking to replace or upgrade your existing phone system. At Infinitel, we also offer call recording and complete call centre solutions for Microsoft Teams. Our team of experienced industry experts can help you find the best solution for your business.

If you’d like to know more about Direct Routing, please call us on 0333 996 0029 or email us at info@infinitelcomms.co.uk.