Cloud Voice

Cloud Voice - Microsoft Teams

Teams Telephone Calls

Phone System is Microsoft's technology for enabling call control and Private Branch Exchange (PBX) capabilities in the Microsoft 365 cloud with Microsoft Teams. Phone System works with Teams clients and certified devices. Phone System allows you to replace your existing PBX system with a set of features directly delivered from Microsoft 365.

To connect Phone System to the PSTN, you can choose from the following options:

  • Calling Plan. An all-in-the-cloud solution with Microsoft as your PSTN carrier More Information

  • Operator Connect. If your existing carrier participates in the Microsoft Operator Connect program, they can manage PSTN calling and Session Border Controllers (SBCs)

  • Direct Routing. This enables you to use your own PSTN carrier by connecting your Session Border Controller(s) (SBC) to Phone System

  • Others. For example, 8x8 direct routing to Teams

Things to Consider:

  • Calling Plans are quick and easy but don't represent great value as you scale, and the calling tariffs aren't great

  • Operator Connect is fine as long as you're able to accept the limits imposed by the carrier. There was after all a reason that PBXs became popular

  • Direct Routing offers the most flexibility but is the most complex, this allows you to maintain your existing arrangements, including your PBX

  • Others options are available such as plugin applications, bots, etc but these can break the Teams experience

ACME UC offer calling plans via CSP, Direct Routing solutions and options as well as fixed all in, per month contracts suitable for smaller businesses.