Switch Connect Collaborates with Ribbon Communications to bring Carrier-Grade PSTN calling Features & Functionality to Microsoft Direct Routing for Teams Phone System

September 10, 2018- Switch Connect, a leading enterprise unified communications and managed services provider, today announced that it is collaborating with Ribbon Communications, a global leader in secure and intelligent cloud communications, to be among the first Australian providers to deliver hosted integrated voice architecture to support the recently released Microsoft Direct Routing for Teams. Teams is Microsoft’s collaboration platform that allows users to easily share files, data and conduct meetings online to improve productivity. The service integrates with Microsoft's Office 365 subscription productivity suite, including Microsoft Office and Skype, and features extensions that can integrate with non-Microsoft products. Now through its new Direct Routing offering, Microsoft is able to add secure, integrated voice services to Teams collaboration environments. Read More on the Microsoft Teams Blog here: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Microsoft-Teams-Blog/Direct-Routing-in-now-Generally-Available/bc-p/210476#M1279.

Switch Connect is leveraging Ribbon’s Session Border Controller (SBC) portfolio to enable Microsoft customers to now add PSTN and PBX voice calling in the Teams client interface natively. Previously external calling was only available from Microsoft’s Calling Plans for Phone Systems in select markets. The new Direct Routing for Teams capability allows customers to adopt Teams as their modern workspace collaboration tool, while seamlessly integrating voice services.

Microsoft Direct Routing for Teams from an architecture point of view is a cloud first approach. The needed Session Border Controller (SBC), which is delivered and managed by Switch Connect in its secure data centre, connects the customer’s Office 365 Teams environment to the Switch Connect SIP Trunk. Customers no longer need infrastructure on their premises. Below is a graphical depiction of the technical architecture:

Switch Connect’s carrier-grade network provides optimal uptime and reliability backed by 24-hour support and Australian-based, geo-redundant data centres. Switch Connect’s PSTN services utilise Ribbon Communications' family of next generation SBCs to provide robust security, simplified interoperability, advanced session management, and carrier-grade reliability.

“We are very excited to offer Microsoft Direct Routing for Teams to our Australian customer and partner bases. Now our customers can easily and cost-effectively take full advantage of the Unified Communications and Hosted PBX functionality in Office 365. Switch Connect is making it simple and quick for customers to connect their Office 365 and Microsoft Teams environment to the PSTN network and start making and receiving calls via Teams,” said Rohan Milne, CEO of Switch Connect.