{"id":4873,"date":"2024-05-14T03:58:12","date_gmt":"2024-05-14T03:58:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/?p=4873"},"modified":"2025-10-28T06:37:52","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T06:37:52","slug":"operator-connect-vs-direct-routing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/","title":{"rendered":"Operator Connect vs Direct Routing: A Comparative Analysis"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remote and hybrid work has become the new working norm and businesses are embracing flexible work arrangements by finding new ways to stay connected. Cloud tools like Microsoft Teams, <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">which has <\/span><b>320 million users<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">,<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> are already a preferred choice for online meetings and chats, it&#8217;s now become a game-changer for phone calls too. Operator Connect and Direct Routing are two ways to integrate external calling functionality directly within your Microsoft Teams environment.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But which option should you choose?<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let&#8217;s explore Operator Connect vs Direct Routing to help you make an informed decision and ditch the desk phone for good!<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_42 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" area-label=\"ez-toc-toggle-icon-1\"><label for=\"item-691d4e9538d54\" aria-label=\"Table of Content\"><span style=\"display: flex;align-items: center;width: 35px;height: 30px;justify-content: center;direction:ltr;\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/label><input  type=\"checkbox\" id=\"item-691d4e9538d54\"><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-visibility-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#What_is_Direct_Routing_for_Microsoft_Teams\" title=\"What is Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams?\">What is Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#Self-managed_Direct_Routing\" title=\"Self-managed Direct Routing\">Self-managed Direct Routing<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#DRaaS_Direct_Routing_as_a_Service\" title=\"DRaaS (Direct Routing as a Service)\">DRaaS (Direct Routing as a Service)<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#How_Does_Direct_Routing_Work\" title=\"How Does Direct Routing Work?\">How Does Direct Routing Work?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#How_to_Setup_Direct_Routing\" title=\"How to Setup Direct Routing?\">How to Setup Direct Routing?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#What_are_the_Benefits_of_Direct_Routing\" title=\"What are the Benefits of Direct Routing?\">What are the Benefits of Direct Routing?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#1_Facilitates_Unified_User_Experience\" title=\"1. Facilitates Unified User Experience\">1. Facilitates Unified User Experience<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#2_Provides_Global_Reach\" title=\"2. Provides Global Reach\">2. Provides Global Reach<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#3_Supports_Customizable_Integrations\" title=\"3. Supports Customizable Integrations\">3. Supports Customizable Integrations<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#4_Offers_Retention_of_Existing_Numbers\" title=\"4. Offers Retention of Existing Numbers\">4. Offers Retention of Existing Numbers<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#5_Makes_Scaling_Easy\" title=\"5. Makes Scaling Easy\">5. Makes Scaling Easy<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#6_Fosters_Cost-effectiveness\" title=\"6. Fosters Cost-effectiveness\">6. Fosters Cost-effectiveness<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#7_Presents_Advanced_Routing_Options\" title=\"7. Presents Advanced Routing Options\">7. Presents Advanced Routing Options<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#Challenges_with_Direct_Routing\" title=\"Challenges with Direct Routing\u00a0\">Challenges with Direct Routing\u00a0<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#1_Complex_Installation\" title=\"1. Complex Installation\u00a0\">1. Complex Installation\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#2_High_Upfront_Costs\" title=\"2. High Upfront Costs\u00a0\">2. High Upfront Costs\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#3_Requires_PowerShell_Administration\" title=\"3. Requires PowerShell Administration\u00a0\">3. Requires PowerShell Administration\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#Direct_Routing_Pricing\" title=\"Direct Routing Pricing\u00a0\">Direct Routing Pricing\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#What_is_Operator_Connect_for_Microsoft_Teams\" title=\"What is Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams?\">What is Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#How_Does_Operator_Connect_Work\" title=\"How Does Operator Connect Work?\">How Does Operator Connect Work?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#What_are_the_Benefits_of_Operator_Connect\" title=\"What are the Benefits of Operator Connect?\">What are the Benefits of Operator Connect?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#1_Strict_Operator_Selection\" title=\"1. Strict Operator Selection\u00a0\">1. Strict Operator Selection\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#2_Ideal_for_Businesses_Seeking_Simplicity_with_Savings\" title=\"2. Ideal for Businesses Seeking Simplicity with Savings\u00a0\">2. Ideal for Businesses Seeking Simplicity with Savings\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-24\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#3_Pick_Your_Provider\" title=\"3. Pick Your Provider\u00a0\">3. Pick Your Provider\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-25\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#4_Easy_Setup\" title=\"4. Easy Setup\u00a0\">4. Easy Setup\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-26\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#5_User-Friendly_Administration\" title=\"5. User-Friendly Administration\u00a0\">5. User-Friendly Administration\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-27\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#6_Potential_Cost-Effectiveness\" title=\"6. Potential Cost-Effectiveness\">6. Potential Cost-Effectiveness<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-28\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#Operator_Connect_Challenges\" title=\"Operator Connect Challenges\u00a0\">Operator Connect Challenges\u00a0<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-29\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#1_Restricted_Availability_in_Certain_Regions\" title=\"1. Restricted Availability in Certain Regions\">1. Restricted Availability in Certain Regions<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-30\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#2_Several_Providers_Are_Yet_to_Join\" title=\"2. Several Providers Are Yet to Join\u00a0\">2. Several Providers Are Yet to Join\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-31\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#3_Limited_Connectivity_Options_for_Existing_Equipment\" title=\"3. Limited Connectivity Options for Existing Equipment\">3. Limited Connectivity Options for Existing Equipment<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-32\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#Operator_Connect_Pricing\" title=\"Operator Connect Pricing\u00a0\">Operator Connect Pricing\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-33\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#Operator_Connect_vs_Direct_Routing_Key_Differences\" title=\"Operator Connect vs Direct Routing: Key Differences\">Operator Connect vs Direct Routing: Key Differences<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-34\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#Deployment_Complexity\" title=\" Deployment Complexity\"> Deployment Complexity<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-35\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#Management_Interface\" title=\" Management Interface\"> Management Interface<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-36\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#Integration_Flexibility\" title=\" Integration Flexibility\"> Integration Flexibility<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-37\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#Cost_Structure\" title=\" Cost Structure\"> Cost Structure<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-38\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#Operator_Connect_or_Direct_Routing_Which_Strategy_Should_You_Choose\" title=\"Operator Connect or Direct Routing: Which Strategy Should You Choose?\u00a0\">Operator Connect or Direct Routing: Which Strategy Should You Choose?\u00a0<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-39\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#When_to_Choose_Direct_Routing\" title=\"When to Choose Direct Routing?\">When to Choose Direct Routing?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-40\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#1_Companies_with_Long-Term_Contracts\" title=\"1. Companies with Long-Term Contracts\">1. Companies with Long-Term Contracts<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-41\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#2_Industry-specific_Regulations_Constrain_the_Available_Choices\" title=\"2. Industry-specific Regulations Constrain the Available Choices\">2. Industry-specific Regulations Constrain the Available Choices<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-42\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#3_Microsoft_Teams_Lacks_Crucial_Features\" title=\"3. Microsoft Teams Lacks Crucial Features\u00a0\">3. Microsoft Teams Lacks Crucial Features\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-43\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#When_to_Choose_Operator_Connect\" title=\"When to Choose Operator Connect?\">When to Choose Operator Connect?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-4'><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-44\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#1_Youre_Prepared_to_Fully_Embrace_the_Cloud\" title=\"1. You&#8217;re Prepared to Fully Embrace the Cloud\">1. You&#8217;re Prepared to Fully Embrace the Cloud<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-45\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#2_You_Prioritize_Speed_and_Adaptability_Over_Complex_Routing\" title=\"2. You Prioritize Speed and Adaptability Over Complex Routing\u00a0\">2. You Prioritize Speed and Adaptability Over Complex Routing\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-4'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-46\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#3_You_Dont_Have_In-house_Resources_to_Handle_a_Phone_System\" title=\"3. You Don\u2019t Have In-house Resources to Handle a Phone System\">3. You Don\u2019t Have In-house Resources to Handle a Phone System<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-47\" href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/telecom\/operator-connect-vs-direct-routing\/#Bottom_Line\" title=\"Bottom Line\u00a0\">Bottom Line\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Direct_Routing_for_Microsoft_Teams\"><\/span><b>What is Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Microsoft Teams Direct Routing, often referred to as Direct Routing, is <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the core technology that enables you to connect your existing phone lines, which may be PBX or PSTN, to Microsoft Teams. It involves setting up Session Border Controllers (SBCs) and configuring the connection. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Users can make and receive calls directly within the Teams interface utilizing their existing phone numbers and telephony infrastructure.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are two main ways to utilize Direct Routing:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Self-managed_Direct_Routing\"><\/span><b>Self-managed Direct Routing<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here your organization manages the entire setup, configuration, and ongoing maintenance of the SBCs and the connection to Teams. Self-managed Direct routing requires you to have a strong in-house IT team with expertise in voice and network management.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"DRaaS_Direct_Routing_as_a_Service\"><\/span><b>DRaaS (Direct Routing as a Service)<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is an ideal solution for organizations that want to use Teams for external calling but don\u2019t want to indulge in the heavy lifting associated with Direct Routing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Direct Routing as a Service, a third-party service provider takes care of the procurement and configuration of the SBCs, as well as the connection to Teams. They may also offer ongoing maintenance and support. This is a good option for organizations that want the benefits of Direct Routing but lack the internal resources to manage it themselves.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For better understanding, you may consider Self-managed Direct Routing as the &#8220;do it yourself&#8221; option and DRaaS as the &#8220;managed service&#8221; option.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Does_Direct_Routing_Work\"><\/span><b>How Does Direct Routing Work?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct Routing leverages a Session Border Controller or SBC, either hardware or software appliance, that acts as a bridge between your organization&#8217;s telephony infrastructure and Microsoft&#8217;s network.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When a user initiates an external call through Teams, the call is routed through the Session Border Controller to the PSTN\u00a0 or PBX, where SBC translates protocols and ensures secure communication between the two parties. The Vice-versa i.e. routing of call from PSTN or PBX to SBC happens in case of incoming calls.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s discuss the working of direct routing in more detail.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In Direct Routing, an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/sbc\/session-border-controller\/\">SBC<\/a> acts as a &#8216;border guard&#8217; that bridges the gap between Microsoft Teams and your existing phone carrier. It makes sure that both the entities, i.e. Teams and your Carrier, experience a harmonious interaction. The below diagram illustrates the specific setup where on one side of the border is your traditional phone line and on the other side is a Teams user. Here SBC acts as the control center ensuring smooth communication and presenting its pivotal role.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4876 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/microsoft-teams-direct-routing-working.jpg\" alt=\"microsoft teams direct routing working\" width=\"755\" height=\"385\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/microsoft-teams-direct-routing-working.jpg 755w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/microsoft-teams-direct-routing-working-300x153.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 755px) 100vw, 755px\" \/><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Setup_Direct_Routing\"><\/span><b>How to Setup Direct Routing?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Getting started with Direct Routing requires you to fulfill one prerequisite from Microsoft &#8211; you should have the Microsoft Teams Phone license. This unlocks the calling features within Teams.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you have the licenses and your phone system set up, Direct Routing can be easily provisioned for all your Teams clients (desktop, mobile, etc.) and even common area phones.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you wish to add new phone numbers to your Teams setup, then you can simply follow the standard process. In case of porting existing numbers \u2013 your PBX provider remains the same, and only the connection gets rerouted to Teams.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_Benefits_of_Direct_Routing\"><\/span><b>What are the Benefits of Direct Routing?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a wide range of benefits offered by direct routing that help streamline and optimize your business\u2019s communication. Let\u2019s take a closer look at each of these benefits:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Facilitates_Unified_User_Experience\"><\/span><b>1. Facilitates Unified User Experience<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct Routing integrates calling capabilities directly into Microsoft Teams which eliminates the need for separate calling apps. This helps maintain a consistent user experience and eliminates frustrating app-switching.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Provides_Global_Reach\"><\/span><b>2. Provides Global Reach<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct Routing extends telephony coverage to regions beyond those provided by Microsoft Calling Plans. This means a business with international teams and clients can ensure consistent communication regardless of location.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Supports_Customizable_Integrations\"><\/span><b>3. Supports Customizable Integrations<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct Routing facilitates integration with various line-of-business applications. This flexibility allows a smoother flow of information thus boosting communication and collaboration workflows and enhancing efficiency.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Offers_Retention_of_Existing_Numbers\"><\/span><b>4. Offers Retention of Existing Numbers<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With Direct Routing, there&#8217;s no need to leave your established business phone numbers. You can seamlessly port your existing numbers to Teams to ensure continuity in communication and minimize any impact on customers, stakeholders, and partners.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Makes_Scaling_Easy\"><\/span><b>5. Makes Scaling Easy<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct Routing allows organizations to add or remove users as needed easily. This ensures that your telephony solution adapts according to your business requirements.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Fosters_Cost-effectiveness\"><\/span><b>6. Fosters Cost-effectiveness<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct routing allows you to leverage your existing telephony connections, potentially saving costs as compared to alternate solutions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Presents_Advanced_Routing_Options\"><\/span><b>7. Presents Advanced Routing Options<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With Direct Routing, you have granular level control over how the call routes. You can set up complex rules based on time, caller location, team, or department to ensure that calls are directed to the most appropriate recipient every single time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Challenges_with_Direct_Routing\"><\/span><b>Challenges with Direct Routing\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So we just learned the many benefits of Direct Routing, let\u2019s flip to the other side of the coin i.e., the challenges associated with Direct Routing.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Complex_Installation\"><\/span><b>1. Complex Installation\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct Routing involves bringing together a few different phone-related elements. This includes <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/microsoft-teams\/group-chat-software-b\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Microsoft Teams<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Phone, Session Border Controller, services of your phone company, and your existing phone equipment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This can be quite complicated for someone used to just managing Teams itself which is why it&#8217;s often a good idea to get help from experts called resellers or system integrators. They can make sure all parts work together seamlessly and you don&#8217;t have any communication problems down the line.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_High_Upfront_Costs\"><\/span><b>2. High Upfront Costs\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While potentially cost-effective in the long run, Direct Routing comes with a few primary needs, including:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Session Border Controller:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/products\/reve-session-border-controller\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cost of SBC<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can vary depending on factors such as capacity, features, and brand. Additionally, organizations may need multiple SBCs for redundancy and scalability, further increasing upfront expenses.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Hardware and Software: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additional hardware and software components such as servers, gateways, routers, and other network equipment may be required to support Direct Routing. This cost can become huge, especially in large-scale deployments with complex setups.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Licensing Fees: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Licensing costs associated with SBC software, Microsoft Teams licenses, and potentially other related software licenses depending on the specific configuration and requirements also add to the initial costs when setting up direct routing.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Training and IT expertise: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Initial deployment of Direct Routing also entails hiring IT experts and training IT staff or end-users on using the new telephony solution to its full potential. Organizations need to invest in these areas to kickstart their calling experience with Direct Routing.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Requires_PowerShell_Administration\"><\/span><b>3. Requires PowerShell Administration<\/b><b>\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4874 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/microsoft-powershell.jpg\" alt=\"microsoft powershell\" width=\"733\" height=\"490\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/microsoft-powershell.jpg 733w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/microsoft-powershell-300x201.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 733px) 100vw, 733px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While Direct routing offers great control, setting it up isn&#8217;t as easy as clicking a few buttons. There&#8217;s no user-friendly GUI i.e. graphical user interface, rather, IT teams need to use a special tool called PowerShell, which works by typing commands in text format. it is very crucial to get the commands exactly precise to make sure things work just right.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For many, this may feel like the difference between using a modern smartphone and an old-school flip phone. Because the setup is tricky, it is a good idea to have someone with prior experience.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Direct_Routing_Pricing\"><\/span><b>Direct Routing Pricing\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pricing of Direct Routing typically includes costs associated with the various components involved in the setup, including:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Configuration and maintenance of the Session Border Controller<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Potential licensing fees<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It is important to note that the pricing of Direct Routing differs from one provider to another.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_is_Operator_Connect_for_Microsoft_Teams\"><\/span><b>What is Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">An alternative to Direct Routing, Operator Connect is another way to connect Microsoft Teams with a phone service. It\u2019s a telecom-operator-based service that allows organizations to select their preferred operator from a list of Microsoft-approved vendors directly within the Teams admin center.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">So, here, you choose a Microsoft-approved carrier to handle your phone service and connection to Teams. In contrast, with DRaaS, you have the flexibility to choose any carrier you want, as long as they offer Direct Routing functionality.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While both DRaaS and Operator Connect enable integrating phone service with Microsoft Teams, they take different approaches and offer distinct functionalities.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">DRaaS focuses on providing a managed service for setting up direct routing. This gives you more control and customization over your calling experience in Teams.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Operator Connect is designed to simplify the integration process by leveraging pre-approved operators. These operators handle the entire call infrastructure, offering a standardized experience with less configuration needed on your end.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Insight <\/span><b>&#8211; <\/b><b>It\u2019s important to note that Microsoft doesn\u2019t select carriers to become \u201cOperators\u201d. The carrier makes the decision and must undergo Microsoft\u2019s approval processes.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_Does_Operator_Connect_Work\"><\/span><b>How Does Operator Connect Work?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When you use Operator Connect for Teams calling, the selected Operator manages all infrastructure layers and establishes a direct link to Microsoft&#8217;s cloud. This frees you from managing the complexities of phone infrastructure, enabling you to focus on using Teams for communication and collaboration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Below is an illustration of the primary role of Operators in delivering calling services for Microsoft Teams.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4877 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Operator-Connect.jpg\" alt=\"Operator Connect working\" width=\"795\" height=\"490\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Operator-Connect.jpg 795w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Operator-Connect-300x185.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Operator-Connect-768x473.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 795px) 100vw, 795px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_are_the_Benefits_of_Operator_Connect\"><\/span><b>What are the Benefits of Operator Connect?<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Strict_Operator_Selection\"><\/span><b>1. Strict Operator Selection\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Microsoft selects its Operator Connect partners carefully ensuring flawless compatibility between your current phone system and Teams. These selected partners adhere to stringent security and government protocols, offering reassurance regarding the integrity of your telecommunications infrastructure.<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Ideal_for_Businesses_Seeking_Simplicity_with_Savings\"><\/span><b>2. Ideal for Businesses Seeking Simplicity with Savings\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Operator Connect is ideal for organizations with specific needs. It caters to those who require more functionality than basic calling plans but lack the resources for a complex Direct Routing setup. Operator Connect simplifies the integration process offering potential cost-savings which makes it an attractive option for small to mid-sized companies with limited resources and expertise.\u00a0<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Pick_Your_Provider\"><\/span><b>3. Pick Your Provider\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When setting up Operator Connect, you have the flexibility to choose a phone company as per your suitability. The first way could be that you can continue with your current telecom provider, given that they are already a part of the Operator Connect Program. However, if that is not the case, then you can choose from the list of certified providers from within the Teams Admin Center. You can also compare different providers based on their features and functionalities, support services, reputation, and pricing to make an informed decision.\u00a0<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Easy_Setup\"><\/span><b>4. Easy Setup\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Compared to Direct Routing, the deployment of Operator Connect follows a structured and streamlined approach. Integrating a certified telecom provider with Teams is also a simple process. In fact, it often entails just a few clicks within the Teams Admin Center.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Unlike other methods, Operator Connect eliminates the need for a separate SBC deployment and bypasses the complexity of text-based administration with PowerShell. As a result, the workload for IT teams involved in the deployment is significantly minimized.<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_User-Friendly_Administration\"><\/span><b>5. User-Friendly Administration\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another significant advantage of Operator Connect is the user-friendly interface it offers. The Teams Admin Center acts as your central hub for managing all things calling in Teams. Within the Teams Admin Center, administrators can effortlessly configure phone numbers, onboard users, and oversee the telephony experience for both internal and external callers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This empowers IT teams to manage calling efficiently, freeing them up to focus on other priorities. However, there still may be an occasional need to use the legacy text-based PowerShell interface, but this is the exception, not the rule.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Potential_Cost-Effectiveness\"><\/span><b>6. Potential Cost-Effectiveness<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With Operator Connect, the inclusion of Session Border Controller (SBC) functions and the reduced need for integration with an on-site PBX mean minimal hardware and software setup or configuration. While some organizations may opt to enlist expert assistance for transitioning to Teams Phone, the overall cost of deploying Teams Phone is expected to be lower.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Operator_Connect_Challenges\"><\/span><b>Operator Connect Challenges\u00a0<\/b><b><\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Restricted_Availability_in_Certain_Regions\"><\/span><b>1. Restricted Availability in Certain Regions<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Operator Connect, while a relatively recent offering, was initially introduced in North America, Western Europe, and specific regions of Asia. However, its availability may be limited in certain geographies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some areas, Operator Connect may not be accessible at all, while in others, prominent telecom providers are still in the process of integrating and certifying the service for their customers. Furthermore, the service is delivered through Azure data centers, which could naturally restrict access in remote areas of the world.<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Several_Providers_Are_Yet_to_Join\"><\/span><b>2. Several Providers Are Yet to Join\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Deploying Operator Connect entails a significant investment of time and resources for telecom providers, as it necessitates a formal agreement with Microsoft. As a result, not all providers have opted to commit to the integration process, rendering them unavailable as options for Teams customers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This can pose challenges for businesses interested in utilizing Operator Connect but locked into multi-year contracts with telecom providers that have yet to embrace the service. In such scenarios, transitioning to a compatible provider to access Operator Connect entails tasks like number porting, billing management, and other logistical hurdles that may deter businesses from making the switch.<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Limited_Connectivity_Options_for_Existing_Equipment\"><\/span><b>3. Limited Connectivity Options for Existing Equipment<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Due to its cloud-based nature, Operator Connect does not involve traditional phone lines terminating at a customer&#8217;s local office. Consequently, enterprises lack the means to integrate their existing phone systems or PBXs since there are no local phone lines available for sharing. In contrast to Direct Routing, where the Session Border Controller (SBC) resides on-premises,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Operator Connect utilizes a centrally deployed SBC in the cloud. While Microsoft has recently introduced solutions like the SIP Gateway to enable the integration of certain equipment such as fax machines and specific SIP phones, this solution does not facilitate the coexistence of an old phone system alongside Teams. Achieving such a level of integration still necessitates the use of Direct Routing.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Operator_Connect_Pricing\"><\/span><b>Operator Connect Pricing\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Operator Connect is a service without its own separate cost; however, you will incur charges from your chosen operator for connectivity, phone numbers, and usage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">To utilize Operator Connect, your Microsoft 365 users must have one of the following licenses:<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Office 365 E3 + Teams Phone Standard:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> $36 per user per month, inclusive of PSTN Audio Conferencing.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Office 365 E5<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: $57 per user per month, which includes Teams Phone Standard and PSTN Audio Conferencing features.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Operator_Connect_vs_Direct_Routing_Key_Differences\"><\/span><b>Operator Connect vs Direct Routing: Key Differences<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4878 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/microsoft-teams.jpg\" alt=\"microsoft teams\" width=\"733\" height=\"490\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/microsoft-teams.jpg 733w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/microsoft-teams-300x201.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 733px) 100vw, 733px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Choosing the right solution for integrating phone calls into Microsoft Teams depends on your specific needs and technical expertise. Here&#8217;s a breakdown of the key differences between Operator Connect and Direct Routing, along with practical examples to illustrate each point:<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Deployment_Complexity\"><\/span><b> Deployment Complexity<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4882 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/deployment-complexity.jpg\" alt=\"deployment complexity\" width=\"733\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/deployment-complexity.jpg 733w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/deployment-complexity-300x205.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 733px) 100vw, 733px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>Operator Connect: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The deployment of Operator Connect is streamlined and user-friendly. Setting up phone numbers and users typically involves a few clicks within the Teams Admin Center.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Direct Routing: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The deployment of Direct Routing is more complex and requires technical expertise to configure a Session Border Controller (SBC).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A small marketing agency with limited IT resources would likely benefit from Operator Connect&#8217;s user-friendly setup. They can quickly activate calling functionality without needing to invest in additional hardware or involve IT experts extensively.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Management_Interface\"><\/span><b> Management Interface<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4881 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/management-interface.jpg\" alt=\"management interface\" width=\"733\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/management-interface.jpg 733w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/management-interface-300x205.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 733px) 100vw, 733px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>Operator Connect: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leverages the familiar Teams Admin Center for managing phone numbers, users, and calling features.\u00a0 This is a graphical interface (GUI) with icons and menus, similar to what you&#8217;d find on most modern applications.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Direct Routing: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This may require using PowerShell for configuration and troubleshooting.\u00a0 It\u2019s like writing code where specific commands need to be typed precisely to achieve desired results.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A large company with a dedicated IT department experienced in PowerShell might be comfortable managing Direct Routing. They have the resources and expertise to handle the more technical aspects of configuration and troubleshooting.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Integration_Flexibility\"><\/span><b> Integration Flexibility<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4880 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/integration-flexibility.jpg\" alt=\"integration flexibility\" width=\"733\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/integration-flexibility.jpg 733w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/integration-flexibility-300x205.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 733px) 100vw, 733px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>Operator Connect: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Offers limited customization options as it relies on features provided by the chosen certified carrier. It is like a pre-set menu, where you can choose from what&#8217;s offered, but modifications might not be possible.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Direct Routing:\u00a0 <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Provides more granular control over call routing, security settings, and integration with other business applications.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A healthcare organization with specific call routing needs for different departments might find Direct Routing more suitable. They can customize how calls are directed based on factors like urgency or patient type.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Cost_Structure\"><\/span><b> Cost Structure<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4879 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/cost-structure.jpg\" alt=\"cost structure\" width=\"733\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/cost-structure.jpg 733w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/cost-structure-300x205.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 733px) 100vw, 733px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><b>Operator Connect: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Typically follows a subscription model i.e. per-user, per-month subscription fee that includes phone numbers and calling minutes. The cost is predictable based on usage.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Direct Routing: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pricing can vary depending on chosen phone line costs, SBC fees, and IT administration time. This is more like a pay-as-you-go phone plan \u2013 costs can fluctuate based on usage and configuration needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Example: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A startup with a limited budget might prefer the predictable pricing of Operator Connect. They can easily estimate their monthly costs based on the number of users and calling needs.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Operator_Connect_or_Direct_Routing_Which_Strategy_Should_You_Choose\"><\/span><b>Operator Connect or Direct Routing: Which Strategy Should You Choose?\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.enterpriseappstoday.com\/stats\/microsoft-teams-statistics.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Statistics<\/a> reveal that Microsoft Teams customers are concentrated in Information Technology and Services (14%), Computer Software (6%), and Higher Education (5%).<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4884 \" src=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Graph-about-Microsoft-Teams-Top-Industries-users-1024x805.jpg\" alt=\"Graph about Microsoft Team's Top Industries users\" width=\"747\" height=\"587\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Graph-about-Microsoft-Teams-Top-Industries-users-1024x805.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Graph-about-Microsoft-Teams-Top-Industries-users-300x236.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Graph-about-Microsoft-Teams-Top-Industries-users-768x603.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Graph-about-Microsoft-Teams-Top-Industries-users-1536x1207.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/05\/Graph-about-Microsoft-Teams-Top-Industries-users-2048x1609.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 747px) 100vw, 747px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_to_Choose_Direct_Routing\"><\/span><b>When to Choose Direct Routing?<\/b><b><\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Companies_with_Long-Term_Contracts\"><\/span><b>1. Companies with Long-Term Contracts<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct Routing could be the ideal solution if you&#8217;re locked into a contract with an existing PSTN provider. It allows you to continue using your current phone system as your telephony provider, seamlessly integrating with Microsoft Teams.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Industry-specific_Regulations_Constrain_the_Available_Choices\"><\/span><b>2. Industry-specific Regulations Constrain the Available Choices<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Direct Routing is well-suited for industries like finance and healthcare, where strict regulations govern data transmission. In cases where compliance dictates that data or phone calls should remain on-premises, Direct Routing provides the flexibility to keep telephony infrastructure local while leveraging Microsoft Teams for collaboration.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Microsoft_Teams_Lacks_Crucial_Features\"><\/span><b>3. Microsoft Teams Lacks Crucial Features\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you rely on specific PBX functionality that isn&#8217;t yet available in Teams, Direct Routing offers a hybrid approach. It enables you to retain essential PBX features while leveraging Teams for collaboration, meetings, and other modern communication tools. This way, you can enjoy the benefits of both platforms without compromising functionality.<\/span><b><\/b><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_to_Choose_Operator_Connect\"><\/span><b>When to Choose Operator Connect?<\/b><b><\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Youre_Prepared_to_Fully_Embrace_the_Cloud\"><\/span><b>1. You&#8217;re Prepared to Fully Embrace the Cloud<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you&#8217;ve transitioned away from legacy on-premises infrastructure or find it unnecessary compared to cloud telephony options, Operator Connect is the way to go. It seamlessly integrates with your cloud-based environment, eliminating the need for on-premises equipment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_You_Prioritize_Speed_and_Adaptability_Over_Complex_Routing\"><\/span><b>2. You Prioritize Speed and Adaptability Over Complex Routing\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With Operator Connect, making regular changes to users, groups, and numbers is a breeze. You can enjoy the flexibility of managing your telephony setup without the complexity of setting up intricate routing tables or inbound logic.<\/span><\/p>\n<h4><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_You_Dont_Have_In-house_Resources_to_Handle_a_Phone_System\"><\/span><b>3. You Don\u2019t Have In-house Resources to Handle a Phone System<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h4>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you rely on external vendors to manage your telecom infrastructure or already have a calling agreement in place with a telco, Operator Connect is a suitable choice. It allows you to leverage the expertise of your vendor while seamlessly integrating with Microsoft Teams for enhanced collaboration and communication.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Bottom_Line\"><\/span><b>Bottom Line\u00a0<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to a <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">survey<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> conducted by the CIO Association of India,<\/span><b> 88% of companies used Microsoft Teams, and it was most used in the United States, followed by the United Kingdom.\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Ultimately, the choice between operator Connect and Direct Routing depends on your organization&#8217;s needs. If you prioritize control and customization, and have the technical resources, Direct Routing might be the way to go. But if simplicity and ease of use are your top concerns, Operator Connect could be the better fit.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Happy Calling!<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Remote and hybrid work has become the new working norm and businesses are embracing flexible work arrangements by finding new ways to stay connected. Cloud tools like Microsoft Teams, which has 320 million users, are already a preferred choice for online meetings and chats, it&#8217;s now become a game-changer for phone calls too. Operator Connect [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":4875,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[106],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-telecom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4873"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4873\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6802,"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4873\/revisions\/6802"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4875"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.revesoft.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}