Teams Direct Routing
Save Money with Ahoy Telecom Teams Direct Routing
Voice Calling for Microsoft Teams with Direct Routing
MS Teams customers can easily connect to Ahoy Telecom’ SIP Trunking through Direct Routing, which connects your phone system to a public switched telephone network. Ahoy Telecom’ SIP Trunks provide secure, high-quality PSTN voice services for Microsoft users with significant cost savings compared to Microsoft Calling Plans.
Ahoy Telecom delivers the quality of service and support that businesses demand at a price that makes sense. We integrate with only the most reliable carriers to ensure our customers experience the highest voice quality and reliability. With features like Fraud Protection, Fail-Over Routing, and Disaster Recovery you can trust your business is protected with Ahoy Telecom.
Understanding Teams Direct Routing
Teams Direct Routing is one of two primary methods Microsoft provides for using Teams as a PBX. With Teams Direct Routing, you can connect Microsoft Teams to your own SIP provider—such as Ahoy Telecom—while retaining existing phone numbers. This approach often results in lower call rates, greater flexibility, and improved support.
The alternative is to use a Microsoft Calling Plan, which can be more expensive and offer fewer customization options. By choosing Teams Direct Routing, many businesses find they can better control their telephony costs and enhance their overall communication strategy.
How does Teams Direct Routing work?
Teams Direct Routing connects Microsoft Teams to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) by using two crucial components: a Session Border Controller (SBC) and SIP trunking from providers like Ahoy Telecom. The SBC acts as a secure gateway between your internal Teams environment and the PSTN, while SIP trunking delivers voice services to and from the public network. This setup streamlines call routing, boosts flexibility, and helps businesses optimize their communication costs—all through Teams Direct Routing.
Cloud-Hosted SBC for Teams Direct Routing
A Session Border Controller (SBC) is essential for ensuring seamless data transfer between Microsoft Teams and external networks, such as Ahoy Telecom SIP trunking. By hosting our SBC within our own cloud infrastructure, we eliminate the need for on-premises equipment or specialized expertise. Our cloud-hosted SBC can connect directly to your Teams system—or to both Teams and your existing IP PBX—allowing for a smooth transition to Teams Direct Routing without any hardware hassles.
Thanks to our geo-redundant, carrier-grade network, we provide reliable PSTN calling for Microsoft Teams at competitive rates. Our standard MS Teams SBC pricing starts at $15 per line, including unlimited calls to and from the continental USA. With flexible options to meet your organization’s requirements, you can enjoy the benefits of Teams Direct Routing while saving on infrastructure costs and streamlining your communications setup.
What Do You Need to Get Started with Teams Direct Routing?
To enable Teams Direct Routing, your Microsoft 365 license must include the Microsoft Phone System. This feature comes standard with the E5 plan or can be purchased as an add-on with E3 and other selected packages (see licensing options below).
Simple Setup
A trained in-house IT professional or staff member can typically configure Microsoft Teams for Direct Routing. Ahoy Telecom will guide you every step of the way.
Microsoft Teams Licensing Requirements
You’ll need one of these Microsoft 365 license configurations to access Teams Phone System capabilities for Teams Direct Routing:
- E5 License (includes Teams Phone)
- E3 License + Teams Phone add-on
- E1 License + Teams Phone add-on
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic + Teams Phone add-on
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard + Teams Phone add-on
- Microsoft 365 Business Premium + Teams Phone add-on
By securing the right Microsoft 365 licensing and combining it with Ahoy Telecom’s SIP Trunking, you can fully harness the power of Teams Direct Routing—all while maximizing flexibility and controlling costs.
Ahoy Telecom Teams Direct Routing allows you to make and receive calls from within the Teams workspace – giving you cost savings with the added benefit of legendary Ahoy Telecom service & reliability.
Contact us today for a free assessment to see what VoIP can do for your business.
The Benefit of Teams Direct Routing
Teams Direct Routing offers a host of advantages for businesses seeking a more flexible and cost-effective way to manage communications. By connecting Microsoft Teams to your preferred SIP trunking provider, you can retain existing phone numbers, lower calling costs, and enjoy a simplified billing structure. This direct link between Teams and the PSTN not only removes the need for costly on-premises phone systems but also streamlines call management through a single, familiar interface. Moreover, Teams Direct Routing enables advanced calling features—such as call queues, voicemail, and auto attendants—within Microsoft Teams, helping your organization enhance collaboration and stay productive.