Connect Teams to any Phone
Call from Teams without losing features!
Use Easy Direct Routing within your business to utilise useful features from connecting Office 365 and Microsoft Teams to any PBX phone system.
Easy Direct Routing (EDR).
Call your customers from within Microsoft Teams without compromising of features.
Easy Direct Routing puts you in control of how your business adopts Microsoft Teams.
Integrate your existing phone system with Teams to get the best features from both. Enhance Teams functionality by adding phone system features not currently available through Microsoft. Bring your own preferential call packages with you to Teams, or get an even better deal.
From utilising only the best features of Teams to making it the centre of your business communications, Easy Direct Routing can help:
- Enable external calling in Teams.
- Control how your business utilises Microsoft Teams.
- Save money on licencing and calls.
- Reduce need for expensive Microsoft licences.
- Continue to use existing telecoms infrastructure
- Avoid committing fully to Microsoft.
- Gain access to features not available through Microsoft.
Try it for free today or speak to one of our consultants for more info.
Find our more about all of the systems we support with Easy Direct Routing inlcuding 3CX, Mitel, Avaya, Cisco, NEC, Panasonic and more Legacy PBXs.
What is Easy Direct Routing?
Easy Direct Routing links your Microsoft Teams environment with external telephony. It’s the simplest way to connect Office 365 and Microsoft Teams to any PBX phone system or SIP Trunk. Then you can use the Teams features you love with the telephony features you need.
There’s no hardware or software to install and it can be set up in minutes using our Microsoft-approved interconnect.
Cost effective external calling minutes.
- Cheaper than Microsoft Calling Plans.
- Keep control of inbound numbers.
- Up to 4,000 pooled minutes per user included.
- Number & network failover built-in.
- Built-in fraud prevention tools.
Low risk, non-disruptive, cost effective.
- Leave behind legacy on-premise or VOIP systems.
- Add your existing SIP numbers and packages to Microsoft Teams.
- Enable calling to and from external parties direct from Microsoft Teams.
The best of both worlds in an integrated solution.
- Quick and easy way to connect your phone system to Teams.
- No hardware or software to install.
- Keep your trunks, use ours, or a mix for added resilience.
- Only enable the solution for users and groups that need it
Enhanced voice with Teams, the easy way.
- Add enhanced calling features to your existing Teams environment.
- Monthly subscription includes full-feature cloud phone system, SBC, line rental & inclusive minutes.
- Retain native Teams calling experience familiar to users.
- All setup and support included.
Once installed you can opt for peace of mind with full management from our expert team. Or manage fully in-house through our easy-to-use portal.
Find out which is best for your business by speaking to one of our consultants.
What makes Easy Direct Routing so… easy?
Direct Routing is a way of connecting PSTN telephony to Microsoft’s environment. It allows you to keep control over your inbound numbers and calling plans and use third party features Microsoft don’t offer (such as compliant call recording).
Deploying Direct Routing is difficult and expensive.
Microsoft requires that you use a Microsoft-approved Session Border Controller (SBC). This is a complex piece of equipment that deals with security and routing of your calls.
SBCs can be expensive. Depending on size it can be as expensive as a new phone system. Setup is complex and will need properly maintaining. It’s also not a common IT specialism, so you may need help from an external specialist.
Easy Direct Routing makes it easy.
That’s where Easy Direct Routing comes in:
- Enables calling in Teams without any SBC purchase or management
- Simple interconnect provisioned in minutes.
- Configure however you like – bring your own SIP trunks or use ours. Connect to our cloud phone system or integrate your own.
- All-in-one options – licenses, interconnect, trunks, calling plan, phone system. All supplied and supported by One2Call.
To see just how easy Easy Direct Routing Is why not try it for free?
Integrating your PBX phone system with Microsoft Teams.
Many businesses currently find themselves running two separate communications systems.
Microsoft Teams for internal collaboration and a PBX phone system for external communications.
This can create problems:
- Inbound calls can’t be transferred to Teams.
- Users can’t answer inbound calls using Teams.
- Teams users can’t call customers directly from Teams.
- Users aren’t sure which system to use for internal calls.
- Call recording solutions don’t record Teams calls.
- Call statistics no longer in one place.
- Users can’t seamlessly move customer calls to video conference as with Teams.
Some phone systems do have direct integrations with Microsoft Teams. But even then features are often limited to contact sharing and click-to-dial, rather than full feature integration.
See if your phone system has an in-built integration or if Easy Direct Routing is the best solution for your business:
3CX
Integrating 3CX with Microsoft Teams
3CX does not have any direct bespoke integration with Microsoft Teams, but does have an integration with the wider Office/Microsoft 365 environment.
However, as both a Microsoft and 3CX partner we’ve successfully integrated 3CX and Microsoft Teams for numerous customers using our Easy Direct Routing platform.
3CX has, in fact pretty much ruled out developing towards Teams due to Microsoft’s lack of openness in this area and it’s clear intent to use Teams to muscle in on wider business communications market. As 3CX founder Nick Galea put it in late 2019:
“(We have…) no plans to connect to Microsoft Teams. Teams is not that open and anyway wants to be a phone system in its next life.”
3CX Microsoft 365 integration
Although direct integration with Teams is not offered, 3CX does offer a rather good out-of-the box integration with the Microsoft 365 environment giving features such as:
- Syncing Office 365 users to 3CX extensions.
- Syncing Users’ personal contacts from Office 365 to 3CX phone books.
- Syncing Shared mailbox contacts from Office 365 to 3CX company phone book.
- Real time updating of users 3CX status based on their Office 365 calendar.
- Launching outbound calls from the Office 365 interface. This is done using 3CX Click to Call browser extension for Chrome.
It’s pretty easy to implement (and we can help you if you have any issues) and all you need is to be running 3CX v16 Pro or higher, as most business users will be already.
Mitel
Integrating Mitel with Microsoft Teams
Mitel doesn’t have full direct integration with Microsoft Teams but does have a number of options to enable some basic intregration, mainly around initiating calls.
Mitel MiCollab Hotkey Dialling & Mitel App Dialer
MiCollab is essentially Mitel’s rival to Teams, so it’s not a surprise that this method of integration is limited, essentially being a way of selecting a phone number within Teams but making the call using your Mitel system. MiCollab Hotkey Dialing is included in MiCollab licenses and available on MiVoice 5000 & 400, MX-One, MiVoice Business and MiCloud Flex systems.
Mitel App Dialer offers very similar functionality on the MiVoice Connect and MiCloud Connect platforms.
Mitel Web Extension
Also similar to HotKey dialing but this time a Chrome extension connects with your MiVoice Business or MiCloud Flex extension to offer a full softphone in your browser (just like Teams, in fact). As such if you use the Teams web user interface, you can easily click-to-dial from the softphone. Hardly an integration at all, in fact.
Mitel approved 3rd Party Integration
Although it might seem odd for a major provider like Mitel to rely on a third party, this method does then at least allow users to initiate outbound calls directly from within Microsoft Teams, whilst retaining the broader Mitel features the rest of the company might need.
In fact, it’s the same integration on which we have built some of our Easy Direct Routing solutions, although our offering is broader and with more options.
Integrating your Mitel using Direct Routing
Here Mitel utilises the Direct Routing solution offered by Microsoft, utilising an SBC (Session Border Controller) to act as a go-between between your phone lines, Teams environment and Mitel system. Once initiated this will allow calls to be made directly from the Teams interface, but routed via the SBC to the PBX and then out to the PSTN network.
Avaya
Integrating Avaya with Microsoft Teams
Avaya currently doesn’t integrate direct with Microsoft Teams but does offer the following partial integration solutions:
Avaya Spaces integration with Microsot Teams
Avaya Spaces is Avaya’s own collaboration suite which has a limited integration with Microsoft Teams. Effectively using either a Chrome plugin or app within the Teams web environment, audio and video conferences can be setup from within Teams, but using Avaya’s technology. The Avaya web app is applied directly from within Teams, but unfortunately the Teams desktop app is not supported.
Direct Routing for Avaya phone systems
Almost any legacy PBX can be integrated with Microsoft Teams via the Direct Routing path that Microsoft themselves allow (eg/ this is not an Avaya-led integration method).
However, one advantage for any businesses looking to migrate from an Avaya cloud-hosted solution is that Avaya have long recommended Audiocodes SBCs for their cloud deployments, and most Audiocodes SBC are also accredited for use with Microsoft for use with Direct Routing (a Microsoft-approved SBC is a required part of the integration).
Cisco
Integrating Cisco CUCM with Microsoft Teams
Cisco has direct integration with Microsoft Teams which allows PSTN calling from within Teams by utilising Cisco UCM (Unified Communications Manager) or Cisco Webex calling infrastructure. In both cases this enabled via an app which can be added directly from within Microsoft Teams.
Cisco Webex Call or Jabber Integration with Microsoft Teams
Cisco seem to have gone the extra mile here to make integration with Microsoft Teams for existing Cisco UCM users as simple as possible.
The integration uses either the existing Cisco Webex or Jabber client to connect to your Cisco infrastructure, and the chosen Microsoft Teams app simply connects to that. This effectively allows you to call externally directly from within Teams, or use the dial pad to call, and the call can be handled either by your choice of Cisco soft client, or by using your existing Cisco handset.
Cisco also claim this can be achieved with no additional licensing costs.
Direct Routing for other Cisco PBXs
Almost any legacy PBX can be integrated with Microsoft Teams via the Direct Routing path that Microsoft themselves allow.
To do this you will need a purchase, setup and configure a Microsoft-accredited Session Border Controller (SBC) and it’s SIP connections, which requires specific technical expertise which may even be beyond the CCNA qualified techs that like to run Cisco platforms.
NEC
Integrating NEC phone systems with Microsoft Teams
NEC currently has no direct bespoke integration with Microsoft Teams for any of its communcations platforms, such as the SV9100, SV9300, SV9500, SL2100 or Univerge 3C.
Easy Direct Routing is currently the only way to integrate your NEC PBX with Microsoft Teams.
Connecting your NEC to Teams via Skype for Business
NEC does still promote it’s UC to Skype for Business connector and whilst Skype for Business is effectively being rolled int Microsoft Teams there are still, for now at least, paths available to run the two alongside each other. This may provide a limited degree of interoperability that might work sufficiently
Panasonic
Integrating Panasonic phone systems with Microsoft Teams
Panasonic currently has no direct bespoke integration with Microsoft Teams for any of its communcations platforms, such as the KX-NSX2000, KX-NSX1000, KX-NS700, KX-NS1000 and KX-NSV300.
Easy Direct Routing is currently the only way to integrate your Panasonic PBX with Microsoft Teams.
Legacy PBXs
Integrating other legacy PBXs with Microsoft Teams
There are a huge number of other phone systems, UC platforms and contact centres solutions from the likes of Samsung, Yeastar, Shoretel, Unify, LG, Ericsson, Alcatel-Lucent and more still getting good use out there in the market, and as we can see from the rest of this blog, direct integration with Teams is a rarity.
Thankfully, that’s exactly the situation Microsoft had in mind when they developed the Direct Routing integration path.
For many businesses, Direct Routing will be the only way to protect your existing investment whilst also enabling your Microsoft Teams users to make and receive external calls alongside all the other features they use.
Using Microsoft Teams Direct Routing to integrate your legacy PBX.
The simplest definition of Direct Routing is that it allows external telephony to connect with a Microsoft 365 (and with it Teams) environment.
Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams in essence it uses a piece of technology called a Session Border Controller (SBC) to manage the connections that need to be made between your phone lines, phone system and Microsoft Teams environment.
Issues with Microsoft Phone System.
Once introduced to the clear and easy to use apps and video conferencing features of Microsoft Teams, users want to use it for all their communications.
But enabling this through Microsoft is expensive. Every user will need additional licenses that must include Microsoft calling minutes to work.
What’s more, Teams lacks many of the phone system features that businesses need. Universal call recording, compliant call recording, advanced call statistics, intelligent call queueing, wallboards. All are currently unavailable through Microsoft.
Easy Direct Routing is the solution.
Easy Direct Routing is a quick and simple way to link your phone system with Microsoft Teams.
By integrating your existing telephony with Microsoft Teams you can have the best of both worlds. Teams lovers can make and receive calls using their Teams apps. But calls are routed via your phone system, so any of your features can still be applied. Users can even choose whether to take or make calls using Teams or their existing handset. This extends the life of your hardware and avoids outlay on expensive Teams-specific handsets.
Easy Direct Routing helps you to transition users to Teams at your own pace. It helps minimise outlay on Microsoft licenses. It extends the lifespan of your existing investments.
Easy Direct Routing puts you back in control of your business communications.
Easy Direct Routing is the solution.
Easy Direct Routing is a quick and simple way to link your phone system with Microsoft Teams.
By integrating your existing telephony with Microsoft Teams you can have the best of both worlds. Teams lovers can make and receive calls using their Teams apps. But calls are routed via your phone system, so any of your features can still be applied. Users can even choose whether to take or make calls using Teams or their existing handset. This extends the life of your hardware and avoids outlay on expensive Teams-specific handsets.
Easy Direct Routing helps you to transition users to Teams at your own pace. It helps minimise outlay on Microsoft licenses. It extends the lifespan of your existing investments.
Easy Direct Routing puts you back in control of your business communications.
Compliant Call Recording for Teams
PCI, GDPR and MIFID 2 compliant call recording can also be added giving you full control over what is or isn’t recorded.
Flexible Failover
If your calls can’t get through to your endpoints, for whatever reason, we fail them over to mobiles or divert to voicemails in the cloud to ensure business continuity.
Flexible Failover
If your calls can’t get through to your endpoints, for whatever reason, we fail them over to mobiles or divert to voicemails in the cloud to ensure business continuity.
Control your Cost. Cheaper than a Calling Plan.
Use fewer licences for the same results and get up to 7,000 free minutes per user with Easy Direct Routing.
Full Phone System Features
Connect your own Phone System, our cloud-based full PBX, or our Intelligent Routing Bolt-On to beef up your options over Microsoft’s simplistic offering.
Full Phone System Features
Connect your own Phone System, our cloud-based full PBX, or our Intelligent Routing Bolt On to beef up your options over Microsoft’s simplistic option.
Get calls when Microsoft can’t
Intelligent Routing instantly detects if a user isn’t available, for any reason, and reroutes the call to a colleague, mobile voicemail or ring group, so even if Microsoft is down, you aren’t!
Security Baked In
All our Direct Routing Bolt Ons come with fraud monitoring and alerting, international and premium rate call barring and spend notification alerts as standard, putting you in control of your voice estate.
Security Baked In
All our Direct Routing Bolt Ons come with fraud monitoring and alerting, international and premium rate call barring and spend notification alerts as standard, putting you in control of your voice estate.
Carrier Resilience
We’re not tied to any SIP trunk provider, so we can send your traffic via multiple carriers, within the same contract, to mitigate against network outages.
Teams Setup
We’ll help you with the setup on your Microsoft Teams environment too, including help ensuring you’ve got the right licenses.
Teams Setup
We’ll help you with the setup on your Microsoft Teams environment too, including help ensuring you’ve got the right licenses.
Contact Us
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