Understanding when to employ Microsoft Calling Plan versus Direct Routing for Microsoft Teams is crucial to effective communication systems management. This decision ultimately influences cost, connectivity, and call quality. Consequently, it has a direct impact on organizational efficiency and productivity.
Microsoft Calling Plan
A calling plan is a subscription-based model offered directly by Microsoft, allowing users to make and receive PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) calls worldwide. It’s precisely like a traditional telephony service but streamlined within Microsoft Teams.
Features of Microsoft Calling Plan
- Subscription-based: Pay per user per month.
- Geographical Availability: Preset by Microsoft’s universal licensing.
- Calling Minutes: Bundled minutes depending on the plan.
- Capacity: Each license is allotted a single channel.
Direct Routing
Unlike the Calling Plan, Direct Routing enables businesses to connect their SIP trunks (Session Initiation Protocol) to Microsoft Teams. Essentially, it allows integration of existing telephony infrastructure into Teams, which Microsoft cannot directly offer using its calling plan.
Features of Direct Routing
- Not a Subscription: Pay per minute or use bundled minutes from your carrier.
- Geographical Availability: Supported worldwide. Not limited by Microsoft licensing availability.
- Calling Minutes: Determined by your current carrier or SIP trunk provider.
- Capacity: Dependent on your existing telephony infrastructure up to 500 channels.
When to Choose Microsoft Calling Plan
- Size of the Organization: Small to medium-sized businesses generally find calling plans more convenient as they offer ease of use and management, with no carrier contracts or infrastructure necessary.
- Limited Internal IT Resources: Calling Plan requires minimal managements or resources, as it’s entirely hosted on Microsoft Cloud.
- Need for Direct Invoicing from Microsoft: Organizations preferring single billing from Microsoft find Calling Plan a better choice.
When to Choose Direct Routing
- Size of the Organization: Large enterprises already having a significant investment in on-premises telephony infrastructure find Direct Routing a better fit.
- Desire to Retain Existing Carrier Contracts and Relationships: If the organization has existing beneficial carrier contracts or relationships, they would prefer Direct Routing.
- More Control over Call Routing: Organizations requiring sophisticated call routings, resiliency, or backup circuits tend to choose Direct Routing.
In the MS-700 exam, understanding these principles can be crucial to providing efficient Microsoft Teams management.
Importantly, the decision between Calling Plans and Direct Routing doesn’t necessarily have to be one or the other. In certain instances, it can be beneficial to use a hybrid setup of both Direct Routing and Calling Plans based on an organization’s unique needs. For instance, a small branch office in a country not covered by Microsoft’s Calling Plan could use Direct Routing, while the rest of the organization uses the Calling Plan.
In conclusion, the choice between Calling Plan and Direct Routing is entirely dependent on the business needs and resources of your organization. Understanding both options assists in making informed decisions for efficient communication management. This knowledge not only helps you in the real-world scenarios but also assists you in cracking scenarios based questions in the MS-700 exam.
Practice Test
True or False: Direct Routing allows companies to connect their telephony carrier to Microsoft Teams directly.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Direct Routing is a solution within Microsoft Teams that allows organizations to connect their SBC (Session Border Controller) with Microsoft Teams directly.
True or False: Calling Plan lets organizations use Microsoft as their telephony carrier.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: The Calling Plan is a Microsoft 365 Teams add-on typically used by small to midsize businesses that converts Microsoft into the telephony carrier.
Which of the following is true about Calling Plan?
- A. It requires an on-premises infrastructure.
- B. It offers international calling.
- C. It doesn’t allow number porting.
Answer: B. It offers international calling.
Explanation: Calling Plan provides both domestic and international calling options, allowing organizations to make calls across the globe.
What does Direct Routing require on the organization’s end?
- A. Office 365 subscription
- B. Certification as a Microsoft Partner
- C. An on-premise Session Border Controller (SBC) and a Telco connection
Answer: C. An on-premise Session Border Controller (SBC) and a Telco connection
Explanation: Direct Routing requires an organization to have its own Session Border Controller (SBC) and a connection to a telephony provider.
True or False: Direct Routing doesn’t support dynamic emergency calling.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Direct Routing supports dynamic emergency calling, meaning the emergency services call routing is based on the current location of the Teams client.
When would you use a Calling Plan over Direct Routing?
- A. When you have a complex telecom setup
- B. When you want to rely on Microsoft for your telephony system
- C. When you require total control of telecommunications
Answer: B. When you want to rely on Microsoft for your telephony system
Explanation: Calling Plan is ideal for smaller to medium-sized businesses who want Microsoft to be in charge of their telecommunications services, taking away the burden of managing infrastructure.
In terms of flexibility and control, which option offers more to larger organizations – Direct Routing or Calling Plan?
- A. Calling Plan
- B. Direct Routing
Answer: B. Direct Routing
Explanation: Larger organizations with complex telecommunications requirements often opt for Direct Routing, as this provides more flexibility and control over their telephony landscape.
True or False: Both Direct Routing and Calling Plan require Microsoft Phone System.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Both Direct Routing and Calling Plan are add-on options that require Microsoft Phone System which is included in the E5 license and available as an add-on to the E1 and E3 licenses.
Which of these is a disadvantage of Direct Routing?
- A. It doesn’t allow international calling.
- B. It requires skilled management and monitoring.
- C. It doesn’t support number porting.
Answer: B. It requires skilled management and monitoring.
Explanation: While offering a lot of flexibility and control, Direct Routing requires specialized knowledge for management and monitoring on-premises Session Border Controller.
True or False: Calling Plan allows you to use your existing telecom provider.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Calling Plan uses Microsoft as your telephony carrier. To use an existing telecom provider, you would use Direct Routing.
Interview Questions
What is a key benefit of using Direct Routing when compared to the Calling Plan?
A key advantage of Direct Routing over the Calling Plan is flexibility. Direct Routing lets you integrate with your PSTN connectivity, which allows you the convenience of keeping your current provider or choose a new one that matches your needs.
When might a business prefer to use Microsoft’s Calling Plan?
A business might prefer to use Microsoft’s Calling Plan if they want a fully cloud-based solution and do not want to manage on-premises infrastructure or have additional control over their telephony.
What is one reason a company might opt to use Direct Routing?
A company might opt to use Direct Routing if they already have a supported Session Border Controller (SBC) or want to maintain control of their telecom services and infrastructure as it provides a deeper level of control over how calls are routed and handled.
Can a business utilize both a Calling Plan and Direct Routing simultaneously?
Yes, a business can make use of both the Calling Plan and Direct Routing simultaneously. The dual deployment capability offers a backup solution if one option fails and can also be used to migrate from one solution to another gradually.
Can Calling Plan be used globally?
As of now, Microsoft’s Calling Plan is available only in a limited number of countries and regions.
What is a necessary condition to use Direct Routing?
To use Direct Routing, the organization must have an on-premises installation of a supported Session Border Controller (SBC) that can directly integrate with Microsoft Teams.
Does Direct Routing support emergency calls?
Yes, Direct Routing supports emergency calling through Dynamic Emergency Calling for Direct Routing, which provides the capability to route emergency calls based on the current location of the Teams client.
What do you mean by the term ‘Failover capabilities’ in the context of Direct Routing?
Failover capabilities in Direct Routing refer to the ability to reroute calls through different SBCs, ensuring business continuity even if one route fails.
Which feature allows Microsoft Teams to use existing telephony infrastructure while migrating to Microsoft Teams via Direct Routing?
Direct Routing supports interoperability with third-party systems that enable Microsoft Teams to use existing telephony infrastructure and eases the migration process.
Which factors should an organization consider while deciding between Calling Plan and Direct Routing?
An organization should consider factors such as global reach, the level of control required, existing telephony infrastructure, business continuity requirements, and cost while deciding between Calling Plan and Direct Routing.
When might an organization choose to use both Direct Routing and Calling Plan simultaneously?
An organization might choose to use both Direct Routing and Calling Plan simultaneously if they are gradually transitioning from one solution to another, or if they require a hybrid system to meet specific control, regulatory, or business continuity needs.
In which scenario might an organization opt exclusively for a Calling Plan?
An organization might opt exclusively for a Calling Plan if they are seeking a 100% cloud-based telephony solution and have no desire to maintain any on-premise infrastructure for telephony.
Can Direct Routing integrate with third-party PBX systems?
Yes, Direct Routing can integrate with third-party PBX systems, enabling a complete or phased migration to Teams.
Which of the two – Calling Plan or Direct Routing – allows more control and customization of the routing path?
Direct Routing allows more control and customization as it can be used to create a customized and controlled routing environment.
Can Calling Plan and Direct Routing be used together in the same deployment?
Yes, Calling Plan and Direct Routing can be used together in the same Microsoft Teams deployment.
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