Microsoft Teams Phone and Direct Routing
Make and receive business calls in Microsoft Teams using UK Direct Routing and a managed SBC. Keep your existing numbers where porting checks allow, with routing designed around how your organisation works.
Teams Phone with Direct Routing vs Microsoft Calling Plans
Both give your users PSTN calling inside Microsoft Teams. The right choice depends on your usage, numbers and routing needs.
| Direct Routing with Telappliant | Microsoft Calling Plans | |
|---|---|---|
| UK call minutes | Bundles sized to your usage, priced per quote | Per-user plans at Microsoft pricing |
| Keeping your numbers | Ported to our service, subject to validation | Ported to Microsoft, subject to its porting process |
| Call routing | Teams routing plus optional add-ons where needed | Native Teams routing |
| Compliance recording | Optional, separately licensed recording | Teams recording or a separate certified product |
| Contact centre | Optional, separately licensed where compatible | Teams features or a separate third-party product |
| Mixed estates | Can run alongside another phone system during migration | Teams users only |
| Setup | Managed SBC and routing set up by us | Set up within Microsoft 365 admin |
About microsoft teams phone and direct routing
Microsoft Teams is now the productivity platform for most UK businesses. Teams Phone turns it into the phone system too, and Direct Routing is one way to connect it to the public telephone network - in this case through our UK SIP service and a managed session border controller (SBC) - so users make and receive calls from inside Teams.
Direct Routing and Microsoft Calling Plans both work well, as does Operator Connect. Which is best depends on your call volumes, number ranges, sites, routing needs and existing contracts. We compare the options for your organisation rather than assume one is always cheaper.
We handle the SBC and Teams voice routing configuration. You assign Teams Phone licences in Microsoft 365, we provision routing on our side, and we agree a go-live and number porting plan with you after an engineering assessment.
Where native Teams calling is not enough, we can scope optional services such as call recording, advanced call routing or contact centre tools. These are separately licensed, depend on technical compatibility and are confirmed during design, not included as standard.
If your business runs partly on Teams and partly on another cloud phone system, we can plan a phased or hybrid migration so both groups can keep calling each other while you move.
What's included
The capabilities included as standard with this service.
Managed SBC
Session border controller hosted and managed by us for Teams Direct Routing.
UK calling bundles
Minute bundles to UK landlines and mobiles, sized to your usage.
Number porting
Most UK geographic and non-geographic numbers can be ported, subject to validation.
Call routing
Hunt groups and auto attendants designed around your teams, using Teams and optional add-ons where needed.
Call recording (optional)
Recording for quality or regulatory needs, scoped and licensed separately.
Contact centre (optional)
Contact centre tools for Teams users where compatible, scoped and licensed separately.
Where this fits
Common scenarios where this service delivers measurable value.
Teams-first organisations
Make Teams the main calling client and retire separate softphones where it suits.
Reviewing Calling Plans
Compare Direct Routing costs and flexibility against your current Microsoft Calling Plans.
Regulated industries
Scope recording and payment-handling options that meet your compliance requirements.
Mixed estates
Run Teams users and cloud phone system users side by side during or after migration.
Common questions
Talk to us about Microsoft Teams Phone and Direct Routing
A short call, no obligation.