Operator Connect Service via Ribbon

Leading SBC portfolio now supports new service from Microsoft

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Operator Connect Service via Ribbon
Unified Communications

Published: April 12, 2021

Maya Middlemiss

Ribbon Communications has always supported a range of Microsoft certified SBCs, enabling service providers, partners, and enterprises to select the Microsoft Teams calling deployment model which best suits their needs on a business and technical front. The addition of support for Operator Connect offers new options for service providers and customers. 

Supporting voice adoption within Teams 

I spoke with Greg Zweig, Director of Solutions Marketing, who explained, “Microsoft is extremely well known on the collaboration side for Teams — but only between 5 and 10% of Teams license holders have enabled Teams calling. Most are still using their existing PBX, their mobile phone, or something else.” 

Microsoft already offers its own PSTN services, Calling Plans, as well as Direct Routing which is Microsoft’s name for connecting SIP Trunks from a service provider. The launch of Operator Connect creates a third option, which will open up new opportunities to reach customers, and drive adoption of cloud communications transformations. 

As Zweig explained, “This new option is a bit different, as it’s really a peering relationship between Microsoft and service providers that includes a set of APIs that integrate the purchase and deployment process. It’s a significant step beyond just connectivity”  

“Moving forward, enterprise administrators will be able to go into Teams, select a service provider, and directly administer their telephone numbers”, he explained, comparing the experience and ease of use to using an app store.

“Administrators will have the option to login and say, well, I’m opening a new office, I want to pick a service provider and add a new batch of numbers. I can do all of these steps inside the administrative panel in Operator Connect, set up all my numbers and assign them to users”  

Simplifying voice deployment 

Providing a straightforward web-based interface will make Operator Connect much more accessible than the command line oriented approach. “They’ve taken away the need to use PowerShell. In some respects Operator Connect is a recognition from Microsoft, that they needed to make their existing services easier to engage with,” Zweig continued. 

Many of the first wave of service providers deploying Operator Connect are already Ribbon customers. That means that Ribbon is already working with service providers during the rollout, ensuring their end users have the best solution put in place to meet their unique needs.   

GregZweig
Greg Zweig

Ribbon’s comprehensive SBC portfolio offer includes both core and edge options. Service providers already make use of SBC Software Edition (SWe), SBC 5400 and SBC 7000 for carrier-grade reliability, scale, resiliency and interoperability, while enterprises have access to a full range of functionality via the SBC Software Edition Lite (SWe Lite), SBC 1000, SBC 2000 and EdgeMarc Intelligent Edge portfolio.  

Operator Connect will take its place in the matrix to increase choice and opportunity for every organisation in the future and simplifying interconnection to Microsoft Teams for all service providers. “Operators around the globe use our robust suite of SBCs in their network core, including many in the initial wave of Operator Connect service provider partners,” said Tony Scarfo, EVP & General Manager of Ribbon’s Cloud & Edge Business Unit in a recent statement.  

“Our existing Microsoft certifications, combined with our support for Operator Connect, enable our service provider customers to leverage their Ribbon SBCs to help deliver the next level of business integration Operator Connect offers.” 

 

 

Direct RoutingMicrosoft TeamsSIP
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