The age of cloud communications is officially here.
For years, companies have been transitioning away from traditional phone lines and switches in search of something more flexible. With cloud calling, it’s possible to connect with colleagues and customers anywhere in the world through an agile and scalable ecosystem.
As demand for cloud calling has increased, interest in more customisable solutions for the communication stack has evolved too. BYOC, OR Bring Your Own Carrier, takes the flexibility of the cloud to the next level by allowing companies to connect their preferred carrier to their UC or cloud communications system.
Today, we’re going to be looking at some of the most innovative vendors in the cloud calling and BYOC marketplace.
Microsoft
Microsoft is probably one of the most significant names in the cloud calling and BYOC market right now, thanks to its wide range of connectivity options for Teams. When building the Teams UCaaS environment, Microsoft recognised its limitations as a cloud calling vendor and decided to open its platform for other forms of connectivity.
The initial BYOC service offered by Microsoft was Direct Routing, which allows customers to choose any telephony vendor certified by Microsoft to deliver their calling capabilities in Teams. The success of Direct Routing inspired the addition of a new solution called Operator Connect. With this secondary service, companies can access a more convenient cloud calling administration centre for managing calling features within Teams.
Microsoft has paved the way for countless other communications vendors to rethink their approach to flexible connectivity. Today, countless Teams customers take advantage of the ability to connect their own carrier to their productivity and collaboration service.
RingCentral
One of the leading innovators in cloud communications, RingCentral, has offered a range of tools designed to help companies take advantage of the growing cloud landscape. The brand recently launched its own dedicated “Bring Your Own Carrier” solution to help businesses move into the cloud while maintaining full control of their technology stack.
The offering promises global coverage, full flexibility, and the ability to maintain all of your existing contracts and numbers. You also get to leverage the full benefits of the RingCentral MVP environment, which offers fantastic video, messaging, and phone functionality in the cloud.
RingCentral can even help you manage complex compliance scenarios and maintain high-quality services wherever you are in the world. Plus, there’s a fully streamlined end-user experience with a mobile app too.
Cisco
Another of the better-known communications brands in the landscape today, Cisco, has been delivering bring your own carrier functionality for a while now. The company introduced the service in 2019, allowing users of Webex Calling to choose the carriers they prefer from around the globe.
Cisco is an expert in cloud calling technology, ensuring business leaders can access all of the essential tools and features they need in a unified interface. With Cisco BYOC, you can use local gateways and cloud connections to build your own hybrid solution for communications.
Not only do you get to keep your contacts and numbers, but you get the support of one of the most reputable communication companies around and the full flexibility of the Webex ecosystem. The BYOC offering is available alongside Cisco’s own cloud-calling bundled contracts.
Zoom
Zoom is best known for delivering a video-first communication strategy to businesses in the hybrid world. Over the last couple of years, Zoom’s portfolio of products has evolved to include everything from meetings and webinars to cloud calling functionality.
The BYOC offering from Zoom ensures enterprise customers can preserve their contracts with existing PSTN providers, redirecting existing voice circuits into the Zoom cloud. You can also design a hybrid solution with Zoom calling plans.
The service promises quick and simple migration, so you can design the perfect service coverage for your needs in regions all around the globe. You get an all-in-one environment for managing cloud deployments and phone numbers, and you still have all the video communication benefits of Zoom.
Vonage
Quickly making waves in the cloud calling and communications environment with its flexible and programmable services, Vonage is a key pioneer in this space. The powerful Vonage ecosystem comes with access to a programmable SIP solution, where you can integrate your existing calling plans with Vonage’s technology. There are also SIP trunks available from Vonage.
The service comes with access to AI engine connectivity, so you can easily track your numbers and features from anywhere in the world. There’s also the option to align your integrated BYOC solution with your contact centre functionality, so you can create a fantastic experience for end users.
Vonage’s powerful selections of SDKs and API options make it easy for business leaders to build the ultimate communication system from scratch without compromising on investments in existing services and solutions.
Twilio
Another innovator in the API and CPaaS landscape offering easy integration for existing communication plans Twilio is a true industry pioneer. The company’s “Bring Your Own Carrier” trunking solution for programmable voice allows users to leverage their existing PSTN voice carrier partners and maintain their existing numbers.
Using the simple programmable solutions offered by Twilio, business leaders can completely control their voice connectivity requirements while unlocking exceptional global reach and scalability. There’s a central application where you can manage your phone connections, and you can even align with multiple different carriers around the world.
The BYOC trunks offered by Twilio make it easy to embed all kinds of communication offerings into your existing apps and tools.
The Rise of BYOC Innovators
As bring your own carrier functionality grows increasingly popular, countless other companies are also joining the market, from Fuze and Pexip to Bandwidth. With each of these options, business leaders get access not just to a fantastic selection of communication features but also comprehensive control over their cloud strategy.
