In 1964, science fiction author Arthur C. Clarke predicted the future of work, saying that in the early 21st century, “men will no longer commute; they will communicate.” Developments in communications technology, said Clarke, will allow a person to “conduct his business from Tahiti or Bali, just as well as he could from London.”

Today, millions of professionals use unified communications solutions such as 8x8 and Microsoft Teams to do just that. Moreover, hundreds of thousands of users around the globe rely on 8x8 for real-time customer communications within Microsoft Teams.

The 8x8 for Microsoft Teams portfolio

The 8x8 for Microsoft Teams solution portfolio empowers organizations with a variety of options for deploying reliable calling in Teams to ensure global reach and business continuity.

8x8 Voice for Microsoft Teams offers Direct Routing as a Service, which can be more flexible for complex deployments with legacy equipment or an expanded global footprint, with full PSTN (public-switched telephone network) replacement in over 59 countries. The portfolio also offers a cost-effective calling option through 8x8 Phone App for Microsoft Teams, as well as omnichannel customer communications through the certified 8x8 Contact Center for Microsoft Teams.

8x8 Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams, by contrast, provides the quickest onboarding experience through Operator Connect, Microsoft’s preferred method for integrating third-party PSTN calling service providers through Teams. The analyst firm Cavell Group estimates that this will overtake direct routing as the most popular Teams calling option by the end of 2024.

“There is a huge market opportunity for partners to add value to the Microsoft Teams platform through telephony enablement and CX services, such as contact center,” notes Patrick Watson, Head of Research at Cavell Group. “As organizations review and rationalize their Teams investments, partners who are able to provide the full range of communications solutions are best suited to meet customer needs throughout their Teams’ estates.

“Currently, only 8x8 is equipped and certified across the range of communications and customer engagement solutions for Teams. Now with the addition of 8x8 Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams, 8x8 can meet the needs of every possible persona in an organization while also reducing the number of communication partners required to maximize their investment in the platform.”

The benefits of 8x8 Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams

As a new solution in Microsoft’s partner directory, 8x8 Operator Connect is purpose-built and Microsoft-certified to quickly enable native calling functionality in Teams. The service is powered by 8x8’s leading UCaaS network—a 12-time UCaaS Gartner Magic Quadrant Leader—to provide reliable, global communications in Microsoft Teams while delivering flexible calling plans and increasing administrator efficiency.

What makes 8x8 Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams one of the best Teams Phone options? Here are six fundamental benefits of the solution:

  1. Microsoft-certified. 8x8 Operator Connect is fast to deploy and fully compliant with Microsoft’s Operator Connect program.
  2. Reliable. Direct peering through Microsoft Azure meets program architecture, support, network, and shared SLA requirements.
  3. Complete. 8x8 Operator Connect is part of the 8x8 for Microsoft Teams portfolio that offers 8x8’s patented Global Reach technology, flexible calling plans, and is the only Operator Connect provider with a Teams-certified contact center with free on-net calling.
  4. Teams Phone Native. To keep things even more simple, calls happen exactly where users expect them—natively within Microsoft Teams.
  5. Efficient. Admins can provision phone numbers and manage users from the Microsoft Teams admin center to accelerate deployment time.
  6. Cost-effective. 8x8 is the only vendor in addition to Microsoft needed for complete calling in Teams. Organizations can consolidate providers and vendors while enhancing Teams communications through this single additional source.

8x8 Operator Connect for Microsoft Teams is reliable, intuitive, and easy to deploy. Enable native Teams Phone from a proven communications leader. Learn more here.