In this guest blog post, Benny Matityahu, Vice President of UCC at AudioCodes, explores how resellers and service providers can translate the surging demand for Microsoft Teams Phone into lucrative new revenue streams by offering Operator Connect the easy way, along with easy procurement and implementation through Microsoft Marketplace.
Microsoft Teams has evolved from a collaboration hub into the foundation of today’s AI-powered workplaces, with Teams Phone supporting more than 26 million users as of December 2025. This rapid adoption signals a clear market shift: Organizations want a Teams-native voice experience with fewer moving parts and predictable operations.
For resellers and service providers enabling Teams Phone for their customers, taking advantage of this trend means supporting one of the PSTN connectivity options for Teams, primarily Direct Routing or Operator Connect. However, Microsoft Operator Connect, of which AudioCodes is a certified partner, is widely expected to grow faster than Direct Routing, making the ability to offer Operator Connect an increasingly important requirement for participants in the Teams Phone ecosystem.
A practical path to Operator Connect
Operator Connect significantly simplifies Teams Phone PSTN connectivity by utilizing a Microsoft managed framework. Operators integrate directly with Teams over a monitored and resilient trunk, with the connection configured through the Teams admin center. AudioCodes’ approach translates into smoother migrations, faster rollouts, fewer errors, and an easier support model. It also unlocks stronger differentiation and increased marketplace visibility. Overall, the customer experience is better.
For service providers, becoming an official Operator Connect operator requires verification, integration, and operational readiness steps that add time, cost, and complexity. The Microsoft Operator Connect Accelerator program is one way for service providers to accelerate the journey to becoming a fully qualified Operator Connect partner, but it still requires formal qualification and meaningful investment.
For channel partners and resellers, as well as operators who are unable to go through the Microsoft certification process, a faster, lower-effort path is to offer Operator Connect through an approved Operator Connect partner. This approach facilitates entry into the Operator Connect arena without going through the full Microsoft qualification process, while still giving customers a streamlined Teams calling experience. It is ideal for those who want to build a customer base and generate revenue quickly with minimal upfront investment.
Comparison: Operator Connect vs. Direct Routing
|
Capability |
Operator Connect |
Direct Routing |
|
Best for |
Simplified onboarding |
Enterprises needing maximum customization and flexibility |
|
Customer consent |
Not required |
Mandatory |
|
Customer onboarding time |
Approximately 2 minutes, automated |
30-60 minutes because of manual tenant configuration |
|
SLA |
Committed SLA monitored by Microsoft |
Not monitored by Microsoft |
|
Operational model |
Simplified management and number operations |
Depends on partner’s tooling for simplified operation |
|
Growth impact |
Faster scale, lower overhead and improved margin potential |
Powerful with more flexibility, but higher operational burden |
Everything partners need to drive Operator Connect growth
With more than 30 years of voice expertise and real-world experience delivering seamless enterprise communications, AudioCodes helps channel partners and resellers offer Operator Connect PSTN connectivity via our Operator Connect for Resellers model. AudioCodes Live Platform for Microsoft Teams Operator Connect is available for streamlined procurement and implementation via Microsoft Marketplace.
By leveraging our Operator Connect partner certification and an intuitive self-service portal, channel partners and resellers can onboard customers using only a tenant ID, without requiring admin consent. Microsoft SLA alignment and trunk validation are handled behind the scenes, ensuring a smooth, end-to-end experience.
In addition, AudioCodes offers a range of AI-powered value-added services beyond basic PSTN connectivity, further increasing revenue potential and strengthening differentiation. This enables channel partners and resellers to focus on delivering high-quality service, entering new markets, and growing their Teams voice business with confidence.
The result is a simpler path to building a profitable, long-term voice practice on Microsoft Teams, powered by a field-proven platform built for operational excellence and growth.
Learn more about AudioCodes Live Platform for Microsoft Teams Operator Connect in Microsoft Marketplace.
