Forum Discussion
Best (cheapest or budget-friendliest) way for getting PSTN Voice in a Lab-Setup
hello together
for a small private test/lab setup (e.g. to study for the MS exams) I am looking for the best and cheapest way to reach the Teams Phone connection to the PSTN. I have gone through several Teams Operator Connect providers, but most of them only offer larger setups or even no pricing information. I suspect that a 1 account lab setup is not at all attractive to these providers.
Or is the way via a virtual SBC more recommendable? Here the cost of the public certificate seems to me to be relatively costly, also the whole SBC configuration could be a relatively complex undertaking.
Do you have any suggestions or hints on how you would do it in a small lab environment?
Thank you for any Inputs!
Hi me100n,
The cheapest and easiest way to get PSTN voice in a small lab setup for Teams is to use a Teams Operator Connect provider.
Operator Connect is a new program from Microsoft that allows organizations to connect their Teams Phone System to a variety of PSTN providers. This gives organizations more choice and flexibility in their PSTN connectivity, and can also be more cost-effective than traditional PSTN calling plans.There are a number of Teams Operator Connect providers that offer small business and lab setup plans. Some of the most popular providers include:
- Dialpad
- Google Voice
- Microsoft Calling Plans
- Nextiva
- RingCentral
When choosing an Operator Connect provider, it is important to compare pricing, features, and support. Some providers also offer free trials, so you can try out their service before you commit to a paid plan.
To set up PSTN voice in a small lab setup using Teams Operator Connect, you will need to:
- Choose an Operator Connect provider and sign up for a plan.
- Configure your Teams Phone System to use your Operator Connect provider.
- Test your PSTN calling to make sure that it is working properly.
If you are only testing Teams Phone System, you may be able to get away with using a free PSTN calling plan. For example, Microsoft Calling Plans offers a free plan that includes 60 minutes of outgoing calls per month.
If you need more than 60 minutes of outgoing calls per month, you can purchase a paid PSTN calling plan from an Operator Connect provider. However, be sure to compare pricing before you choose a provider.
Please click Mark as Best Response & Like if my post helped you to solve your issue.
This will help others to find the correct solution easily. It also closes the item.If the post was useful in other ways, please consider giving it Like.
Kindest regards,
Leon Pavesic
(LinkedIn)
1 Reply
Hi me100n,
The cheapest and easiest way to get PSTN voice in a small lab setup for Teams is to use a Teams Operator Connect provider.
Operator Connect is a new program from Microsoft that allows organizations to connect their Teams Phone System to a variety of PSTN providers. This gives organizations more choice and flexibility in their PSTN connectivity, and can also be more cost-effective than traditional PSTN calling plans.There are a number of Teams Operator Connect providers that offer small business and lab setup plans. Some of the most popular providers include:
- Dialpad
- Google Voice
- Microsoft Calling Plans
- Nextiva
- RingCentral
When choosing an Operator Connect provider, it is important to compare pricing, features, and support. Some providers also offer free trials, so you can try out their service before you commit to a paid plan.
To set up PSTN voice in a small lab setup using Teams Operator Connect, you will need to:
- Choose an Operator Connect provider and sign up for a plan.
- Configure your Teams Phone System to use your Operator Connect provider.
- Test your PSTN calling to make sure that it is working properly.
If you are only testing Teams Phone System, you may be able to get away with using a free PSTN calling plan. For example, Microsoft Calling Plans offers a free plan that includes 60 minutes of outgoing calls per month.
If you need more than 60 minutes of outgoing calls per month, you can purchase a paid PSTN calling plan from an Operator Connect provider. However, be sure to compare pricing before you choose a provider.
Please click Mark as Best Response & Like if my post helped you to solve your issue.
This will help others to find the correct solution easily. It also closes the item.If the post was useful in other ways, please consider giving it Like.
Kindest regards,
Leon Pavesic
(LinkedIn)