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StConn-MSFT's avatar
StConn-MSFT
Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
Jul 18, 2017

Discontinuation of support for Session Border Controllers in Exchange Online Unified Messaging

In July 2018, we will no longer support the use of Session Border Controllers (SBC) to connect 3 rd Party PBX systems to Exchange Online Unified Messaging (UM).  We're making this change to provide ...
exchange online
Shawn Beckers's avatar
Shawn Beckers
Brass Contributor
Jul 18, 2017

As one of the "small number of customers" affected by this, I am finding it hard to understand this decision and even harder to stomache the options.  Looks like it's either migrate everyone from 3rd party PBX to Skype for Business Online, migrate them to on-prem Skype for Business, set up some sort of hybrid Skype for Business connection, or stop using Exchange UM.  And do this all in 1 year.  Wow...

  • Anthony Caragol's avatar
    Anthony Caragol
    MVP
    Jul 18, 2017

    There's another option as well, which is: use an SBC that can deliver to Exchange UM Online without needing Microsoft's cloud based session border controllers.  I believe AnyNode has this capability.

    • Shawn Beckers's avatar
      Shawn Beckers
      Brass Contributor
      Jul 18, 2017

      Thanks for the reply.  My basic understanding of the traffic flow for a solution like AnyNode is...

       

      3rd Party PBX --> AnyNode --> On-Prem Skype for Business --> O365 (Skype/Exchange Online)

       

      This would mean I still need to have Skype for Business on-prem, right?  Or am I missing something?

      • Jim Banach's avatar
        Jim Banach
        Copper Contributor
        Jul 18, 2017

        To add on to that.  Is anynode doing something special any other SBC that connects between a PBX and Skype does? It just seems like it would be a normal scenario where if a user was homed on Skype on prem with a PBX in front of it that the skype client would leverage Exchange UM (on prem or online) to connect to voicemail. 

         

         

    • StConn-MSFT's avatar
      StConn-MSFT
      Icon for Microsoft rankMicrosoft
      Jul 18, 2017

      Hi Anthony--

       

      Yes, that is Option #3 above.

       

      Thanks--
      Steve

      • Andy Giesen's avatar
        Andy Giesen
        Copper Contributor
        Jul 18, 2017
        Steve, perhaps you can expand on the requirements for option 3 and give a bit more detail on how that would work?
  • csmithscf's avatar
    csmithscf
    Steel Contributor
    Aug 02, 2017

    I feel the same way - we were just about a week away from implementing an SBC and already purchased it (from AudioCodes). Now we have to go back to the drawing board to see what our options are. 

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