Blog

So, you’ve decided to go down the path of Direct Routing. First of all, excellent choice. Businesses of all shapes and sizes are choosing to use Direct Routing to turn Teams into an all-in-one communication solution for your business.

Whether you want to use your own infrastructure or have a service provider you refuse to give up, preparing for Direct Routing is the same. You’ll need: 

• A supported SBC 

• Telephony trunks from a Direct Routing provider like FirstComm 

• The public IP address and Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) of your SBC 

• A public trusted certificate for the SBC

And, finally, a specific set of licenses – three to be exact.

The 3 Teams Direct Routing Licenses You Need to Get Started with Direct Routing 

To deploy Direct Routing correctly and well, each user needs three licenses:

1) Microsoft Teams License 

You need a Teams license to use Direct Routing on Teams. The license gives the user access to the entire Teams platform, including online meetings, instant messaging, file sharing, and more. 

2) Microsoft Teams Phone Standard License 

This license is the cornerstone of Direct Routing, as it allows users to make and receive calls through an existing provider. It also equips your team with essential features like voicemail, call forwarding, and emergency calling support.

3) Microsoft Teams Resource License 

Need advanced call management? Then Teams Resource Licenses are non-negotiable. This license lets you set up and manage IVR systems, call queues, and more. So, make sure you purchase and assign this license to the relevant users if you need those features.

With all three of these licenses, your team will be able to transform Teams into an all-in-one communication solution. 

The Most Common Teams Licensing Plans Microsoft Offers 

There are two main types of licensing plans for Teams that you can choose from: SMB Licenses and Enterprise Licenses. Within each “type” are options that offer various features, functionalities, and levels of support based on your needs.

Teams Business Licenses for SMBs 

Typically, these licenses are for smaller businesses (under 300 employees) that want all the Microsoft basics without the higher price tag. 

Microsoft 365 Business Basic License 

Think of this as your entry-level plan. It includes web and mobile versions of Microsoft Teams, along with other essential apps like Exchange, SharePoint, and OneDrive. However, it doesn’t include the desktop versions of Microsoft 365 apps. 

Which brings us to the standard license.

Microsoft 365 Business Standard License 

This is for companies that need a little bit more. It includes the desktop versions of Microsoft 365 apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint plus Microsoft Teams for web, mobile, and desktop. It’s like the Business Basic plan on steroids.

Both plans support Direct Routing in Microsoft Teams, so it’s up to you as to which license fits your small business best.

Not an SMB? Microsoft 365 Enterprise Licenses are For You. 

For those of you with 500 or more employees, Microsoft offer Enterprise Licenses. These are specially designed with the “big leagues” in mind. 

These types of licenses offer the full suite of Office applications, advanced compliance and security capabilities, and enterprise-grade reporting and analytics. Basically, they’re built to handle the more complicated collaboration needs of large-scale operations.

But here’s the catch: thanks to a recent EU ruling, Microsoft can’t include Teams with their Enterprise Licenses. So, to make and take calls from Teams, you’ll have to purchase “Microsoft Teams for Enterprise” licenses separately. 

The Good News? FirstComm Handles All This Licensing for You 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with all these choices, don’t worry – FirstComm has you covered. Our Teams experts will work with you to set up the Direct Routing solution that best suits your budget and your communication needs.

When it’s deployed, we’ll be by your side to troubleshoot, answer questions, and support you however we can. Just reach out today, and we’ll get you started!