Microsoft offers a variety of options for enabling your users to call landlines and mobile phones through the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)--whether their accounts exist in Office 365 on Skype for Business Online or in your on-premises Skype for Business Server or Lync Server 2013 deployment.
Enterprise Voice
Enterprise Voice is Microsoft's world-class software-powered Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) solution, included in on-premises deployments of Skype for Business Server. Enterprise Voice offers a rich set of capabilities and features, including Response Groups, Call Park, Enhanced 9-1-1, and much more. Enterprise Voice is a full PBX system for your organization, including PSTN connectivity through your local operator
For more information about Microsoft's Enterprise Voice solutions, see: Plan for Enterprise Voice in Skype for Business Server 2015, Deploy Enterprise Voice in Skype for Business Server 2015.
Cloud PBX
Cloud PBX is Microsoft's technology for enabling call control and PBX capabilities in the Office 365 cloud with Skype for Business Online. Skype for Business Cloud PBX allows you to replace your existing PBX system with a set of features directly delivered from Office 365 and tightly integrated into the company’s cloud productivity experience.
With Cloud PBX, your users can use Skype for Business Online to take care of basic call control tasks, such as placing and receiving calls, transferring calls, and muting and unmuting calls. Cloud PBX users can click a name in their address book, and Skype for Business places a call to that person. To place and receive calls, Cloud PBX users can use their mobile devices, a headset with a laptop or PC, or one of many IP phones that work with Skype for Business.
To enable calls to landlines and mobile phones, Cloud PBX can be connected to the PSTN in one of two ways:
-
By purchasing the PSTN Calling service add-on to Office 365.
-
By using on-premises PSTN connectivity, where software on-premises connects with your existing telephony infrastructure.
Skype for Business – Advanced Features
Feature
|
Cloud PBX
|
PSTN
Conf
|
PSTN
Calling
|
End-user call handling (answer, hold, transfer, ring)
|
●
|
|
|
Setup and use call designation
|
●
|
|
|
Team Calling
|
●
|
|
|
Use IP Desk Phone
|
●
|
|
|
Set and enforce calling policies
|
●
|
|
|
Emergency calling
|
●
|
|
|
Skype for Business Plus CAL
|
●
|
|
|
Dial-in for Skype Meetings
|
|
●
|
|
Meeting dial out to PBX/PSTN users
|
|
●
|
|
Default join from PBX/PSTN phones
|
|
●
|
|
Phone number assignment
|
|
|
●
|
Inbound calling
|
|
|
●
|
Outbound calling (domestic/int’l)
|
|
|
●
|
Cloud PBX solutions
You can choose a completely-in-the-cloud offering, or you can choose a hybrid deployment that takes advantage of Cloud PBX, but keeps some functionality on premises. Depending on your needs, you can choose to have PSTN functionality provided by the Office 365 service or by your on-premises software--as shown in the following diagram
-
Cloud PBX with PSTN Calling service – This is the service plan you can add to Cloud PBX to enable calling to landlines and mobile phones around the world (depending on the level of service being licensed). Your users are homed in the cloud and are enabled for Cloud PBX with PSTN Calling provided by Microsoft. The PSTN Calling offering is an add-on to Office 365 that does not require an on-premises server deployment.
-
Cloud PBX with on-premises PSTN connectivity – This option uses software on premises to connect your existing PSTN carrier, circuit, and contract with Office 365. Your users are homed in the cloud and are enabled for Cloud PBX, but their calling is processed through software on premises.
PSTN Calling service
PSTN Calling service is the service that works with Cloud PBX allowing users to make calls to landlines and mobile phones. Because the PSTN Calling service operates out of Office 365, this is a completely-in-the-cloud offering that does not require an on-premises server deployment.
Users of this option are homed in Skype for Business Online in Office 365 and have access to Skype for Business Online voice services. Microsoft is the provider of both core calling and PSTN services, and can even provide or port your users' phone numbers.
PSTN Calling service is available in specific but growing geographic locations. Please check with your Microsoft representative for availability in your area.
On-premises PSTN connectivity with Cloud Connector Edition
Cloud Connector is a set of packaged Virtual Machines (VMs) that implement on-premises PSTN connectivity with Cloud PBX. This hybrid offering is designed for organizations that want to enable their Skype for Business Online users to use their existing on-premises PSTN connection, with Skype for Business call control in the cloud.
With this option, you deploy a set of packaged VMs that contain a minimal Skype for Business Server topology--consisting of an Edge component, Mediation component, and a Central Management Store (CMS) role. These services are configured for hybrid with your Office 365 tenant that includes Skype for Business Online services.
On-premises PSTN connectivity with an existing deployment
You can implement a hybrid solution using your existing Skype for Business Server deployment and PSTN connectivity. In this topology, users are homed in the cloud on Skype for Business Online instead of being homed on the on-premises deployment. You can choose this option if you currently have users homed in the cloud or if you want to start migrating users to the cloud.
With this option, your Skype for Business Online users get their PSTN connectivity through Enterprise Voice on your on-premises Skype for Business Server deployment, with Skype for Business call control in the cloud.
Resources -
Plan your Cloud PBX solution in Skype for Business 2015 or Lync Server 2013
-
Plan Cloud PBX with on-premises PSTN connectivity in Skype for Business Server 2015 or Lync Server 2013
-
Deploy Cloud PBX with on-premises PSTN connectivity in Skype for Business Server 2015 or Lync Server 2013
-
Plan for Skype for Business Cloud Connector Edition
-
What is PSTN Calling?
-
Plan for Skype for Business Cloud Connector Edition
-
Configure Skype for Business Cloud Connector edition
Share with your friends: |