Microsoft Teams Cost Savings

Microsoft Teams Direct Routing Benefits

Save up to 50% on Teams calling costs with enterprise-grade features

Published: 5 June 2025 6 min read
Microsoft Teams has become the hub for collaboration across many businesses, but the cost of calling plans and the limitations of off-the-shelf phone systems can add up. Direct Routing solves this problem by allowing you to connect your own telephony service into Teams.

Virtual First, a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) and Teams Voice expert, offers a Direct Routing service that is simple to adopt and can cut your calling costs by as much as 50 percent.

Microsoft Teams by the Numbers

320M+
Monthly Active Users
70%
Large Organisations
5%
Aware of Direct Routing

What is Direct Routing?

Direct Routing lets organisations use Microsoft Teams as a full telephone system while keeping their existing SIP trunks and PBX equipment. Instead of buying bundled calling plans from Microsoft, you connect your own telephony carrier through a certified Session Border Controller (SBC).

This gives you unified communications without replacing your current infrastructure. It also means you can choose the provider that offers the best rates and coverage for your business.

Benefits of Virtual First's Direct Routing

Lower Costs

Save up to 50% on Microsoft Teams call costs. Pay only for calls you make and avoid expensive per-user calling plans.

Keep Existing Infrastructure

Continue using your current SIP trunks and PBX hardware with Teams. Protect your investment and avoid disruption.

Enterprise Features

Call forwarding, voicemail, conference calling and analytics integrated directly into Teams interface.

Global Connectivity

Connect to PSTN worldwide through certified SBCs with consistent call quality and comprehensive monitoring.

How Direct Routing Works

Direct Routing is built on a straightforward architecture:

1

SIP Trunk Integration

Your existing SIP trunks connect to Teams through certified SBCs, providing enterprise-grade communication without on-premise hardware.

2

Cloud-Based Management

All calling features are managed through the Teams admin centre with full visibility and control.

3

Unified Experience

Staff access chat, meetings, calling and collaboration in one interface within Teams.

Why Choose Virtual First?

Virtual First is more than a voice carrier – it is a Microsoft CSP and Teams Voice specialist that provides licensing, support and setup from one source. The company is trusted by IT leaders across the UK and offers integration with Dynamics 365 contact centre and customer service solutions.

Getting Started with Direct Routing

If your organisation wants to reduce calling costs and gain more control over telephony, Direct Routing from Virtual First could be the answer. The team will assess your current setup and design a plan that leverages your existing telephony while giving you the benefits of Microsoft Teams.

99.999% SLA guarantee
End-to-end security
Microsoft CSP partnership
UK-based expert support

Ready to Save on Teams Calling?

Discover how Direct Routing can cut your calling costs by up to 50% while enhancing your Teams experience.

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