What is Operator Connect Conferencing and how is it different from Microsoft Audio Conferencing solution?

What is Operator Connect Conferencing?

To understand this better we have to go a little bit back to Lync/Skype days, when we used Skype, we can able to configure the dial-in conferencing number for our users to dial into Skype meetings from their cell phones (PSTN). 

You might have purchased 800 numbers or local regional numbers from your telco (telephone carriers) providers and published that number to your company directory or external vendor/customers and you still need to use or you might have a legal contract then you can utilize Operator connect conferencing solution if your operator/Telco is already in the Operator Connect program. 

You get an Operator Connect Conferencing license to utilize the same number instead of Microsoft-published audio conferencing numbers.

Microsoft Audio Conferencing solution -

If you are using E-3 (E-5 includes in the bundle) then you need to purchase an add-on audio conferencing license and assign it to use to schedule a meeting with dial-in information. Microsoft provides 80 numbers in 70+ countries in different languages. 

Based on user usage location the local regional conferencing numbers are assigned. However, your admin can change the assigned conferencing number for individual users if needed. e.g if the user usage location is not correct/not configured then it will by default use the tenant location, in this scenario admins can change the user dial-in conferencing number manually.

Microsoft audio conferencing provides all new numbers (not the one you used in Skype) and all these conferencing numbers are shared by multiple customers. However, you can purchase dedicated conference numbers from Microsoft.

What are the key differences?

Operator Connect Conferencing might be the right solution for your organization if:

• You want to keep your contracts with your existing telephone number provider

• You want to expand the global coverage of your existing Microsoft Audio Conferencing bridge

• You want to source phone numbers for Audio Conferencing from a new telephone number provider

• Microsoft Audio Conferencing isn't available in your geographic location

• You want to leverage an operator for Audio Conferencing services with a pay-per-minute model, such as using toll-free numbers and make outbound calls from Teams meetings to phone numbers in countries not included in your subscription.