Ingram Micro targets Microsoft Teams with Switch Connect partnership

Ingram Micro has partnered with Australian unified communications specialist Switch Connect to provide new collaboration products via the distributor's cloud marketplace.

Of particularly note is Switch Connect's offering for Microsoft Direct Routing for Teams, which connects calls from Microsoft's workplace collaboration platform to existing SIP trunks using direct routing. This allows customers to make and receive calls through their telco provider from Teams.

Ingram's ANZ director of cloud services Lee Welch said the partnership would give resellers access to voice-enabled services, in particular the recently announced Microsoft Direct Routing for Teams.

Direct Routing for Teams adds integrated voice services to Microsoft's workplace collaboration platform, allowing customers to share files and data across large organisations and hold online meetings from multiple locations.

“This exciting partnership with Switch Connect will mean that Ingram Micro is the first Microsoft Office 365 distributor in Australia to sell its suite of communications products outside of the exclusive arrangement between Microsoft and Telstra,” Welch said.

Switch Connect offers a carrier-grade network that provides optimal uptime and reliability from Australian geo-redundant data centres. The company partnered with Ribbon Communications in September last year for its PSTN services, simplifying the network's interoperability, advanced session management and reliability.

“As Microsoft Direct Routing for Teams is a cloud-first approach, it is delivered and managed by Switch Connect in its secure data centre," Switch Connect chief executive Rohan Milne said.

"Customers no longer need the infrastructure on their premises because we connect their Office 365 Teams environment directly to the Switch Connect SIP Trunk.”

Microsoft partner management lead Brad Clarke added that the partnership was a welcome addition to Teams.

“We’re delighted to see these innovative solutions, which significantly boost the capability of Teams, be introduced by two leading players in the Australian enterprise market,” Clarke said.