For virtually every company, cloud communications isn’t just a “fad” anymore – it’s a necessity. Everyone needs the flexibility and agility the cloud can offer. But no-one wants to compromise on their “freedom” to choose the calling solution that works best for them. That’s where Cloud Connect for Webex Calling comes in – connecting the PSTN to the Webex ecosystem.
Cloud Connect basically gives businesses the option to choose from a massive selection of Cisco certified telephony providers that can link their Webex system to the PSTN in over 65 countries.
If that sounds familiar, it’s because many other UCaaS and collaboration companies offer a similar solution. You’re probably already familiar with Microsoft Direct Routing and Operator Connect. Even Zoom has its intuitive “Phone Provider Exchange” service.
Cloud Connect is essentially just the Cisco Webex version of this service, giving companies more agility, global reach, and freedom as they shift into the cloud. Here’s your guide to what the service is, how it works, and which partners are available to work with.
Cisco Webex Calling: The Options for PSTN Connectivity
The Cisco Webex team have taken a very similar approach to Microsoft when it comes to enabling cloud to PSTN connectivity. Just like Microsoft, Cisco allows companies to choose between dedicated “Cisco” calling plans, as well as cloud connectivity options, and local gateway connections.
This range of options basically ensure you can choose the PSTN solution that works best for your specific needs, based on things like feature requirements and compliance issues. Here’s a quick look at the alternative options to Cloud Connect for Webex Calling first.
Cisco Calling Plans
Similar to Microsoft’s dedicated phone plans, Cisco’s calling plans are designed for companies that want to access cloud communications quickly without having to juggle various service providers. They instantly add PSTN connectivity to Webex Calling, allowing companies to access an enterprise phone system from a single vendor.
Compared to Microsoft’s, these calling plans are pretty flexible, with options to order, port, and provision PSTN numbers directly from an online control hub. You can also use Cisco’s calling plans in various countries, from the US and Canada, to Germany, France, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, the UK, Ireland, and more.
On the plus side, these plans make it easy to order and port existing numbers into your ecosystem and manage everything from a centralized control hub. As an out-of-the-box offering, the calling plans are configured to meet the regulatory requirements of the available regions.
However, Cisco’s calling plans aren’t available everywhere, and they may not offer access to the same benefits and features you would get from another telephony partner.
The Local Gateway Option
The Local Gateway option connects a company’s on-premises telephony solution to the Webex Calling platform. It’s a reasonably convenient way for companies to continue using their current carrier and hardware (like SIP Trunks), or access service in remote branches and offices.
Businesses can choose to connect their local gateway and Webex Calling to virtually any PSTN provider worldwide. That means you can scale and adapt your phone system to your specific needs, while taking full advantage of Webex tools.
You can retain all of the key components of your phone system, leverage connectivity in hard-to-reach areas, and sidestep the restrictions of Cisco’s calling plans. However, with more hardware to manage, there’s extra complexity to consider too. You might find you need extra support to configure and maintain your new ecosystem if you take the local gateway route.
What is Cisco Cloud Connect for Webex Calling?
Cloud Connect for Webex Calling is arguably the most attractive option for businesses that want to connect their PSTN solution to the cloud, combining simplicity and flexibility. It’s essentially Cisco’s answer to Operator Connect from Microsoft.
Like Operator Connect, Cisco Cloud Connect enables users to connect their Webex Calling platform to the PSTN through their chosen carrier. Notably though, instead of being able to choose virtually “any” provider, like you can with a local gateway, you’re limited to those approved by Cisco.
That’s not necessarily a bad thing, as Cisco has put a lot of time and effort into vetting suppliers to ensure that every user gets the best experience possible. Additionally, it’s worth noting that Cisco is constantly adding new approved providers to their list.
In most countries, customers can select from a wide range of Cisco-certified partners, all with dedicated solutions that adhere to different requirements for coverage, features, number availability, pricing, and packaging.
Most importantly, with this solution, you get to manage your business telephony ecosystem through a single pane of glass portal. Once you’ve purchased or ported your numbers into your system, you can assign and manage them across different countries and providers through Cisco’s dedicated Control Hub. You can even manage multiple providers at once.
The Benefits of Cloud Connect for Webex Calling
On a broad scale, Cloud Connect for Webex Calling makes it easier for companies that already have a relationship with a PSTN carrier, to combine their telephony services with the Webex ecosystem. With Cloud Connect, you benefit from:
- Simple number management: Users can easily order and port both new and existing numbers into the ecosystem in a matter of minutes. Cisco partners offer coverage for both international and local numbers across more than 65 countries.
- True flexibility: With Cloud Connect, you maintain full control over your PSTN connectivity strategy. You can choose the carrier and connectivity options that meet your needs and adjust your settings whenever you like.
- Easy management: Once you’ve selected your providers and numbers, you can manage everything within the unified Webex Control Hub. Plus, you can use the hub to gain insights into telephony usage and metrics, with interactive dashboards.
- Reliability: All of Cisco’s certified Cloud Connect providers have undergone a thorough certification process. This ensures you can rest assured that they’ll deliver consistent standards of security, quality, support, and reliability.
- Improved global reach: Depending on the provider you choose, service coverage is available in more regions than you’d get with Cisco’s calling plans. In 2023, Cisco even extended its PSTN options in the Americas, and adds new providers all the time.
The Possible Downsides of Cloud Connect
Cloud Connect for Webex Calling enables exceptional flexibility, while eliminating the complexity associated with provisioning and managing telephony services through external providers. It gives you excellent functionality, with minimal effort.
However, there are some potential downsides too. For instance, while Cloud Connect may offer more global availability than Cisco’s Calling plans, you won’t get as much freedom as you would with the Local Gateway option. With Local Gateways, you can choose virtually any provider worldwide, and even add phone connectivity to offices in remote regions. With Cloud Connect, you’re limited to choosing from a pre-approved list of vendors.
You might also find you have fewer opportunities to customize and configure your system to your specific needs. Beyond that, you’ll be responsible for making sure that your calling plans are compliant with regulatory guidelines. If you choose one of their out-of-the-box calling plans, Cisco handles that issue for you.
Cisco Cloud Connect for Webex Calling Partners
Currently, Cisco has certified more than 30 world-class providers worldwide for their Cloud Connect plans. Some of the options available include:
- AT&T Business
- AudioCodes
- Bandwidth
- Citynet
- Colt
- FirstDigital
- Fusion Connect
- IntelePeer
- NetCom
- NTT
- Nuwave
- Orange Business
- Pure IP
- Sinch
- Swisscom
- Tata Communications
- Telefonica Global Solutions
- Telus
- Zayo
You can find the full list of available Cloud Connect providers and the features and packages they offer on the Cisco Webex website here. Cisco also has dedicated documentation available for potential partners investing in a MultiCloud portfolio for their customers.
This guide offers an insight into the benefits of leveraging Cloud Connect for increased operational efficiency, improved consistency, and increased user satisfaction.
Getting Started with Webex Cloud Connect
For any company that wants to connect all the benefits of the Webex Calling ecosystem with their existing PSTN solutions, the Cloud Connect offering is an excellent choice. Getting started couldn’t be easier. All you need to do is to log into your Cisco Webex Calling administrator account and select a provider.
Once you’ve chosen your provider, you can purchase new numbers or port existing numbers into your ecosystem. From there, you can distribute numbers, manage your technology, and even track usage statistics from your Cisco Webex Control Hub.
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