Ribbon Communications Inc. announced that Ribbon is an ecosystem partner supporting Microsoft's new Operator Connect Accelerator for Microsoft Teams. Ribbon is extending its multi-tenant, software as a service solution, Ribbon Connect for Operator Connect, to support service provider deployments of Operator Connect. Ribbon Connect empowers service providers to speed up delivery of Operator Connect services by using pre-assembled API integration, sales enablement and portal-based administration tools. It also simplifies selling, provisioning, and billing of Operator Connect related services.

A key differentiator for Ribbon Connect that makes it a critical element for Operator Connect connectivity, is its ability to leverage the same proven carrier-grade security products and services that are already trusted and deployed in the world's largest telecom networks. Operator Connect is Microsoft's operator-managed service for interconnection between Teams and telecom services. With more than 270 million active monthly users, simplifying access to telecom services for Teams users better positions its Phone System services as a replacement for traditional telephony services and other cloud Unified Communications offerings.

Operator Connect Accelerator offers service providers the opportunity to engage with an authorized Microsoft ecosystem partner to provide integration tools, service offerings and professional services to jump-start their Operator Connect deployments, giving providers greater access to this new group of Teams customers. Ribbon Connect enables service providers such as Switch Connect, who is among the first Ribbon customers to offer the service, to dramatically accelerate the time-to-market for their Microsoft Teams connectivity offers by leveraging turnkey, market-proven technology and eliminating the need to build and maintain their own solutions. Ribbon Connect is supported by Ribbon's global professional service team, who has extensive expertise in building and maintaining carrier-grade communications networks.

Ribbon is supporting Microsoft's new Operator Connect Accelerator for Microsoft Teams. Operator Connect is Microsoft's operator-managed service for interconnection between Teams and traditional telephony services. Operator Connect Accelerator offers service providers the opportunity to engage with an authorized Microsoft ecosystem partner to provide integration tools, service offerings and professional services to assist with Operator Connect deployments. Ribbon Connect for Operator Connect enables service providers to dramatically accelerate the time-to-market for their Microsoft Teams connectivity offers by using advanced pre-assembled API integration, sales enablement and portal-based administration tools to simplify the selling, provisioning and billing of Operator Connect related services.

Ribbon Connect eliminates the need for Microsoft Operator Connect customers like Switch Connect to develop costly in-house solutions, enabling them to rapidly reduce the time that takes to connect Teams with the PSTN. What differentiates Ribbon Connect from other offers on the market is that it is built from the same proven carrier-grade solutions that power and protect many of the largest telecom networks in the world and is supported by a world-class professional services organization.