In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining geographic information from a first party when the first party attempts to join a collaborative session, and identifying a first geographic region, using the geographic information, within which the first party is located. A first multipoint control unit (MCU) located within the first geographic region is identified for use in a dial out to establish a first audio connection for use by at least the first party during the collaborative session. The method also includes establishing a voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) connection configured to shunt video between the first party and a cloud during the collaborative session, and causing the first MCU to dial out to establish the first audio connection to the cloud. The first audio connection is configured to shunt audio between the first party and the cloud while the VoIP connection shunts the video between the first party and the cloud.