It is rare that I use this site for anything that is deliberately self-servant. I hope you don’t mind that I am going to do that right now.
I want to tell you some exciting news about a brand new channel program for the QuickPhones wireless Voip phone.
Over the last three months the QuickPhones offering has been winning bid after bid for us against more well known counterparts - at twice the profit.
You might think it’s crazy to open up these profits to others. Why not keep them all to ourselves?
Well problem is we can’t bid on all of the wireless VoIP opportunities that are happening today. But we do want to win them all and we can - but we need a limited number of channel partners like you.
You don’t have to be big. You don’t have to be well established. You just have to be willing to take advantage of a channel program that offers you the following:
This is a channel program built for your success based on decades of collective channel experience!
To take advantage of this lucrative opportunity all you have to do is agree to the program’s terms, conditions and place an initial stocking order of $3,800 USD worth of QuickPhones product. Product which could resold by you for a minimum total profit of $1,250 USD. There will be no further stocking commitments thereafter.
With a program this lucrative you can imagine how quickly word will spread. Resulting in it quickly becoming another profit starved channel program. We don’t want to see this so we’ve placed a cap of 50 total channel partners for the near future.
Since announcing the program earlier this week we have already signed 10 new partners including well known retailer VoIP Link. We are expecting this number to quickly rise over the next few weeks as we continue our recruitment efforts.
So don’t wait. Once we hit 50 partners we will stop accepting new channel partners.
To sign-up for the program today email me at gsmith@voipsupply.com or give me a call at 716-250-3408.
There is money to be made in wireless VoIP. I look forward to working with you to make it.
Thanks for your time and attention.
Garrett
P.S. If you don’t believe the hype read how the QuickPhones changed my mind about wireless Voip phones then dig into the QA-342’s full specifications.
P.S.S. You should also read Where’s the money is wireless VoIP? and about a current need in the educational sector that you could deliver!
Get more Free VoIP information like this at Smith On VoIP.
Looking for profit starved channel partners
Have you tried lately to figure out which Linux operating system you’d like to use? And, did you think about adding a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) device to that Linux system? We can guess that you probably overwhelmed with the choices available to VoIP users today. In fact, to write a truly definitive guide to VoIP for Linux users, we would need to write a book.
Instead, we combed the online Linux and VoIP Wikis to find the most-used combinations of Linux and VoIP according to the systems and devices that were most talked about on these support and documentation pages. Those choices, listed below along with their Wikis, will provide you with a definitive guide to choices available, and to the choices that provide the most documentation for ease of use.
Although the lists below are numbered and in alphabetical order, this does not mean that any product or resource is more valuable than another.
The following list contains all the Linux resources you might ponder before you make a choice on which open source product that provides a friendly connection with your VoIP applications. Be sure to read through various VoIP applications and tutorials (also listed below) to learn more about how compatible each operating system might be with a particular VoIP application.
The following FAQ pages, Wikis and SWikis apply to all the Linux operating systems listed above. Additionally, a few more broad Linux Wikis are added to help you find as much information as you need about any particular system.
The following applications are available on GNU/Linux:
The following links will take you to the most up-to-date tutorials for Linux and VoIP applications:
The following links carry information and tools that are centered on open source telephony in general:
VoIP use is estimated to grow to 32.6 million users by 2010, an estimate that proves VoIP’s growing popularity. Despite the VoIP growth, there seems to be a real PC bias to the technology and programs that make the most of VoIP - that is, until the past few years. It seems VoIP providers are finally starting to realize the untapped market in ever tech-hungry Mac users. Software and hardware is out there for VoIP on the Mac if you know where to look, and some VoIP has even become unabashedly Mac specific. Unsure where to begin? Here are some tips and advice on getting VoIP for your Mac.
Macs have a reputation for being more secure than Windows online when it comes to outside threats, and that may be true; but that’s no reason to get sloppy about securing your VoIP and taking additional steps to make sure you’re not vulnerable. As VoIP becomes ever more popular, the amount of predators who see it as an easy way to take advantage of unsuspecting users will increase. VoIP can be vulnerable to a number of threats, some allowing your calls to be eavesdropped on and some, like SPIT attacks, that can clog up your VoIP connection much like spam can clog up your inbox..
While there’s no such thing as bulletproof VoIP, there are a few steps you can take to protect yourself. Since VoIP calls travel over an Internet connection, sensitive calls, much like sensitive e-mails should be encrypted. Perhaps the simplest way of encrypting your information - one that requires no advanced technical knowledge - is to use a program called Zfone. Zfone is a free program that encrypts and decrypts your VoIP calls on the fly, ensuring that your confidential information will stay confidential. Mac users will be pleased by the program’s design, which features the sleek and simple silver design found in other Mac applications.
Aside from encryption, you’ll also want to protect your VoIP from SPIT attacks. Though these attacks exist only in theory thus far, the thought of getting flooded with hundreds of calls from telemarketers should drive you to prevent them in advance. Most SPIT can be filtered out through the use of a VoIP firewall like the one offered by Borderware or by using a program like VoIPSEAL. Some VoIP clients like Vonage and Skype have built in systems that can filter out a majority of the SPIT before it ever reaches your phone.
While a VoIP phone isn’t a necessity to make VoIP calls, if you’re Jonesing for another gadget, a VoIP phone can make a nice addition to your collection. A wide variety of VoIP phones exist, but finding one that actually works with a Mac and provides you with high-quality calls can be a challenge. Most phones seem to be tied to a particular provider, so make sure you really love your VoIP client before investing in a phone. There are a lot of pricey phones out there, but here are a few Mac compatible phones that won’t bust your budget.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the VoIP software out there for Macs. There are numerous programs and clients that can provide VoIP to your Mac and the number is growing all the time. This is just a selection of a few programs that can help you get started in setting up a great VoIP system on your Mac.
There’s no longer any reason that Mac users should feel left out of the VoIP hoopla. There are many options for VoIP providers and hardware out there that will work great with a Mac and won’t leave PC users with anything to brag about (as if Mac users would ever be jealous!) So if you’re interested in trying out VoIP on your Mac do your research and use these tips as a helpful guide for making your experience painless.
Are you a VoIP user? Are you a gadget hound as well? If so, then we’ve got the list for you. The following twenty-five VoIP gadgets for the VoIP fanatic cover the realm of phones, headsets, Web cams and more. But, they’re not your ordinary phones, headsets and Web cams. Oh, no — they’re designed for someone like you, because they’re one-of-a-kind accessories that will heighten all your VoIP experiences.
All but one of the gadgets listed below were introduced during 2007-2008, and a few won’t hit the market until the end of this year. We read all the reviews as well, so you won’t find any questionable products here. And, surprisingly, many products are within an average budget. Since you’re going to save money with a VoIP service anyway, it’s about time to treat yourself. We said so.
Although the list below is numbered and listed in alphabetical order, this does not mean that we value any one product over another.
Is VoIP greener than most traditional telephony technologies? While some individuals believe that VoIP is more environmentally friendly than the telecoms, we felt hesitant to agree. VoIP, after all, employs the Internet to operate, and network communications — along with their data centers and other resources — are notoriously energy hungry. According to Gartner Research, increasing energy costs, green technology, and increased environmental regulations pose significant challenges to corporate IT departments.
On the other hand, telephone companies such as Telinet in the UK [PDF], are urging clients to recycle their current equipment and avoid the possible energy crunch involved with switching to VoIP. But, is this message true? According to a Citel white paper, the deployment of an environmentally conscious VoIP network need not cost more, and in fact may cost substantially less, “providing a compelling balance between economics and corporate responsibility.”
Faced with competition to go green and the looming energy crunch, we feel that VoIP needs to step up their incentives and that individuals and businesses need to rethink their responsibilities for lowering impacts on immediate environments. To that end, the following list offers some questions and answers on greener solutions for VoIP and telecom users. It’s the consumer, after all, who drives the telecom and VoIP industries.
In April 2008, I reviewed C2Call, a Java-based VoIP application that lets you make web-based P2P VoIP phone calls direct from your browser whether you’re using Linux, Windows, or an Apple Mac. The company that developed C2Call claims their new FriendCaller, also a Java-based VoIP app works on the iPhone. Funny, last I checked the iPhone doesn’t support Java unless you jailbreak it.
According to their website, “FriendCaller works instantly with every popular operating system and browser without installation. And, of course with the iPhone™ and iPod™ touch.” It then says, “Send your friends call-me links directly from your iPhone™ or iPod™ touch. FriendCaller is instant browser based Voice, your friends don’t have to install software or register with FriendCaller before talking to you through their browsers. They just click-to-call and you are connected and see each other online status.”
So it sounds like you have to send people you want to call a special hyperlink, which they have to click to then initiate an outbound call back to you. I’m guessing they embed your iPhone’s regular GSM phone number into the click-to-call link which gets passed to the Java applet. Then the person you are trying to reach clicks the click-to-call link launching the Java app on their browser and automatically initiating an outbound call to your iPhone. The call is routed as voice over IP from the remote caller’s PC/Mac to C2Call’s termination network (for low cost VoIP routing) and then terminates to your iPhone. This is speculation on my part based on the info I read and the technical limitations of the iPhone (no Java), but it’s the only explanation I can come up with on how it works.
So it isn’t truly end-to-end VoIP and it isn’t even an outbound VoIP call. It’s more like an inbound VoIP-to-GSM/PSTN call.
Anywhere, here’s the features:
Tags: apple, c2call, friendcaller, iphone, java, voip
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It’s good to see iSkoot for Skype on the big screen. First stop: YouTube. Next stop, Times Square?
Believe it, people! This is what you call some serious visibility.
That’s PR Newswire’s digital billboard introducing the world to the first-ever mobile VoIP application for Google Android.
Our little program looks good all grown up, huh? 
Are you a VoIP user? Are you a gadget hound as well? If so, then we’ve got the list for you. The following twenty-five VoIP gadgets for the VoIP fanatic cover the realm of phones, headsets, Web cams and more. But, they’re not your ordinary phones, headsets and Web cams. Oh, no — they’re designed for someone like you, because they’re one-of-a-kind accessories that will heighten all your VoIP experiences.
All but one of the gadgets listed below were introduced during 2007-2008, and a few won’t hit the market until the end of this year. We read all the reviews as well, so you won’t find any questionable products here. And, surprisingly, many products are within an average budget. Since you’re going to save money with a VoIP service anyway, it’s about time to treat yourself. We said so.
Although the list below is numbered and listed in alphabetical order, this does not mean that we value any one product over another.
VoIP use is estimated to grow to 32.6 million users by 2010, an estimate that proves VoIP’s growing popularity. Despite the VoIP growth, there seems to be a real PC bias to the technology and programs that make the most of VoIP - that is, until the past few years. It seems VoIP providers are finally starting to realize the untapped market in ever tech-hungry Mac users. Software and hardware is out there for VoIP on the Mac if you know where to look, and some VoIP has even become unabashedly Mac specific. Unsure where to begin? Here are some tips and advice on getting VoIP for your Mac.
Macs have a reputation for being more secure than Windows online when it comes to outside threats, and that may be true; but that’s no reason to get sloppy about securing your VoIP and taking additional steps to make sure you’re not vulnerable. As VoIP becomes ever more popular, the amount of predators who see it as an easy way to take advantage of unsuspecting users will increase. VoIP can be vulnerable to a number of threats, some allowing your calls to be eavesdropped on and some, like SPIT attacks, that can clog up your VoIP connection much like spam can clog up your inbox..
While there’s no such thing as bulletproof VoIP, there are a few steps you can take to protect yourself. Since VoIP calls travel over an Internet connection, sensitive calls, much like sensitive e-mails should be encrypted. Perhaps the simplest way of encrypting your information - one that requires no advanced technical knowledge - is to use a program called Zfone. Zfone is a free program that encrypts and decrypts your VoIP calls on the fly, ensuring that your confidential information will stay confidential. Mac users will be pleased by the program’s design, which features the sleek and simple silver design found in other Mac applications.
Aside from encryption, you’ll also want to protect your VoIP from SPIT attacks. Though these attacks exist only in theory thus far, the thought of getting flooded with hundreds of calls from telemarketers should drive you to prevent them in advance. Most SPIT can be filtered out through the use of a VoIP firewall like the one offered by Borderware or by using a program like VoIPSEAL. Some VoIP clients like Vonage and Skype have built in systems that can filter out a majority of the SPIT before it ever reaches your phone.
While a VoIP phone isn’t a necessity to make VoIP calls, if you’re Jonesing for another gadget, a VoIP phone can make a nice addition to your collection. A wide variety of VoIP phones exist, but finding one that actually works with a Mac and provides you with high-quality calls can be a challenge. Most phones seem to be tied to a particular provider, so make sure you really love your VoIP client before investing in a phone. There are a lot of pricey phones out there, but here are a few Mac compatible phones that won’t bust your budget.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the VoIP software out there for Macs. There are numerous programs and clients that can provide VoIP to your Mac and the number is growing all the time. This is just a selection of a few programs that can help you get started in setting up a great VoIP system on your Mac.
There’s no longer any reason that Mac users should feel left out of the VoIP hoopla. There are many options for VoIP providers and hardware out there that will work great with a Mac and won’t leave PC users with anything to brag about (as if Mac users would ever be jealous!) So if you’re interested in trying out VoIP on your Mac do your research and use these tips as a helpful guide for making your experience painless.
Have you tried lately to figure out which Linux operating system you’d like to use? And, did you think about adding a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) device to that Linux system? We can guess that you probably overwhelmed with the choices available to VoIP users today. In fact, to write a truly definitive guide to VoIP for Linux users, we would need to write a book.
Instead, we combed the online Linux and VoIP Wikis to find the most-used combinations of Linux and VoIP according to the systems and devices that were most talked about on these support and documentation pages. Those choices, listed below along with their Wikis, will provide you with a definitive guide to choices available, and to the choices that provide the most documentation for ease of use.
Although the lists below are numbered and in alphabetical order, this does not mean that any product or resource is more valuable than another.
The following list contains all the Linux resources you might ponder before you make a choice on which open source product that provides a friendly connection with your VoIP applications. Be sure to read through various VoIP applications and tutorials (also listed below) to learn more about how compatible each operating system might be with a particular VoIP application.
The following FAQ pages, Wikis and SWikis apply to all the Linux operating systems listed above. Additionally, a few more broad Linux Wikis are added to help you find as much information as you need about any particular system.
The following applications are available on GNU/Linux:
The following links will take you to the most up-to-date tutorials for Linux and VoIP applications:
The following links carry information and tools that are centered on open source telephony in general:
Is VoIP greener than most traditional telephony technologies? While some individuals believe that VoIP is more environmentally friendly than the telecoms, we felt hesitant to agree. VoIP, after all, employs the Internet to operate, and network communications — along with their data centers and other resources — are notoriously energy hungry. According to Gartner Research, increasing energy costs, green technology, and increased environmental regulations pose significant challenges to corporate IT departments.
On the other hand, telephone companies such as Telinet in the UK [PDF], are urging clients to recycle their current equipment and avoid the possible energy crunch involved with switching to VoIP. But, is this message true? According to a Citel white paper, the deployment of an environmentally conscious VoIP network need not cost more, and in fact may cost substantially less, “providing a compelling balance between economics and corporate responsibility.”
Faced with competition to go green and the looming energy crunch, we feel that VoIP needs to step up their incentives and that individuals and businesses need to rethink their responsibilities for lowering impacts on immediate environments. To that end, the following list offers some questions and answers on greener solutions for VoIP and telecom users. It’s the consumer, after all, who drives the telecom and VoIP industries.
Gruppo Poste Italiane (GPI) is being tricked out with the latest network infrastructure to support VoIP and other apps with the ultimate goal of supporting all of its regional offices and more than 14,000 post offices throughout Italy. Italtel and Infoblox are providing support for the next generation network.
GPI guarantees global postal service and offers integrated communications, logistic and financial products and services throughout Italy. Itatel and Infoblox are providing the network infrastructure GPI needs for its employees to connect to the network, with Itatel holding the role of the systems integrator to install infrastructure for services, including supporting computers and VoIP phones.
Infoblox is happy about the deal because its appliances are providing the management and control of DNS, DHCP and IP address management services through an easy-to-use web interface. The company has a "grid" technology to link a group of distributed member appliances into a unified, centrally managed system; the grid allows for single-point management of the network and provides automated failover for disaster recovery.
For more:
- MSNBC.com carries release.
Related articles
A primer on the SSA's VoIP phone system - FierceVoIP
Social Security's VoIP and UC Future - FierceVoIP
This morning Broadcom rolled out a new VoIP chip set for use in the next wave of IP phones and media phones. The Persona IP Communications platform, which includes HD audio codecs, comes just in time to support the new wave of media phones hitting the consumer and enterprise markets.
Persona is ready for OEMs to build IP phones and multimedia devices with low power consumption, tight security, and Gigabit Ethernet capability for the enterprise. The family includes two chips (BCM11107 and BCM11109) to support Gigabit applications and another one for what the company terms "value-line" and low-end enterprise SMB, and SOHO apps.
Each Persona device includes either a Gigabit or Fast Ethernet switch with packet filtering capabilities to support high-speed networks, the aforementioned super-wideband capable audio codecs, and applications and DSP processors to support Broadcom's PhonexChange IP phone software suite.
According to Broadcom, the Persona platform needs 30 percent less power than competing solutions and also is more green because it uses packaging material free of lead and "certain other toxins."
For more:
- Broadcom press release.
Related articles
Back in October, Broadcom announced a high-density VoIP DSP - FierceVoIP
AudioCodes HD VoIP code arrives on MIPS cores - FierceVoIP
Yesterday, I was on the phone with Rich Buchanan, ooma's CMO. It started off as a simple conversation about how the company added on support for Google Voice in relatively short order and ended up into a deep dive conversation which should have everyone in consumer VoIP, home phones, and landlines rethinking their business models.
Buchanan called in from a Best Buy event in LA; ooma was being feted for being one of Best Buy's hot products since showing up on retail shelves in time for the Christmas season. Ooma has sold "north" of 20,000 units to date, but the recent surge in demand has gone crazy. "I can't make product fast enough to satisfy demand," he said.
The simple--yet game changing--business concept for ooma is that you end up paying for your phone calls up front with the CPE. You pay $250 for the initial customer gear and get "free phone calls forever" in the United States, but what does that mean, exactly?
I'm skeptical of free, but Rich walked me through the numbers. Cost to terminate a VoIP phone call from ooma to the PSTN ranges from 0.2 to 0.5 cents per minute, so worst-case, you're paying a half-penny per minute with a national carrier. Average minutes for ooma usage are around 300 to 350 minutes per month--remember, landline minutes are going down with the ascendance of mobile usage, so worst case you're paying $1.75 per month for phone calls to the continental U.S. Or, $21 a year.
(Yes, we're ignoring some cost overhead in the core, but I'll get to that shortly).
Assuming a five year plan for the hardware, that runs out to $105 on the typical lifetime of the device with the worst-case cost termination scenarios. So there's $145 for the CPE (Ok, less what you pay Best Buy for stocking and selling), but this is no ordinary CPE. The current ooma device has a 450 Mhz ARM processor onboard running Linux, a derivative version of Asterisk and a routing algorithm to pick the least-cost route for the phone call, be it another ooma (free), a regional carrier, or the best national carrier rate of the day. Route processing is happening at the device--not the core--so there's no need for big iron and expensive solutions.
And the back-of-the-envelope calculation above doesn't take into account 1) The cost of VoIP termination is likely to nudge downward from half a cent a minute on the high end and 2) You can stick the money in the bank in nice comfy CDs and earn interest on it.
Bottom line: ooma is at break-even and/or making money on each unit it sells. Add on about $13 a month for the premium features--software downloads and some core processing. Buchanan says he has been surprised at the 25 percent take rate for premium. And they're making money off of international long distance--since it is already IP, ooma can charge Skype-like rates and still come out ahead.
But that's not enough my friends, no, no, no: Ooma is doing hardware refreshes every 2 to 2.5 years, so when current ooma users upgrade to new hardware with the latest features, the "clock" gets reset and that money on the old ‘ware goes into the bottom line.
What does this all mean? Buchanan says that between marketing and network overhead, Vonage is $400 in the hole per customer over two years, so they don't start making money unless the customer sticks around at least that long. With customer churn at around 3 percent per month, Vonage is running a losing battle even if it does manage to reduce the marketing expense of around $230-250 per customer because it still has all that overhead for routing and core infrastructure.
Ooma's business model also provides interesting insight into the Verizon Hub and other VoIP carriers (i.e. the cable companies). If it costs as little as $1.75 per month for up to 350 minutes per month of voice, it is a short step for carriers large and small to invert the traditional voice model and simply bundle in service as the cost of buying the equipment, pocketing any leftovers when people upgrade. - Doug
CosmoCom has announced Version 6 of CosmoCall Universe (CCU). The new release includes a whole bunch of enhancements and additions, plus optional capabilities available through new licenses.
Enhancements include new user types above and beyond the traditional Agent license designed for dedicated call center seats. A low-cost ReadyRep license is designed for "expert" users who have responsibilities that are traditionally outside the contact center, but who add great value to the customer service process. A Business User license provides a basic extension without automatic routing attached.
Contact center mobility gets a boost with new smartphone technology, CosmoGo, to support mobile workers. Real time reporting and analytics additions include a customizable Dashboard interface with tabs and interactive, customizable gadgets and an optional online analytical processing (OLAP) database with standard and customizable reports.
Virtual outbound calling is now available, enabling agents to be anywhere while assigning unlimited resources to any dialing campaign. Multiple lists in different formats can be combined into a single campaign under the Linked campaigns feature.
A new multimedia recording component, including screen recording for capturing an entire user's desktop during contact sessions of all channels, including phone, email, and chat, provides a complete record of what is said and done during a call. Recordings are captured in WVM format.
To top it all off, CosmoCom has rolled out a dedicated hardware product, the CosmoPhone - an IP phone set dedicated to its software.
For more:
- CosmoCom announces v6 Universe. Release.
Related articles
Clearing the UC Fog - FierceVoIP
FEATURE: CosmoCom Moves On Mobility, UC - FierceVoIP
VoIP provider ooma has just announced a series of premier Google Voice Extensions (GVE). The company says the new enhancements will simplify the Google Voice user experience; we're more interested in how those features were added.
Google Voice features ooma is adding/supporting within its Premier (i.e. you gotta pay for it) package include: caller ID integration, allowing ooma users to display their Google Voice caller ID on outbound calls from ooma hardware without having to dial additional call prompts; forwarding inbound calls made to an ooma phone directly to a Google Voice number for routing; explicit forwarding of Google Voice calls to a specific handset in a home; an announcement of who in the household the call is for based upon which Google Voice account originated the call; and one-touch voice mail from ooma handsets (no need to dial a Google Voice number and password). The forthcoming second-generation ooma Telo handsets will also display Google Voice SMS text messages.
Perhaps more interesting is the relative rapidity that ooma cranked out its announcement of Google Voice support. If ooma just cranked out the features within the past week based upon the unveiling of Google Voice, that's a pretty quick turn around. If it has been working on and testing features for a while, that would imply a more interesting relationship between ooma and the GV guys.
Ooma's business model is pretty straightforward. You buy the hardware for a one-time fee (currently $249.99 for the baseline hardware bundle) and connect it to a broadband connection, along with your own existing RJ-11 phone. You get your own PSTN phone number with calls between oomas and all U.S. domestic calls free. Adding on the ooma Premier package for advanced IP phone features costs $12.99 per month or $99.99 per year and adds such things as call screening, multi-ring, second-line calling, personalized phone numbers and inbound "blacklists."
Ooma hardware can be purchased at more than 1,000 Best Buy stores and other retail locations including Datavision, Fry's Electronics, Micro Center and J&R, plus tons of online places.
Related articles
Google Voice - The return of GrandCentral
Ooma's price cut, Best Buy deal spurring sales - FierceVoIP
SPOTLIGHT: Ooma not nearly as big as Oprah - FierceTelecom
All voice calls on the new Zer01 Mobile service will be VoIP, delivered over AT&T's wireless data network into the company's own IP backbone. Zer01 says they will offer service at $69.95 per month without a contract.
All calls on Zer01 phones will go through a proprietary VoIP application that currently runs on Windows Mobile 6 phones. In the future, the app will be ported to Android, Blackberry, Symbian, Java, and even jail-break iPhones. The VoIP application has several new technologies, says the company, including a software-tie in to enable dialing from the phone's keypad without launching a separate VoIP app, and some QoS optimization to enable VoIP to effectively run over EDGE and GPRS data networks.
Zer01 also uses interconnect agreements to move data to and from AT&T's network onto their own IP backbone, so each device on the Zer01 network gets a fixed IP address and opens up a VPN tunnel to the company's servers. By using interconnect agreements, Zer01 can get around carrier 5 GB/month data caps and offer unlimited data, says the company; bandwidth hogs should note that company systems will do some traffic management so local cellular networks aren't overloaded.
A closed beta of the service will be launched in April, and a commercial launch date should be set at CTIA on April 1.
For more:
- PC Mag. Post.
Related articles
VoIP mobile users to hit 250M by 2012 - FierceVoIP
SLIDESHOW: Mobile VoIP clients (mostly) out of Mobile World ...
Ooma is reaping the benefits of sweeping changes it made to its price structure and distribution model, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Ooma initially priced its free home phone service device, the Ooma box, at $399, but has since dropped the price to $250. The Palo Alto-based company also expanded to stock its device in big box retailers like Best Buy and is now available in more than 1,300 locations.
"Ooma's as close as you can get to recession-friendly," said board member and investor Tim Weingarten, a partner of Worldview Technology Partners. "People are trying to cut down on recurring bills as much as possible in order to increase savings, and one way to do that is reduce your phone bill at home."
Ooma interim CEO Rich Buchanan predicted profitability and around $20 million in sales by the end of 2009. The company is trying to add to that revenue figure with a premium subscription service that adds another phone line and other features to the Ooma hub for $12.99 per month or $99.99 per year.
Analyst Ross Rubin told the Chronicle that despite its ill-conceived initial price tag, Ooma should see growth during the recession as customers are drawn to its cost-savings argument.
For more:
- see The San Francisco Chronicle article here
Related articles
ooma launches Telo home VoIP phone
FEATURE: ooma VoIP box performs
Polycom has rolled out a media phone for the business environment. Unlike the media phone Avaya introduced last week, the VVX 1500 includes a "personal" video conferencing system.
In addition to video conferencing, the device includes a full-featured VoIP phone with HD voice, an XML-based open API for customization and a "microbrowser" for real time delivery of personalized web content and integration with business applications. The phone's software bundle includes Polycom's Productivity suite for enabling users to initiate and control audio conference calls right from the VVX's screen, as well as the ability to record calls locally using a flash drive in the phone's USB port. There's also a bundle to a free web portal for information updates.
At a list price of $1099, the VVX 1500 includes a 7-inch color LCD touch-screen display, the aforementioned USB port, SIP, power over Ethernet (PoE), a two-port Gigabit Ethernet switch, a 2-megapixel video camera, and a bunch of power-saving features to keep consumption under 11 watts when fully active.
Polycom gives a shout-out to BroadSoft for helping to bring the phone to market and "deeply" integrating with the BroadWorks platform. Ultimately, the product is expected to be SIP video-certified by more than 30 "call control" partners, including NEC Sphere, Objectworld and Zultys.
For more:
- Polycom release
Related articles
Avaya announces mobile UC partnership with DiVitas Networks, adds devices
In-stat: 31M biz IP phones by 2012, consumer market "media phones ...
Mobile operators who integrate CounterPath's Network Convergence Gateway (NCG) into their offerings will be able to leverage the Internet as an extension to their network reach, giving their end users access from any Internet-connected location. Enterprise customers can utilize the NCG to access their PBX from the mobile network regardless of whether they are connected via IP or GSM/CDMA networks, enabling their workforce to use their Wi-Fi-enabled mobile phones virtually anywhere in the world without having to pay expensive roaming fees.
Typically, mobile operators only receive a small percentage of the roaming revenue when their customers roam in foreign networks but if the call takes place over Wi-Fi they receive all the revenue. In addition to significantly improving their roaming revenue while reducing costs, mobile operators will also be able to pass on savings to their subscribers, thereby increasing their competitive advantage in the marketplace.
This patent is the latest in CounterPath technology to enable seamless, robust and cost-effective IP-based communications. CounterPath has 26 patents issued or in progress.
Source: PR Web
Via Gmail - Truphone Cheers the VoIP Goodies Apple is Delivering with the iPhone 3.0
Missing from the reportage on all the new iPhone features Apple’s opening up are several critical goodies for the London, UK-based VoIP developer and service provider. To wit, says Karl Good, Truphone’s technical director:
* Apple will be opening up an API to their native AMR NB codec – the software that digitizes and packetizes voice for transmission over wireless data networks. Truphone, whose mobile VoIP application is now primarily aimed at the iPhone and iPod touch, is delighted to embed this codec, saving itself the job of writing an implementation from scratch.
* Truphone has also heard reports (as yet unconfirmed), that Apple will implement its own SIP and RTP stacks i.e. the VoIP signaling and streaming media pieces. “Instead of us having to jump over hurdles to keep our own SIP and RTP stacks in line with any changes to Apple’s OS we can use Apple’s own implementations – stacks that they will manage and keep current for us. This gives us more time to focus on usability and features”, says Karl.
* In response to developer demand, Apple has now announced an API that allows their iTunes store and payment process to be embedded within third-party applications. What this means to games developers, for example, is that should George the Game Player get a sudden hankering for an add-on to his app, for example another level of play or a new avatar, he can quickly purchase them without virtual trips to the game vendor’s site, without leaving his game and (best of all), without fishing out his credit card and risking giving the number to yet another faceless vendor. What this means to Truphone is that Terri the TruPhoner can immediately top up her Truphone off-net calling account, under the same friendly, safe, conditions – in the middle of the mobile VoIP app, and without having to give Truphone her credit card number. True, Apple gets to keep its portion of the revenue share, but it’s a price Truphone’s willing to pay to have a) smoother user experience and b) leverage the users’ credit card registration with Apple’s iTunes store.
* Karl also notes a fascinating byproduct of this embedded purchasing API: exposure to a whole new, younger demographic – the iPod user. While Tanya the iPod toucher may be too young for her own credit card, Mum often registers her card with iTunes for her, to allow her daughter the occasional 99-cent download. For similar money, Tanya can now buy herself many minutes of calling over WiFi to friends on regular PSTN phones.
The rivalry between Cisco and Microsoft has once again intensified, as Microsoft launched its Unified Communications portfolio to take a significant share of the VoIP market pie. Cisco has already admitted that Microsoft’s entry into the VoIP sector has already slowed down its sales cycle with customers are waiting longer to make a comparison between the portfolios of the two companies before proceeding to buy.
As for Microsoft’s Unified Communications initiative, the company promises to treat voice as just another data type that can be routed around an office, much like an email. The new products include Microsoft Office Communications Server2007, Microsoft Office Communicator 2007, Microsoft Office Live Meeting, a service pack update of Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 and a Round Table, Ethernet-connected, 360-degree videoconferencing VoIP phone that will cost $3,000.
Microsoft’s new initiative is to eliminate the traditional PBX systems that run office environments. As for Cisco, its CTO of unified communications has said:
There’s a couple of extra conversation while we work through what does Microsoft actually have, what does Cisco have and what are the various ways they can work together.
Image:Gryphonenetworks
Talkswitch has launched three new VoIP phones. They are TS-480i, TS-9133i and TS-9112i. The common features of all these IP phones are simple installation, flawless integration, rich VoIP functionalities and obviously inexpensive.
Common features:
1.Distinctive ring support
2.Multilingual support
3.Call Pickup
4.Call waiting
5.Call Park/Unpark
6.Message waiting lamp and counter
7.Voicemail access key
8.Auto configuration
TS-480i: The TS-480i is business IP phone. It comes with a large LCD display and 14 programmable soft key features. It can work like the IP extensions in the office. The device may be useful for teleworkers. The price of TS-480i is something around $239.
TS-9133i: It is cheaper than the TS-480i. The price of TS-9133i is around $179.It comes with seven customizable keys and 10 feature keys for easy call handling.
TS-9112i: It is the cheapest IP phone of Talkswitch. The price is just $119. It has 13 features keys and allows plug and play with auto detection of the TalkSwitch system.
Via: Smith on VoIP
Nimbuzz releases
its most comprehensive VoIP application for the iPhone. With free Wifi calls to instant
messaging buddies already available, new additions include the introduction of a dial-pad
and the ability to make VoIP calls to landlines and mobiles via Skype-Out, and Nimbuzz's
major SIP provider partners including Gizmo5, Vyke, and SIPgate over Wifi - effectively
turning the iPod touch into an iPhone. iPhone users without Wifi connection can make
VoIP calls using Nimbuzz Dial-Up VoIP in over 50 countries.
FreedomVOICE announces
that the FreedomIQ Hosted VoIP PBX has been enhanced to support use of the Cisco WIP310
Wireless-G VoIP phone. The WIP310 adds a new dimension to FreedomIQ VoIP solutions.
Whether held over in an airport or doing business in a hotel lobby, mobile professionals
can enjoy all of the advanced features of their FreedomIQ Hosted VoIP PBX from any
location with wireless Internet access.
Voiceserve exhibited
its latest VOIPSWITCH products at CeBIT 2009 in Hanover, Germany. The dynamic range
of Voipswitch modules incorporated in the Voipswitch solution caters for a very broad
range of Softswitch VOIP clientele. Interested potential clientele included WIFI,
ISP and VOIP operators. VOIP hardware manufacturers from Asia, Europe and the USA
exhibiting their wares at the fair showed interest in having the Voipswitch modules
incorporated in their hardware. At the Exhibition, demonstrations were given showing
the latest window mobile and IP-PBX software in addition to the already versatile
standard Voipswitch modules.
TANDBERG is
now shipping its E20 video IP phone, making scalable, DVD-quality video on every desktop
a reality. Designed to replace the standard office phone, the E20 provides a superior
quality video experience combined with CD quality audio to enable face-to-face collaboration
from any desk.
snom's VoIP
phone portfolio has achieved the highest "green" standard in a recent test against
VoIP handset competitors. snom's SIP based phones received top marks for being the
most energy efficient in head-to-head testing against six other VoIP competitors in
a recent lab study conducted by the Research Group for Telecommunication Networks
at the Frankfurt Main University of Applied Sciences in Germany.
Polycom redefines
desktop communications with the introduction of its first business media phone, the Polycom
VVX 1500. The VVX 1500 is the first device of its kind -- a business media phone
that combines a personal video conferencing system with a fully featured VoIP telephone
with Polycom HD Voice and an open application programming interface and microbrowser
for real-time delivery of personalized Web content as well as integration with key
business applications. All of these features are seamlessly integrated with an intuitive
color touch-screen interface to enhance personal productivity, simplify multimedia
communications, improve team collaboration, and reduce travel costs.
FreedomVOICE announces
the addition of the X-Lite 3.0 Softphone from CounterPath to the included features
of their FreedomIQ hosted PBX offering. This lightweight software application allows
users to place and receive calls from any computer with an IP network connection.
Zoom
Technologies is now shipping the X6v,
which combines a feature set that establishes a new benchmark for DSL gateways. The
X6v integrates an ADSL 2/2+ modem, 802.11g/b wireless router with firewall security,
a four-port switch, and a VoIP telephone adapter into a single product. The product
has built-in QoS to assure that voice quality is maintained. The X6v also has user-friendly
QoS menus that enable a user to easily set the bandwidth dedicated to the 4 Ethernet
LAN ports and the wireless LAN channel.
Have you tried lately to figure out which Linux operating system you’d like to use? And, did you think about adding a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) device to that Linux system? We can guess that you probably overwhelmed with the choices available to VoIP users today. In fact, to write a truly definitive guide to VoIP for Linux users, we would need to write a book.
Instead, we combed the online Linux and VoIP Wikis to find the most-used combinations of Linux and VoIP according to the systems and devices that were most talked about on these support and documentation pages. Those choices, listed below along with their Wikis, will provide you with a definitive guide to choices available, and to the choices that provide the most documentation for ease of use.
Although the lists below are numbered and in alphabetical order, this does not mean that any product or resource is more valuable than another.
The following list contains all the Linux resources you might ponder before you make a choice on which open source product that provides a friendly connection with your VoIP applications. Be sure to read through various VoIP applications and tutorials (also listed below) to learn more about how compatible each operating system might be with a particular VoIP application.
The following FAQ pages, Wikis and SWikis apply to all the Linux operating systems listed above. Additionally, a few more broad Linux Wikis are added to help you find as much information as you need about any particular system.
The following applications are available on GNU/Linux:
The following links will take you to the most up-to-date tutorials for Linux and VoIP applications:
The following links carry information and tools that are centered on open source telephony in general:
VoIP use is estimated to grow to 32.6 million users by 2010, an estimate that proves VoIP’s growing popularity. Despite the VoIP growth, there seems to be a real PC bias to the technology and programs that make the most of VoIP - that is, until the past few years. It seems VoIP providers are finally starting to realize the untapped market in ever tech-hungry Mac users. Software and hardware is out there for VoIP on the Mac if you know where to look, and some VoIP has even become unabashedly Mac specific. Unsure where to begin? Here are some tips and advice on getting VoIP for your Mac.
Macs have a reputation for being more secure than Windows online when it comes to outside threats, and that may be true; but that’s no reason to get sloppy about securing your VoIP and taking additional steps to make sure you’re not vulnerable. As VoIP becomes ever more popular, the amount of predators who see it as an easy way to take advantage of unsuspecting users will increase. VoIP can be vulnerable to a number of threats, some allowing your calls to be eavesdropped on and some, like SPIT attacks, that can clog up your VoIP connection much like spam can clog up your inbox..
While there’s no such thing as bulletproof VoIP, there are a few steps you can take to protect yourself. Since VoIP calls travel over an Internet connection, sensitive calls, much like sensitive e-mails should be encrypted. Perhaps the simplest way of encrypting your information - one that requires no advanced technical knowledge - is to use a program called Zfone. Zfone is a free program that encrypts and decrypts your VoIP calls on the fly, ensuring that your confidential information will stay confidential. Mac users will be pleased by the program’s design, which features the sleek and simple silver design found in other Mac applications.
Aside from encryption, you’ll also want to protect your VoIP from SPIT attacks. Though these attacks exist only in theory thus far, the thought of getting flooded with hundreds of calls from telemarketers should drive you to prevent them in advance. Most SPIT can be filtered out through the use of a VoIP firewall like the one offered by Borderware or by using a program like VoIPSEAL. Some VoIP clients like Vonage and Skype have built in systems that can filter out a majority of the SPIT before it ever reaches your phone.
While a VoIP phone isn’t a necessity to make VoIP calls, if you’re Jonesing for another gadget, a VoIP phone can make a nice addition to your collection. A wide variety of VoIP phones exist, but finding one that actually works with a Mac and provides you with high-quality calls can be a challenge. Most phones seem to be tied to a particular provider, so make sure you really love your VoIP client before investing in a phone. There are a lot of pricey phones out there, but here are a few Mac compatible phones that won’t bust your budget.
This is by no means an exhaustive list of all the VoIP software out there for Macs. There are numerous programs and clients that can provide VoIP to your Mac and the number is growing all the time. This is just a selection of a few programs that can help you get started in setting up a great VoIP system on your Mac.
There’s no longer any reason that Mac users should feel left out of the VoIP hoopla. There are many options for VoIP providers and hardware out there that will work great with a Mac and won’t leave PC users with anything to brag about (as if Mac users would ever be jealous!) So if you’re interested in trying out VoIP on your Mac do your research and use these tips as a helpful guide for making your experience painless.
Is VoIP greener than most traditional telephony technologies? While some individuals believe that VoIP is more environmentally friendly than the telecoms, we felt hesitant to agree. VoIP, after all, employs the Internet to operate, and network communications — along with their data centers and other resources — are notoriously energy hungry. According to Gartner Research, increasing energy costs, green technology, and increased environmental regulations pose significant challenges to corporate IT departments.
On the other hand, telephone companies such as Telinet in the UK [PDF], are urging clients to recycle their current equipment and avoid the possible energy crunch involved with switching to VoIP. But, is this message true? According to a Citel white paper, the deployment of an environmentally conscious VoIP network need not cost more, and in fact may cost substantially less, “providing a compelling balance between economics and corporate responsibility.”
Faced with competition to go green and the looming energy crunch, we feel that VoIP needs to step up their incentives and that individuals and businesses need to rethink their responsibilities for lowering impacts on immediate environments. To that end, the following list offers some questions and answers on greener solutions for VoIP and telecom users. It’s the consumer, after all, who drives the telecom and VoIP industries.
Are you a VoIP user? Are you a gadget hound as well? If so, then we’ve got the list for you. The following twenty-five VoIP gadgets for the VoIP fanatic cover the realm of phones, headsets, Web cams and more. But, they’re not your ordinary phones, headsets and Web cams. Oh, no — they’re designed for someone like you, because they’re one-of-a-kind accessories that will heighten all your VoIP experiences.
All but one of the gadgets listed below were introduced during 2007-2008, and a few won’t hit the market until the end of this year. We read all the reviews as well, so you won’t find any questionable products here. And, surprisingly, many products are within an average budget. Since you’re going to save money with a VoIP service anyway, it’s about time to treat yourself. We said so.
Although the list below is numbered and listed in alphabetical order, this does not mean that we value any one product over another.
VoIP provider ooma has just announced a series of premier Google Voice Extensions (GVE). The company says the new enhancements will simplify the Google Voice user experience; we're more interested in how those features were added.
Google Voice features ooma is adding/supporting within its Premier (i.e. you gotta pay for it) package include: caller ID integration, allowing ooma users to display their Google Voice caller ID on outbound calls from ooma hardware without having to dial additional call prompts; forwarding inbound calls made to an ooma phone directly to a Google Voice number for routing; explicit forwarding of Google Voice calls to a specific handset in a home; an announcement of who in the household the call is for based upon which Google Voice account originated the call; and one-touch voice mail from ooma handsets (no need to dial a Google Voice number and password). The forthcoming second-generation ooma Telo handsets will also display Google Voice SMS text messages.
Perhaps more interesting is the relative rapidity that ooma cranked out its announcement of Google Voice support. If ooma just cranked out the features within the past week based upon the unveiling of Google Voice, that's a pretty quick turn around. If it has been working on and testing features for a while, that would imply a more interesting relationship between ooma and the GV guys.
Ooma's business model is pretty straightforward. You buy the hardware for a one-time fee (currently $249.99 for the baseline hardware bundle) and connect it to a broadband connection, along with your own existing RJ-11 phone. You get your own PSTN phone number with calls between oomas and all U.S. domestic calls free. Adding on the ooma Premier package for advanced IP phone features costs $12.99 per month or $99.99 per year and adds such things as call screening, multi-ring, second-line calling, personalized phone numbers and inbound "blacklists."
Ooma hardware can be purchased at more than 1,000 Best Buy stores and other retail locations including Datavision, Fry's Electronics, Micro Center and J&R, plus tons of online places.
Related articles
Google Voice - The return of GrandCentral
Ooma's price cut, Best Buy deal spurring sales - FierceVoIP
SPOTLIGHT: Ooma not nearly as big as Oprah - FierceTelecom
All voice calls on the new Zer01 Mobile service will be VoIP, delivered over AT&T's wireless data network into the company's own IP backbone. Zer01 says they will offer service at $69.95 per month without a contract.
All calls on Zer01 phones will go through a proprietary VoIP application that currently runs on Windows Mobile 6 phones. In the future, the app will be ported to Android, Blackberry, Symbian, Java, and even jail-break iPhones. The VoIP application has several new technologies, says the company, including a software-tie in to enable dialing from the phone's keypad without launching a separate VoIP app, and some QoS optimization to enable VoIP to effectively run over EDGE and GPRS data networks.
Zer01 also uses interconnect agreements to move data to and from AT&T's network onto their own IP backbone, so each device on the Zer01 network gets a fixed IP address and opens up a VPN tunnel to the company's servers. By using interconnect agreements, Zer01 can get around carrier 5 GB/month data caps and offer unlimited data, says the company; bandwidth hogs should note that company systems will do some traffic management so local cellular networks aren't overloaded.
A closed beta of the service will be launched in April, and a commercial launch date should be set at CTIA on April 1.
For more:
- PC Mag. Post.
Related articles
VoIP mobile users to hit 250M by 2012 - FierceVoIP
SLIDESHOW: Mobile VoIP clients (mostly) out of Mobile World ...
Ooma is reaping the benefits of sweeping changes it made to its price structure and distribution model, according to the San Francisco Chronicle. Ooma initially priced its free home phone service device, the Ooma box, at $399, but has since dropped the price to $250. The Palo Alto-based company also expanded to stock its device in big box retailers like Best Buy and is now available in more than 1,300 locations.
"Ooma's as close as you can get to recession-friendly," said board member and investor Tim Weingarten, a partner of Worldview Technology Partners. "People are trying to cut down on recurring bills as much as possible in order to increase savings, and one way to do that is reduce your phone bill at home."
Ooma interim CEO Rich Buchanan predicted profitability and around $20 million in sales by the end of 2009. The company is trying to add to that revenue figure with a premium subscription service that adds another phone line and other features to the Ooma hub for $12.99 per month or $99.99 per year.
Analyst Ross Rubin told the Chronicle that despite its ill-conceived initial price tag, Ooma should see growth during the recession as customers are drawn to its cost-savings argument.
For more:
- see The San Francisco Chronicle article here
Related articles
ooma launches Telo home VoIP phone
FEATURE: ooma VoIP box performs
This morning Broadcom rolled out a new VoIP chip set for use in the next wave of IP phones and media phones. The Persona IP Communications platform, which includes HD audio codecs, comes just in time to support the new wave of media phones hitting the consumer and enterprise markets.
Persona is ready for OEMs to build IP phones and multimedia devices with low power consumption, tight security, and Gigabit Ethernet capability for the enterprise. The family includes two chips (BCM11107 and BCM11109) to support Gigabit applications and another one for what the company terms "value-line" and low-end enterprise SMB, and SOHO apps.
Each Persona device includes either a Gigabit or Fast Ethernet switch with packet filtering capabilities to support high-speed networks, the aforementioned super-wideband capable audio codecs, and applications and DSP processors to support Broadcom's PhonexChange IP phone software suite.
According to Broadcom, the Persona platform needs 30 percent less power than competing solutions and also is more green because it uses packaging material free of lead and "certain other toxins."
For more:
- Broadcom press release.
Related articles
Back in October, Broadcom announced a high-density VoIP DSP - FierceVoIP
AudioCodes HD VoIP code arrives on MIPS cores - FierceVoIP
CosmoCom has announced Version 6 of CosmoCall Universe (CCU). The new release includes a whole bunch of enhancements and additions, plus optional capabilities available through new licenses.
Enhancements include new user types above and beyond the traditional Agent license designed for dedicated call center seats. A low-cost ReadyRep license is designed for "expert" users who have responsibilities that are traditionally outside the contact center, but who add great value to the customer service process. A Business User license provides a basic extension without automatic routing attached.
Contact center mobility gets a boost with new smartphone technology, CosmoGo, to support mobile workers. Real time reporting and analytics additions include a customizable Dashboard interface with tabs and interactive, customizable gadgets and an optional online analytical processing (OLAP) database with standard and customizable reports.
Virtual outbound calling is now available, enabling agents to be anywhere while assigning unlimited resources to any dialing campaign. Multiple lists in different formats can be combined into a single campaign under the Linked campaigns feature.
A new multimedia recording component, including screen recording for capturing an entire user's desktop during contact sessions of all channels, including phone, email, and chat, provides a complete record of what is said and done during a call. Recordings are captured in WVM format.
To top it all off, CosmoCom has rolled out a dedicated hardware product, the CosmoPhone - an IP phone set dedicated to its software.
For more:
- CosmoCom announces v6 Universe. Release.
Related articles
Clearing the UC Fog - FierceVoIP
FEATURE: CosmoCom Moves On Mobility, UC - FierceVoIP
Gruppo Poste Italiane (GPI) is being tricked out with the latest network infrastructure to support VoIP and other apps with the ultimate goal of supporting all of its regional offices and more than 14,000 post offices throughout Italy. Italtel and Infoblox are providing support for the next generation network.
GPI guarantees global postal service and offers integrated communications, logistic and financial products and services throughout Italy. Itatel and Infoblox are providing the network infrastructure GPI needs for its employees to connect to the network, with Itatel holding the role of the systems integrator to install infrastructure for services, including supporting computers and VoIP phones.
Infoblox is happy about the deal because its appliances are providing the management and control of DNS, DHCP and IP address management services through an easy-to-use web interface. The company has a "grid" technology to link a group of distributed member appliances into a unified, centrally managed system; the grid allows for single-point management of the network and provides automated failover for disaster recovery.
For more:
- MSNBC.com carries release.
Related articles
A primer on the SSA's VoIP phone system - FierceVoIP
Social Security's VoIP and UC Future - FierceVoIP
Yesterday, I was on the phone with Rich Buchanan, ooma's CMO. It started off as a simple conversation about how the company added on support for Google Voice in relatively short order and ended up into a deep dive conversation which should have everyone in consumer VoIP, home phones, and landlines rethinking their business models.
Buchanan called in from a Best Buy event in LA; ooma was being feted for being one of Best Buy's hot products since showing up on retail shelves in time for the Christmas season. Ooma has sold "north" of 20,000 units to date, but the recent surge in demand has gone crazy. "I can't make product fast enough to satisfy demand," he said.
The simple--yet game changing--business concept for ooma is that you end up paying for your phone calls up front with the CPE. You pay $250 for the initial customer gear and get "free phone calls forever" in the United States, but what does that mean, exactly?
I'm skeptical of free, but Rich walked me through the numbers. Cost to terminate a VoIP phone call from ooma to the PSTN ranges from 0.2 to 0.5 cents per minute, so worst-case, you're paying a half-penny per minute with a national carrier. Average minutes for ooma usage are around 300 to 350 minutes per month--remember, landline minutes are going down with the ascendance of mobile usage, so worst case you're paying $1.75 per month for phone calls to the continental U.S. Or, $21 a year.
(Yes, we're ignoring some cost overhead in the core, but I'll get to that shortly).
Assuming a five year plan for the hardware, that runs out to $105 on the typical lifetime of the device with the worst-case cost termination scenarios. So there's $145 for the CPE (Ok, less what you pay Best Buy for stocking and selling), but this is no ordinary CPE. The current ooma device has a 450 Mhz ARM processor onboard running Linux, a derivative version of Asterisk and a routing algorithm to pick the least-cost route for the phone call, be it another ooma (free), a regional carrier, or the best national carrier rate of the day. Route processing is happening at the device--not the core--so there's no need for big iron and expensive solutions.
And the back-of-the-envelope calculation above doesn't take into account 1) The cost of VoIP termination is likely to nudge downward from half a cent a minute on the high end and 2) You can stick the money in the bank in nice comfy CDs and earn interest on it.
Bottom line: ooma is at break-even and/or making money on each unit it sells. Add on about $13 a month for the premium features--software downloads and some core processing. Buchanan says he has been surprised at the 25 percent take rate for premium. And they're making money off of international long distance--since it is already IP, ooma can charge Skype-like rates and still come out ahead.
But that's not enough my friends, no, no, no: Ooma is doing hardware refreshes every 2 to 2.5 years, so when current ooma users upgrade to new hardware with the latest features, the "clock" gets reset and that money on the old ‘ware goes into the bottom line.
What does this all mean? Buchanan says that between marketing and network overhead, Vonage is $400 in the hole per customer over two years, so they don't start making money unless the customer sticks around at least that long. With customer churn at around 3 percent per month, Vonage is running a losing battle even if it does manage to reduce the marketing expense of around $230-250 per customer because it still has all that overhead for routing and core infrastructure.
Ooma's business model also provides interesting insight into the Verizon Hub and other VoIP carriers (i.e. the cable companies). If it costs as little as $1.75 per month for up to 350 minutes per month of voice, it is a short step for carriers large and small to invert the traditional voice model and simply bundle in service as the cost of buying the equipment, pocketing any leftovers when people upgrade. - Doug
Polycom has rolled out a media phone for the business environment. Unlike the media phone Avaya introduced last week, the VVX 1500 includes a "personal" video conferencing system.
In addition to video conferencing, the device includes a full-featured VoIP phone with HD voice, an XML-based open API for customization and a "microbrowser" for real time delivery of personalized web content and integration with business applications. The phone's software bundle includes Polycom's Productivity suite for enabling users to initiate and control audio conference calls right from the VVX's screen, as well as the ability to record calls locally using a flash drive in the phone's USB port. There's also a bundle to a free web portal for information updates.
At a list price of $1099, the VVX 1500 includes a 7-inch color LCD touch-screen display, the aforementioned USB port, SIP, power over Ethernet (PoE), a two-port Gigabit Ethernet switch, a 2-megapixel video camera, and a bunch of power-saving features to keep consumption under 11 watts when fully active.
Polycom gives a shout-out to BroadSoft for helping to bring the phone to market and "deeply" integrating with the BroadWorks platform. Ultimately, the product is expected to be SIP video-certified by more than 30 "call control" partners, including NEC Sphere, Objectworld and Zultys.
For more:
- Polycom release
Related articles
Avaya announces mobile UC partnership with DiVitas Networks, adds devices
In-stat: 31M biz IP phones by 2012, consumer market "media phones ...
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