Comments on: Should VoIP Start Ups Start To Worry? http://gigaom.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/ Tracking the Internet Evolution Mon, 07 Jul 2008 01:49:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=MU By: Gurvijay http://gigaom.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28198 Gurvijay Sat, 29 Oct 2005 21:06:06 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28198 I think, Voip is not going to be successful till QOS is implemented everywhere, when voice traffic is going to be priortised. http://www.talkonip.com.au/ We have been trying so hard to sell to small businesses but we have been .. sigh.. I think, Voip is not going to be successful till QOS is implemented everywhere, when voice traffic is going to be priortised.

http://www.talkonip.com.au/

We have been trying so hard to sell to small businesses but we have been .. sigh..

]]> By: Mull http://gigaom.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28197 Mull Fri, 28 Oct 2005 19:39:18 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28197 VoIP is just another service, it will be free or close to free sooner or later. Vonage doesn't even have a billing system that would let it offer pricing to fit for different customers. The pure-plays won't be around for long, as the cable and the big boys will squeeze them out. Cable companies will offer the free voice just to make sure their video and data customers don't leave ship. They key for the industry is working out the billing systems (online) for the additional services that will soon be coming that customers are actually willing to pay additional for. VoIP is just another service, it will be free or close to free sooner or later. Vonage doesn’t even have a billing system that would let it offer pricing to fit for different customers. The pure-plays won’t be around for long, as the cable and the big boys will squeeze them out. Cable companies will offer the free voice just to make sure their video and data customers don’t leave ship. They key for the industry is working out the billing systems (online) for the additional services that will soon be coming that customers are actually willing to pay additional for.

]]> By: Rohan Jayasekera http://gigaom.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28196 Rohan Jayasekera Fri, 28 Oct 2005 05:18:47 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28196 Because any VoIP user can call (or get calls from) any phone anywhere, there isn't a big incentive for users to cluster onto the same carrier, nor is there a critical-mass requirement for carriers. So there are lots of VoIP carriers, making phone service (VoIP or not) pretty much a commodity business -- and the advantage in a commodity business goes to the established big players. The one problem the incumbent telcos have is that they're extremely reluctant to cannibalize their existing non-VoIP business. Some of them will end up losing lots of subscribers, especially to the (also incumbent) cablecos. (It's happened before. My telco "forgot" to tell me about its new competitively-priced long-distance plan, hoping I'd just stay on its expensive one forever. It lost my business to a long-distance carrier.) Because any VoIP user can call (or get calls from) any phone anywhere, there isn’t a big incentive for users to cluster onto the same carrier, nor is there a critical-mass requirement for carriers. So there are lots of VoIP carriers, making phone service (VoIP or not) pretty much a commodity business — and the advantage in a commodity business goes to the established big players.

The one problem the incumbent telcos have is that they’re extremely reluctant to cannibalize their existing non-VoIP business. Some of them will end up losing lots of subscribers, especially to the (also incumbent) cablecos. (It’s happened before. My telco “forgot” to tell me about its new competitively-priced long-distance plan, hoping I’d just stay on its expensive one forever. It lost my business to a long-distance carrier.)

]]> By: Paul Jardine http://gigaom.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28195 Paul Jardine Thu, 27 Oct 2005 07:10:20 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28195 VoIP is a service and it will likely be free in the not too distant future, connectivity and presence is what you will still pay for and the incumbents SHOULD have that sewn up (if they're not too busy pissing away money on IMS infrastructure and content portfolios!) VoIP is a service and it will likely be free in the not too distant future, connectivity and presence is what you will still pay for and the incumbents SHOULD have that sewn up (if they’re not too busy pissing away money on IMS infrastructure and content portfolios!)

]]> By: Vinnie Mirchandani http://gigaom.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28194 Vinnie Mirchandani Thu, 27 Oct 2005 03:30:45 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28194 i re-read some of the comments above...agree US long distance rates have been beaten down...but try a number of international destinations makes sense to use VoIP...ever tried calling from one foreign country to another using a US plan cell phone? cheaper to fly to the destination...so if these rates get rationalized VoIP is much less attractive i re-read some of the comments above…agree US long distance rates have been beaten down…but try a number of international destinations makes sense to use VoIP…ever tried calling from one foreign country to another using a US plan cell phone? cheaper to fly to the destination…so if these rates get rationalized VoIP is much less attractive

]]> By: Kimo Crossman http://gigaom.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28193 Kimo Crossman Thu, 27 Oct 2005 03:13:56 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28193 There are some excellent points here, but realistically it's hard to imagine a scenario where SBC would actually admit that they were doomed publically. There are some excellent points here, but realistically it’s hard to imagine a scenario where SBC would actually admit that they were doomed publically.

]]> By: Vinnie Mirchandani http://gigaom.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28192 Vinnie Mirchandani Thu, 27 Oct 2005 02:55:01 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28192 agree but I would rather pay for lunch before I board a Jetblue flight than get the "free" lunch on United or American - the TCO is quite a bit less... agree but I would rather pay for lunch before I board a Jetblue flight than get the “free” lunch on United or American - the TCO is quite a bit less…

]]> By: Internet Telephony http://gigaom.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28191 Internet Telephony Thu, 27 Oct 2005 00:23:42 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28191 There is no free lunch. You'll pay it one way or another. Jait There is no free lunch. You’ll pay it one way or another.

Jait

]]> By: Vinnie Mirchandani http://gigaom.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28190 Vinnie Mirchandani Thu, 27 Oct 2005 00:02:53 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28190 I help buyers negotiate technology contracts - msotly software and outsourcing related. I love the tech industry because you have ingenious start ups from the most unexpected places...open source vendors from Scandinavia, offshore vendors from India - which challenge incumbents and force innovation and more rational pricing. I hope the Bells fight the battle through more rational pricing not through blocking tactics. Buyers are fairly loyal, but they are not stupid. I help buyers negotiate technology contracts - msotly software and outsourcing related. I love the tech industry because you have ingenious start ups from the most unexpected places…open source vendors from Scandinavia, offshore vendors from India - which challenge incumbents and force innovation and more rational pricing. I hope the Bells fight the battle through more rational pricing not through blocking tactics. Buyers are fairly loyal, but they are not stupid.

]]> By: Permanent4 http://gigaom.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28189 Permanent4 Wed, 26 Oct 2005 22:27:01 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28189 Didn't Kevin Mitchell used to be a left-fielder for the Giants & Padres? ;) Personally, I'm waiting for the wireless phone companies to start offering phones that can switch between wireless and VoIP over a home WiFi network. I would pay a few bucks extra for that, and it would still save me money, because I wouldn't be paying as much as I am for Vonage. Verizon already does VoIP with VoiceWing. They ought to find a way to combine wireless and VoiceWing service together. What I could really use, though, are a few Bluetooth repeaters around the house, so that I can walk anywhere with my headset in my ear and not miss anything... Didn’t Kevin Mitchell used to be a left-fielder for the Giants & Padres? ;)

Personally, I’m waiting for the wireless phone companies to start offering phones that can switch between wireless and VoIP over a home WiFi network. I would pay a few bucks extra for that, and it would still save me money, because I wouldn’t be paying as much as I am for Vonage. Verizon already does VoIP with VoiceWing. They ought to find a way to combine wireless and VoiceWing service together.

What I could really use, though, are a few Bluetooth repeaters around the house, so that I can walk anywhere with my headset in my ear and not miss anything…

]]> By: Satish Bhardwaj http://gigaom.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28188 Satish Bhardwaj Wed, 26 Oct 2005 22:04:40 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28188 Only to-day Betanews reported that Flaws have been discovered in the Skype VoIP system although skype claims that the flaws have been patched. Nobody can claim that the patches would not have the flaws. Often the flaws have more patches then the original software. It is a shame that people will find justification for a price tag of billions of dollars for a flawed system. The fact is that the VoIP technology is not needed when there are cellphones. As a matter of fact the advent of cellphones should have led to the redevelopment of the internet service method that would have made the Personal Computers including Laptops obsolete. This method is discussed at http://www.newerawisp.blogspot.com/ that would have meant an unflawed system of on-line business files freedom from identity thefts. I get daily emails telling me that my ebay and paypal email numbers have been changed. I don't even have email and ebay accounts. Many people are using my name to do business in my name. But there is nothing I can do about it because Paypal and ebay would not take my complaints without my password. Obviously I do not have a password since I have not opened an account. I get emails at all my email accounts that there is a suspicious activity at my Paypal and ebay accounts and they have been suspended. I get such emails from banks too. Scares the hell out of me. funny there is no account of such activity in my credit reports. Only to-day Betanews reported that Flaws have been discovered in the Skype VoIP system although skype claims that the flaws have been patched. Nobody can claim that the patches would not have the flaws. Often the flaws have more patches then the original software. It is a shame that people will find justification for a price tag of billions of dollars for a flawed system. The fact is that the VoIP technology is not needed when there are cellphones. As a matter of fact the advent of cellphones should have led to the redevelopment of the internet service method that would have made the Personal Computers including Laptops obsolete. This method is discussed at
http://www.newerawisp.blogspot.com/

that would have meant an unflawed system of on-line business files freedom from identity thefts. I get daily emails telling me that my ebay and paypal email numbers have been changed. I don’t even have email and ebay accounts. Many people are using my name to do business in my name. But there is nothing I can do about it because Paypal and ebay would not take my complaints without my password. Obviously I do not have a password since I have not opened an account. I get emails at all my email accounts that there is a suspicious activity at my Paypal and ebay accounts and they have been suspended. I get such emails from banks too. Scares the hell out of me. funny there is no account of such activity in my credit reports.

]]> By: Om Malik http://gigaom.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28187 Om Malik Wed, 26 Oct 2005 20:32:12 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28187 rick, you got it right. i think the likes of sun rocket, or star vox or whomever destined for the garbage bin of telecom related efforts. rick, you got it right. i think the likes of sun rocket, or star vox or whomever destined for the garbage bin of telecom related efforts.

]]> By: Rick http://gigaom.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28186 Rick Wed, 26 Oct 2005 20:28:45 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28186 What startups are we referring to anyway? Vonage, et al can hang it up as far as I'm concerned. I've never even considered saving $10 a month for worse service. Vonage has always been nothing but a phone company wannabe, IMO. What startups are we referring to anyway? Vonage, et al can hang it up as far as I’m concerned. I’ve never even considered saving $10 a month for worse service. Vonage has always been nothing but a phone company wannabe, IMO.

]]> By: Rick http://gigaom.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28185 Rick Wed, 26 Oct 2005 20:24:29 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28185 When voip goes wireless, we enter a whole new ball game. And I think it will be like cellular on steroids. That's when we start knocking balls out of the ballpark. When voip goes wireless, we enter a whole new ball game. And I think it will be like cellular on steroids. That’s when we start knocking balls out of the ballpark.

]]> By: Om Malik http://gigaom.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28184 Om Malik Wed, 26 Oct 2005 19:41:45 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28184 People, i think the best thing to do is go and re-read what aswath is saying about the current value proposition of the voip services. I could not agree more with him. I have used a ton of these VoIP services, and none come close to replacing the convenience of my cell phone. at $80 for nearly unlimited calling, anywhere and anytime, i am not sure I need anything else. People, i think the best thing to do is go and re-read what aswath is saying about the current value proposition of the voip services. I could not agree more with him. I have used a ton of these VoIP services, and none come close to replacing the convenience of my cell phone. at $80 for nearly unlimited calling, anywhere and anytime, i am not sure I need anything else.

]]> By: Gerald http://gigaom.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28183 Gerald Wed, 26 Oct 2005 19:13:20 +0000 http://gigaom.wordpress.com/2005/10/26/should-voip-start-ups-start-to-worry/#comment-28183 While it is always prudent to observe what any 800 pound gorilla will be grabbing for, we should remember centrex the PBX killer, boy, that was great to sell against. Remember little teensy things like product/service packaging and good customer service will always win with people who have a bad taste from all the excellence their telco has delivered in the past. While it is always prudent to observe what any 800 pound gorilla will be grabbing for, we should remember centrex the PBX killer, boy, that was great to sell against. Remember little teensy things like product/service packaging and good customer service will always win with people who have a bad taste from all the excellence their telco has delivered in the past.

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