Maybe this will put those baseless rumors of BellSouth buying Vonage to rest. The Atlanta-based bell operating company has teamed up with 8×8 Inc and will use Packet8 as a “private label provider” for its BellSouth Digital Phone service. Andy had alluded to this deal earlier. Expectedly, 8×8 stock is up 21.65% for the day. As part of the deal, BellSouth will market the service to its Fast Access broadband customers. I am not sure, what is the long term status of this service, since BellSouth is working with Lucent Technologies and developing its own VoIP offering, that also proposes to link-up BellSouth-and-Cingular in a more meaningful way.
By the way, BellSouth is going to sell this service for $29.95 a month. You can get the same service, from who else, from 8×8 for $10 cheaper.
8 comments so far
3:37 PM PT
I will take this as support for the baseless rumor I started that QWest will buy Vonage!
3:56 PM PT
no man there was actually a baseless rumor about vonage and bellsouth. :-)
10:43 AM PT
It is worth noting that BellSouth calls this service Digital Phone and not VoIP, along the lines of the cable guys.
11:03 AM PT
makes absolute sense given, that most consumers can’t tell the difference between voip and vodka and something called voit. i think voip is too geeky for mere mortals.
7:09 PM PT
Ok, somebody SMARTER than me figure out WHY BellSouth would try and sell the same service I CANNOT sell since it has NO FAX for $19 per month and they want to charge $29 for the same service?????
Skibare
9:47 AM PT
Om, are you questioning my ability to start baseless rumors?
10:37 AM PT
jesse
i am counting you on starting some plausible rumors. come on don’t let me down.
10:22 PM PT
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