Comments on: Yep, Skype is still taking business away from the telcos

By: Ralph

Ralph — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 23:53:50 +0000

As long as VoIP services close themselves off from each other, traditional telco’s aren’t in any real danger. Skype to Skype doesn’t make them any real money. They make it from gateway services into the PSTN just like any other VoIP provider. They just do it in bulk because they have more users.

If VoIP providers don’t cooperate or get more creative with how they make money, they’re going to be selling minutes to the PSTN forever.

By: Ken Westmoreland

Ken Westmoreland — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 09:41:08 +0000

Telcos may not get it, but they have to pay to be licensed. Skype is parasitic, and as it uses its own protocol instead of one like SIP it’s closed off to rival VoIP services. Skype is as self-serving and as monopolistic as any telco.

By: Jeffrey James

Jeffrey James — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 04:56:58 +0000

My wife and I used Skype all the time when we were long distance. Go Skype!

By: Aidian Holder

Aidian Holder — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 04:00:39 +0000

Sure, except that the LAST thing I want from a network provider is any of that stuff. Whether it’s fiber or copper, I want a big, fat, dumb pipe. I’ll handle everything else myself, thanks.

By: Keao Caindec

Keao Caindec — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 16:32:20 +0000

When will telcos get it?

The world is changing, and the network isn’t enough to sell by itself. They should begin competing with Skype directly by creating their own IP voice service, cannibalizing their own land line services. Just move it all to the cloud: data, voice, mobile. Focus on new services on top and using a Skype-like service to enhance brand loyalty.

The network is a commodity made valuable by the services and applications you put over it. I think it there is still a ton of margin potential in selling services over the network, just not network services and voice services alone.