VoIP Watch

TelSym Dies

Glenn Fleishman reports that TelSym, one of the more touted Intel Capital investments in the VoIP space has shuttered their doors while they hope to find some additional investors.

While their publicity was great I think this is one of the first companies of recent vintage who Demo'd at DemoMobile in 2002, I questioned their chance of success from the very start.

While they had a very good concept, their proprietary approach to VoIP when SIP was emerging was not good. Add to that idea that Skype, which is also proprietary was free and you had certain death.

When I met their team at Demo they cast the impression that they were elite and beyond what was happening. In the end that "we're without question better" likely did them in.

You can read more, including how the founders were done in by the investors.

SkypeNext

Stuart writes about a lock in strategy. I have a better one for you. SkypeForward. When Skype starts to offer call redirection, so a Skype call can be forwarded to you mobile phone then the game becomes very, very interesting. Think how it will deflate international long distance. Since I spend about four weeks a year now in France I have added a French Skype in number for my French friends to call me on. When SkypeForward comes into being then I can forward my calls from my USA Skype In number to my French cell phone. Translation, no International charges. The call would route USA PSTN or VoIP to my USA SkypeIn number to my French SkypeIn then Out to the Mobile....and vice versa... Oh the stuff dreams are made of.

Is It Price or Features?

Aswath who has been more silent since VON than before VON has a very interesting post about cost and features.

I'm a features guy. The price issue of why VoIP is better has been wearing thin almost since the beginning on me. I'm happy to see that Aswath has come to A CONCLUSION in this area too in some ways.

That said, I don't think VoIP has reached the plateau, other than with early adopters. In my view there are many potential VoIP customers, they just need more than price to get them to jump.

Cable VoIP in Canada Gaining Traction

Mark Evans of the National Post in Canada has some facts that show the same degree of interest and acceptance about VoIP in the USA is afoot in the land of the Great White North.

It's estimated that Shaw Cable, the number two player in Canada (I think) behind Rogers Cable, is signing up about 1000 subscribers to VoIP per week.

Bell Canada can't be happy.

Business VoIP in Europe

City of London Telecom (COLT) one of the carriers who are making Skype work have announced a Business Grade VoIP service that is geared for Europe.

Skype Adds More Termination

Skype has announced another termination agreement, this time in Norway.

As Skype keeps cutting these kinds of deals, and as they link the various networks together the sound quality of Skype Out has to only improve.

Voice Over WiMax Interest Growing

Voice over WiMax interest and demand will grow, once the standards for WiMax get sorted out according to a report.

The big reason for this is the fact that WiMax enables the ability to put next generation services where they aren't now. Developing countries, outlying regions here in the USA where interest for Internet exists, but the build out just isn't there yet, all point to where WiMax will enable a further elimination of the digital divide.

California PUC Gives Up VoIP Power

Last night the California Public Utilities Commission gave up its attempts to regulate VoIP in the state, formally saying that the FCC is in charge. While consumer watchdog groups think this will be the end of regulation as they know it of phone service, what this really means is the first step towards a national approach to telecommunications. That means standards, consistency and uniformity. While the watchdog groups are valuable, their understanding of how technology can benefit and is often applied is based more on society of today, a desire to protect those on fixed incomes and many times simply oriented to restrict change except in areas of price. The PUC in stepping away basically said they have better things to do and they should not get in the way of VoIP here in CA.

SkypeIn Now Out For Real

The folks at Skype have officially announced Skype In and Skype VoiceMail. i have both. They work fine. Skype continues to offer phone like services for fractions of the cost of regular phone service. For college students who talk mostly to each other and pals from high school this is far better than Vonage's College oriented idea of selling TA's to students on campus.

Packet8 Drops Videophone Prices

Packet 8 has sent me another video phone to evaluate. Today they dropped the price on them.