Is Broadsoft Just Hyping Things? He's Not Really Wrong

Alec asks an interesting question about Broadsoft and like before when their PR department played something wrong in the blogosphere they've done it again by creating more questions than providing answers.

All they needed to do was reveal who some of their top developers are. I can easily guess and I'll win the bet of a case of 1982 Lafite if anyone wants to take me on. But child's play bets aren't my game, and Alec, who has been on top of his game for quite a while makes some valid points in his post.

For a program to really be meaningful you need to have customers, not simply developers. It's one of the reasons why the Apple WWDC that comes up in June in San Francisco, or Java One or likely Google I/O will all have throngs of developers filling up the hotel rooms quickly. Why? Because the customers are there.

Comments

[josephfarrar]

I'm actually one of the developer's with the Broadsoft Xtended program. Additionally, you can check out some of the providers who currently have implemented this new program into their environment.

The front page scrolls providers/carriers who are already enabled. Additionally, you can check out the application I've developed http://marketplace.broadsoft.com/project/click2message.

Will this program take off? I think so. I had been saying for awhile that it would be great if they started up a developer's program.

I really don't think it's a question of if there are customers... I think it should be:

How are we (as developers) going to jump on board and integrate into existing apps, create new apps, and further the VoIP web 2.0 apps.

Traditional VoIP is great, but leveraging it to build creative and monetizable (if that's a word) applications is going to be a huge market (already is).

It's long been a niche to be able to work with Broadsoft. No longer is that the case and I think you will start seeing some great things come out of this.

Just my opinion as someone who is in the mix of developing against Broadsoft.

[Andy Abramson]

Francis,

We all know what Broadsoft has under the hood, which is exactly why we hold you to the higher standard. You guys have more. Do more, create more, supply more, etc.

Which is why we simply expect more. Tell us who is deploying, how much uptake, then you have very welcome and willing messengers.

[Andy Abramson]

Frances,

We all know what Broadsoft has under the hood, which is exactly why we hold you to the higher standard. You guys have more. Do more, create more, supply more, etc.

Which is why we simply expect more. Tell us who is deploying, how much uptake, then you have very welcome and willing messengers.

[Francis]

I'm surprised to see this posting from Andy. Numerous companies have developers programs that are ultimately meaningless because the new apps either don't make money or are simply cool but not useful.

BroadSoft -- as Andy & Alec both know -- has customers. That's the big difference between our Web 2.0 approach and some other telecom-related developers programs. Our customers include 7 of the world's 10 largest telecom service providers, along with cable, incumbent and competitive carriers in 56 countries.

We are not Google, and aren't trying to be Google. But we are the leading VoIP application platform with the largest installed base of customers and end-users.

Anyone who is a developer -- web or telco -- can join the Xtended Developers program. Why guess at who is developing apps... it's all open to the world on the marketplace.broadsoft.com site and the new developers program site.

Developers join for free & get their apps in front of our customers and their end-users through the Xtended Marketplace.

Lots of developers at Web 2.0 Expo last week got the point: add best-in-class voice features to other apps & have them promoted to companies and millions of end-users that are willing to pay for the mashups. Alec & Andy should get it, too.