VoIP Watch

Aswath Has A Dream

Aswath does a parody of the famous "I have a dream" speech by Dr. Martin Luther King. It is brilliant, witty and well done, in a tasteful manner.

Blogging Changing Media

While not VoIP related, Today's New York Times has a story on how blogging is impacting the world of gossip in the media. In the past, when sources mattered, scoops were the key and reporters valued relationships and sought to build new ones, as one never knew where that would lead.

Today, reporters and editors seem to have lost the art of personal relationships for the most part, or are a lot more standoff like than in the days gone bye. Part of that falls on those in the PR trade as we've all relied too much on technology the last ten years or so and forgotten the art of the story, the relationship and the scoop. News also has become more instantaneous, making gossip seem more real, and the need for spin control more necessary.

As someone on all sides of the news, and who loves the right use of a rumor, this story is one more nail in the coffin of traditional media.

For SBC Chief, AT&T Deal Is Essential in New Telecom Era

For SBC Chief, AT&T Deal Is Essential in New Telecom Era is a Q&A in today's Los Angeles Times.

I think the swipe at Vonage and other so called instant phone companies who can buy network access below cost and then resell and the comment about customers in Hong Kong really points to how important AT&T's CallVantage and VoIP overall was to this deal.

Clearly SBC is also gearing up for a name change. AT&T is clearly the logical choice because it has to have the higher recall in brand identity vs. SBC. I say it's time to invest in automobile and truck paint. Here's why.

My guess is the senior marketing folks (remember, Dorman is a marketer first) will evaluate at shareholder expense the options:

1. Stay SBC--this would be the second weakest way to go as the cost to build brand nationwide, but more importantly on a global basis (and we are in the era of the global telco brand) would be even more expensive. Don't forget AT&T just did a deal to sponsor some aspects of Formula One Grand Prix racing while they could easily transfer it to SBC, the ability to tell the story gets harder and more expensive.

2. Come up with a totally new name...NOT. This would be even more expensive and erode the equity in both brands. I mean, if they did come up with a new name, I think it would be ABC for American Bell Corporation, (oh, yes, some mouse house has that name in their portfolio--and I don't think they would be very sporting about giving it up) but while that makes some things cute, I don't think the expense of rebranding is worth the years it will take to build market acceptance.

3. Go with AT&T. It will cost less. It will score higher on the recall tests and it is at the front of all directory listings. What's more globally it still is the most known USA phone company.  The one thing I know is all the truck painting companies must be salivating right now. It's only been a few years here in California when the trucks went from Pacific Bell to SBC in look.

Bottom line. I just saved shareholder millions of dollars, as that's what would be spent on studies, research, analysis, focus groups and more, all before the first dime is dropped on new advertising and promotion.

SAM - Skype® Answering Machine --

SAM - Skype® Answering Machine --Insecure ?

I called a colleague using skype, not knowing he was in another skype session. His Skype Answering Machine picked up and I left a message.

First the parties on the call with him heard me. Secondly, I heard them. Both calls were clear as a bell to the others.

Many months back Om Malik wrote about the security holes in Skype. This just validated what I already knew.

The bottom line is while this piece of software is not Skype's own, how the program was able to clearly hear an and ease-drop on "encrypted" transmission is beyond my technical abilities, but it happened and the person on the other end told me too.  But this begs the question of should you be using Skype for sensitive calls.

Jeff's Opinion In The WSJ

WSJ.com - Write to The Wall Street Journal has a letter from the guru of VoIP, Jeff Pulver. It's a great read and makes many salient points.

Give it a read.

Dell Needs to Change Their Commercial

Given the Tsunami in the Indian ocean last week, and the number of calls that go to Indian call centers, the number of Indian sub continent ex pats in the USA, the current Dell commercial that is all about their support needs to change. It mentions Tsunami. While I understand the reason they used the word in the script when it was produced, common decency says, pull the spot, edit the spot, but for gosh sakes, don't run the spot.

 

 

Thunderbirds Are Go!

I don't mean to be nostalgic, and off topic today, but one of my favorite early morning television shows as a kid was "Thunderbirds." Those puppets that had a show over in the UK that somehow found there way onto USA television in Phildelphia.

Well after many years of someone wanting to do a movie, it finally is out. If it's any good, it will be a real summertime hit. It breaks first in the UK on July 23 and is getting a huge push on Virgin Radio and in the Sun, and then hits the USA on July 30. If you have a child, this could be a great father and son movie.

Call It A Cavity for Bluetooth

I don't quite think the new Bluetooth problem is a virus yet. Call it a cavity.

To stop the spread, just turn off Bluetooth.