ShoreTel, one of the better and more forward thinking IP-PBX brands has become the first big brand to announce a relationship with Skype, and I don't think this will be the last as Skype's pursuit of the business market revs up:
So here are some wild guesses
1) First I expect a small box manufacturer to come out with a combination WiFi, Router, VoIP/Skype solution that has all the things small business needs for the under 10 person set. This is too logical and too needed. In many ways, with Skype it will remind old timers of the AT&T Merlin, perhaps the most simple to configure office PBX ever marketed by AT&T.
2) Second-Silver Lake Partners which just bought Skype is also a big player in Avaya so I expect Avaya to be the SME player in the mix. Avaya already embraces SIP and has a very strong understanding of softphones. Case in point, it was Avaya and Cisco which were the first to have their capability put on Nokia E series devices so the phone could be used as an extension of the PBX. To me, given the all in the family status I would expect Avaya to be one of the next ones out the door.
3) Third-Cisco. It's way too logical. Cisco's ex VP Mike Volpi is part of the Index Ventures group that was in on the buying of Skype from eBay and has very strong relationships at his old company where he was once rumored to being groomed for the top job when John Chambers retires. No one knows the intersections of IP communications and impact on network growth better than he from outside Cisco, and Skype means more packets, especially video so for Cisco to embrace Skype in my mind is a no brainer. What's more I would not be surprised to find out that Skype and Cisco develop telepresence light using Skype Video one day.
4) PolyCom-this will take a while as Polycom has a large case of Not Invented Here syndrome, but as Avaya cuts into market share, I would figure that you'll see them come around.
5) SNOM-the German handset manufacturer makes SIP endpoints. Embedding SILK in the device will open up a realm of possibilities. Their distribution is global and they make very good handsets that are eye catching and appealing, which is perfect for the early adoptive small office user of Skype who grows up and moves into the business world.
One key point to also remember, as these manufacturers embrace SKype's SIP model, they also embrace SILK.
GigaOm's Colin Gibbs has perspective on why Shore-Tel made the move.
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