Good News for Hosted VoIP

With Aretta Communications, one of Comunicano's clients being picked up cBeyond this week, this survey points to one of the key reasons for the acquisition. Hosted VoIP is on the rise. It also was my agency's 21st client exit in the last eight (8) years.

Aretta has a deep understanding of UC and Asterisk, working all kinds of back-end tricks to let their customers do a lot more than many other hosted VoIP providers that have been around for longer periods of time. Hosted VoIP reduces the need for on premise equipment, maintenance and upgrades. In essence hosted VoIP is this eras Centrex, but with many more options in the way of service providers, pricing and features.

The survey points to the economy and fierce competition as reasons for growth. My view is somewhat more practical. It's just plain easier to outsource telephony and next generations communications. Companies like Junction Networks, M5, Simple Signal are others in the space with rock solid platforms and a very good idea of what's coming next. My view is HD audio, something that works already with Junction Network's OnSip is going to be one of the key differentiators that separate the old from the new, along with video calling.

Comments

[Andy Abramson]

Peter,

Just as Skype and Vonage have flattened the price of calling to almost nothing in many countries, the Skype effect of video in 5.0 overall will likely change the perception of video. Give it three years and more and more of the calls being made will be HD on mobile and video from the desktop. Video will be "present" but may not be used all the time, but for more and more meetings, it will become standard, especially in collaboration of remote work teams.

[twitter.com/radinfo]

It's no secret that I think HD Voice and Video Calling are at best niche plays for at least 3 more years. HD Voice breaks when it hits the PSTN - and not nearly enough VoIP Providers peer. I am in the Industry pushing video, but I have only had maybe 4 requests for video. Sure some of you immersed in the business like video, but it's not something the average Joe wants; will pay for monthly; or can use reliably and easily YET. Just my opinion.