TMCnet LOGIN
SUBSCRIPTIONS
WEBINARS
SIP and Open Standards Featured Article
January 11, 2008
SIP, Mashups, Hosted To Propel VoIP in 2008
By Rich Tehrani, CEO, Technology Marketing Corporation
SimpleSignal (News - Alert) is a provider of next generation hosted IP
telephony. The company’s technology is designed to simplify business unified communication. SimpleSignal now integrates with Salesforce.com allowing users make calls directly from the application so they never need to leave their Salesforce screen.
telephony. The company’s technology is designed to simplify business unified communication. SimpleSignal now integrates with Salesforce.com allowing users make calls directly from the application so they never need to leave their Salesforce screen.
Dave Gilbert is Founder and CEO of SimpleSignal. Gilbert took some time to respond to a series of questions I posed regarding the future of the IP communications industry and what his company will be showing at the upcoming ITEXPO (News - Alert) in Miami Beach.
RT: What has been your company’s biggest achievement in 2007?
DG: We are now in 42 states and intend to have service available in all 50 states by year end 2008.
RT: What can we expect to see from your company in 2008?
DG: We’ve invested heavily in supporting our channel partners. The fast growth we’ve experienced in 2007 is due almost completely to our loyal partners. This year we are launching our Presidents Club to honor our highest performing partners. As a result you will see a rapid expansion of our service.
RT: How do you see the communications market evolving?
DG: We’ve built our company with this year in mind. 2008 will be the year where more VoIP phones will be installed rather than traditional telephones.
phones will be installed rather than traditional telephones.RT: How have presence, SIP and video changed your business?
and video changed your business?DG: SIP is our business. SIP has allowed us to deliver voice service that is as different from traditional telephony as color verses black and white. SIP is as disruptive as a leaf blower in a feather factory. It’s changing Telco.
RT: How do you think the future of the market looks?
DG: It’s on fire. In 2007 more VoIP lines were deployed than traditional lines. Telco is changing rapidly and we are pleased to be part of this exploding industry. The features of Hosted are creating an exciting new subset of applications and mash-ups that will allow us to deliver dramatic leaps in productivity and profitability to business.
RT: Do you see the large service providers like Verizon, AT&T (News - Alert) and cable companies as allies or enemies?
DG: Allies. They are educating the consumer about the need and we are benefiting. The big boys can’t move as quickly and be as flexible with creating a specific solution for a SMB. This leaves a huge niche for us to exploit.
RT: Is open source software changing your corporate strategy?
DG: Not really although we are deploying a good number of SIP trunks to asterisk users.
RT: How about hosted solutions?
DG: That is what we primarily do. We believe the future is in hosted solutions.
RT: What do you think the communications market might look like in five years?
DG: 90% of voice services will be delivered over IP. Business, Unified Communications (News - Alert) will be a “mash-up” of other applications that will create incredibly affordable and innovative solutions. (i.e., salesforce.com+simplesignal+a hosted accounting program = a great start up solution for a new business).
RT: What will attendees see in your booth at ITEXPO this month?
DG: Our team is very excited about the opportunity to introduce attendees to our new business apps. We have a telephony connector that works with Salesforce.com We are also looking forward to introducing ourselves to new agents. Our partners program is full of new incentives, a new Presidents Club trip to Cabo in November, Monthly webinars ,trainings and custom branded collateral materials that will help our partners succeed in the field.
RT: What sorts of companies should come to your exhibit?
DG: We are really focusing on the agent channel but any company or individual seeking the latest in hosted telephony business solutions should come by and visit with us.
RT: Why should customers choose your company’s solutions?
DG: Three words: Reliable, Trusted and Flexible.
RT: Please make one surprising prediction for 2008.
DG: This will be the biggest year ever for VoIP service providers. The Chasm has been crossed and now it’s time to scale!
Rich Tehrani is President and Group Editor in Chief at TMC (News - Alert). In addition he is the Chairman of the world’s best attended IP Communications event, Internet Telephony Conference & EXPO.
Mark your calendars! Internet Telephony Conference & EXPO — the first major IP communications event of the year — is just days away. It’s not too late to register for the event, which takes place in Miami Beach, FL, January 23–25, 2008. The EXPO will feature three valuable days of exhibits, conferences and networking that you won’t want to miss. So what are you waiting for? Sign up now!
