SUBSCRIBE TO TMCnet
TMCnet - World's Largest Communications and Technology Community

CHANNEL BY TOPICS


QUICK LINKS




TMCnet's VoIP Week in Review

SIP Trunking Featured Article

January 17, 2009


TMCnet's VoIP Week in Review


By Erik Linask
Group Editorial Director

Tweet

It certainly was an exciting week in the VoIP industry, with vendors and service providers looking to continue the growth many of them experienced in 2008, despite the economy. But it wasn’t all positive this week, with the biggest story from the industry shining a spotlight on the struggles of the biggest telecom equipment vendor in North America — and it is a story that certainly hasn’t seen its final pages written. Here’s just a recap of the some of the most important and most interesting happenings around the VoIP industry this past week.

 
Nortel Networks, which has already been the subject of many a rumor recently, was at the forefront of the news, based on reports it would be filing for bankruptcy as $103 million in interest debts came due. And, as TMC’s Editorial Director, predicts, the vultures were out, predicting the demise of the company. 
 
But, based on a conversation between TMC President Rich Tehrani and President of Nortel’s Enterprise Solutions Division of Joel Hackney (News - Alert), those reports may be overstated. Hackney says the company has $2.4 billion on hand, and remains “very much in business,” and continues to focus on the driving results for its customers. In fact, Hackney says the capital restructuring Nortel is undertaking “This move keeps customers from further risk.”
 
Nortel is not alone is suffering financial woes, and the economy is only partly responsible. The evolution of the communications industry towards a SaaS (News - Alert) model is limiting investment in hardware. But, Nortel, as Galitzine notes, “still has some great technology,” and what happens with that technology — in the hands of Nortel or its competitors — remains to be seen.
 
The cost cutting by customers that has had a clear impact on Nortel and many others, however, has others suggesting that the VoIP industry, as a whole, will benefit. “Are we looking at a general slowdown or acceleration of VoIP acceptance and adaptation? I think the latter,” writes cyLogistics’ president Don Witt. He says the stock market tumble has accelerated the VoIP growth curve by as much as a year, or even more, and predicts the result will be a doubling or even tripling in the increase in VoIP sales over previous estimates.
 
One company that is certainly doing its share to drive business VoIP adoption is VoSKY (News - Alert), which added six new distributors and 358 new resellers as it grows its line of PBX (News - Alert)-to-Skype gateways. VoSKY also recently launched its VoSKY Exchange Pro VISIP-EX, a Skype-certified enterprise-grade PBX-to-Skype gateway for SIP networks, and the VoSKY Exchange Pro VIT1/E1, a T1/E1 enterprise-grade PBX-to-Skype gateway.
 
Attesting to the continued growth of the VoIP industry at large, Zippy Grigonis reports that MetaSwitch continues to strengthen its position in delivering reliable, high-quality voice communications platforms and services. According to the company, revenue from carrier VoIP solutions has grown by more than 50 percent annually over the last five years, with consistent profitability and operating margins in excess of 20 percent. That trend is only expected to continue, according to Deborah Kish, Principal Research Analyst for Carrier Network Infrastructure, Gartner.
 
One of the problems that has plagued the VoIP industry for some time is security — or misconceptions about its lack of security, to be more precise. Hunter Newby suggests, those misconceptions are a result of confusion between VoIP and Internet Telephony. For an enterprise thinking about deploying VoIP on a corporate WAN that never touches the public Internet, the miseducation and, therefore, belief that VoIP is insecure may cause them to delay or avoid deploying a VoIP network. This is a level of fear, uncertainty and doubt that the industry could do without.
 
It was certainly an exciting week for i2Telecom. Tim Gray writes that, just two days after submitting an application for its MyGlobalTalk to be included on the iPhone App Store – and one day after being green lighted by Google for inclusion on its Android Marketplace – the company announced today the service is now available for the Symbian S60 operating system.
 
Two key communications industry players announced a new partnership. Broadvox, with VoIP technology specialist AudioCodes, is now enabling companies to keep their current PBXs in place while leveraging the cost savings and benefits associated with SIP Trunking, having certified the Mediant 1000 Media Gateway as interoperable with Broadvox GO! SIP Trunking products.
 
And speaking of SIP Trunking, INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference & EXPO is only two weeks away, taking place in Miami, Florida, February 2-4.
 
One of the most popular events during the event recently has been the SIP Trunking seminar sponsored by Ingate. “SIP Trunking is a secure, cost-effective way for enterprises to adopt SIP. For carriers and VARs, it is a powerful way to build business,” said Anders Eriksson, chief executive officer, Ingate Systems (News - Alert). “These seminars provide vital information from the perspective of IP PBX vendors, SIP Trunking service providers and other distinguished voices in the industry.”
 
Some of the key participants of the SIP Trunking workshop spoke to TMC this past week about the excitement that continues to pervade the communications industry as innovation drives new solutions and products.
 
BandTel’s senior vice president of Sales & Marketing Joel Maloff told Rich Tehrani, “The most exciting aspect of our industry to me is what we have yet to discover. We are continually developing new technologies and concepts. Some succeed whereas others fail. Some concepts may have been premature in terms of performance or cost but will succeed in adoption at a later time. As a community, we must understand that the value of what we bring to the table cannot be defined in terms of obscure buzzwords but rather from the value that businesses and consumers can derive
 
In a separate interview with Greg Galitzine, Maloff further explained the significance of the SIP Trunking Workshop. “SIP Trunking is a term that has been used extensively by vendors, carriers, analysts, and the media, yet to the people to whom it matters the most — enterprises of all sizes and value-added resellers — it is still somewhat of a mystery. This seminar will provide exposure to all aspects of SIP Trunking.”
 
Todd Regan, senior vice president of Marketing at SIP specialist AireSpring, explained why SIP Trunking providers see a major opportunity in the economic downturn. “We help companies lower their telecommunications costs with creative Long Distance, Local, and Data offerings.  That’s what we’ve always done, but it is more important now than ever before… a company can get the benefits of low cost SIP services even if they don't have an IP enabled PBX.  That’s a powerful position to be in right now.” 
 
Galitzine also asked Alan Klein, Consulting Systems Engineer at Avaya, who can benefit from SIP Trunking. “Enterprise, small business, and contact center customers benefit from reduced cost and enhanced communication infrastructures. SIP Trunking can also benefit corporations who are tying together disparate communication systems either through the service provider, or across their own networks.” 
 
Klein believes SIP Trunking, which is already gaining momentum, is really primed for takeoff this year, a theory shared by Don Gant, VP Channel Marketing/Business Development, Iwatsu Voice Networks, who told Galitzine, “As the economy struggles and companies look for ways of cutting cost while at the same time increasing their productivity, SIP trunks provide a ready and viable solution.”
 
Summarizing why nearly any business should put ITEXPO and the SIP Trunking Workshop on their calendars, Jon Arnold, Principal, J Arnold & Associates —who will also be presenting the SIP Trunking: Everything You Need to Know session, had this to say. “SIP Trunking is becoming better understood now, and there is growing interest from all corners of the IP communications sector. This is a great place to be during the EXPO, especially for companies just starting to look into SIP Trunking. Anyone attending for the first time will hear from the whole spectrum related to SIP Trunking, and there aren’t many forums for doing that. And for those who are using SIP Trunking, it will be a good opportunity to learn about best practices and to see what’s coming next.”
 
So, regardless of the size of your business or your industry, don’t miss this chance to be a part of what promises to be the most exciting SIP Trunking Workshop yet. In fact, with the benefits of VoIP being highlighted by the economy, this also promises to be one of the most opportune times to be a part of ITEXPO as a whole. In fact, registration for the show is already ahead of last year’s pace. TMC president and conference chairman Rich Tehrani explains why so many people will be in Miami in two weeks. “In this economy, cost-effectively improving communications becomes more of a necessity than ever before. And with the reasonable travel costs available to Miami at the moment, a trip to the show is a comfortable fit for most budgets when you consider the potential return.
 
And, for those vendors already with booth space reserved at ITEXPO, don’t forget to submit your applications for the ITEXPO East Best of Show Awards, which will be presented at the show. Applications are due by January 28, 2009.
 
In addition to making your travel arrangements for Miami, be sure to visit TMCnet daily for the latest IP Communications industry news and information. You can also sign up for our eNewsletters, and set up your own personalized alerts to ensure you don’t miss anything.

Erik Linask is Group Managing Editor of TMCnet, which brings news and compelling feature articles, podcasts, and videos to nearly 3,000,000 visitors each month. To see more of his articles, please visit his columnist page.

Edited by Erik Linask

Homepage ›





Technology Marketing Corporation

2 Trap Falls Road Suite 106, Shelton, CT 06484 USA
Ph: +1-203-852-6800, 800-243-6002

General comments: [email protected].
Comments about this site: [email protected].

STAY CURRENT YOUR WAY

© 2024 Technology Marketing Corporation. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy