January 08, 2008
By Rich Tehrani
President and Editor-in-Chief
Leveraging Skype in the Business Environment
By Rich Tehrani
President and Editor-in-Chief
David Tang is vice president of Global Marketing at VoSKY. VoSKY is a developer of innovative solutions that simplify and enhance the use of Skype (News - Alert). The company’s flagship product is VoSKY Exchange, a family of enterprise-grade VoIP
gateways designed to allow companies to optimize Skype for the business environment. The VoSKY (News - Alert) Exchange VoIP gateways seamlessly integrate with existing PBX phone systems and help businesses reduce communications costs and improve productivity. VoSKY’s product line also includes consumer VoIP devices for using Skype on any traditional handset, mobile phone, or speakerphone.
gateways designed to allow companies to optimize Skype for the business environment. The VoSKY (News - Alert) Exchange VoIP gateways seamlessly integrate with existing PBX phone systems and help businesses reduce communications costs and improve productivity. VoSKY’s product line also includes consumer VoIP devices for using Skype on any traditional handset, mobile phone, or speakerphone.I spoke with Tang who shared his views on Skype, on the industry, and what the future holds for VoSKY.
RT: What trends are you noticing in the communications market?
DT: As VoIP deployment has become more commonplace in the business market, SMBs and enterprises are now beginning to focus on deploying enhanced applications to improve employee productivity and efficiency. Some key innovative applications that are appealing to the business market include Web Click-to-call, fixed/mobile convergence and unified communications.
RT: Did 2007 finish the way your company expected?
DT: Yes, 2007 was a year where we were able to expand our distribution channels worldwide to include key distributors and VARs in North America, Europe, Asia and Latin America.
RT: Is 2008 going to be a better year than 2007?
DT: Absolutely, in 2008 we intend to monetize on our worldwide distribution channels by delivering more innovative Skype applications and solutions to the business market.
RT: What technologies have altered the market the most?
DT: With over 240 million registered users worldwide, Skype has made a tremendous impact on the VoIP market.
RT: How has Skype changed the telecom market?
DT: Skype has proven that VoIP is a viable technology and by demonstrating how high-fidelity voice quality can be easily and efficiently delivered over the best-effort, public Internet. It has clearly become the leader in the consumer VoIP space and is quickly making inroads into the SMB market as the company continues to add business features and solutions to its business offerings.
DT: Apple will no doubt be a force to be reckoned with in the consumer mobile market. Google’s (News - Alert) announcement of Android, the open platform for mobile devices is interesting. Microsoft’s OCS platform could change the landscape of VoIP and Unified Communications in the enterprise VoIP market. OCS will definitely put some pressure on the leading IP-PBX (News - Alert) manufacturers such as Cisco and Avaya.
RT: What are the brightest spots in your business going forward?
DT: We are excited about our upcoming platforms and enhanced business applications in the coming quarters. SMBs and Enterprises will be able to cost-effective deliver value-added solutions that help them increase employee productivity and operational efficiencies while reducing cost at the same time.
RT: What are the biggest threats you see to your company’s success?
DT: The biggest threat to our company’s success in 2008 is the potential for unexpected economic conditions that may the negatively impact the SMB and enterprise technology spending.
RT: What will conferees learn from your ITEXPO conference session this month?
DT: Conferees will be able to learn how their businesses can leverage Skype, the world’s largest VoIP community to increase revenue generation, enhance employee communication and collaboration and reduce communication costs.
RT: Who should attend?
DT: Business managers, IT managers, CFOs should attend to find out how they can enhance their current TDM or VoIP networks.
or VoIP networks.RT: What unique perspectives will you offer?
DT: We will show how businesses can leverage and monetize the Skype through the utilization of some unique Skype for business applications like Web Click-to-Call and Skype Trunking.
RT: What is the most exciting market change we can expect in communications in technology in 2008 and beyond?
DT: Applications that combine Web, VoIP and mobility will be hot.
RT: Please make one surprising prediction for 2008.
DT: Google may accelerate its push into the mobile ad space by purchasing a wireless carrier.
Rich Tehrani is President and Group Editor in Chief at TMC. In addition he is the Chairman of the world’s best attended IP Communications event, Internet Telephony Conference & EXPO.
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!
