Some observers are saying that Yahoo's entry into the Voip market might be disruptive.
A little background. The latest version of Yahoo's instant message was redesigned to use SIP. Yahoo also acquired Dialpad which gives them PSTN capability.
However, Yahoo's model is expected to be more like Skype's, free PC to PC calling with additional costs for PC->phone and phone->PC and should not really pose much of a threat to Vonage and the other POTS replacement companies.
However, since Yahoo is now SIP that means it may be compatible with Vonage. Yahoo probably has enough users, and users with verified addresses, that Vonage may be encouraged to open peering. There would be a huge advantage to allowing peering with Yahoo compared to similar peering with FWD whose user base exists entirely to make phone calls.
Primarily this would mean that it would be easy to get calls from people using Yahoo Messenger on your Vonage line. It should also be possible to call Yahoo Messenger users either with some speed dial mechanism or via a computer assisted mechanism like Click2Call.
The biggest thing this means for Voip users in general is a large well funded organization pushing SIP/VoIP from the computer side of the wall rather than the POTS side of the wall as Vonage is doing. It will hopefully lead the marketplace away from strict POTS functionality to expanded functionality including presence indicators and video.
I predict that once the market pressure is created and there is a clear demand for some of the features that are currently only available via computer hosted SIP Vonage will respond with an expanded line of devices intended to provide additional functionality with greater ease of use and a lower price point.
These devices will replace computers for many people who use computers for little more than web browsing and email. They will be instant on devices, support USB for accessories (e.g. keyboards, mice, printers, cameras, headsets), support multiple audio or audio/video extensions, have some type of digital video output and will be simple to install and use with little expandability. They may be capable of acting as very thin clients for subscription based applications.
_________________ Stephen P. Cerruti (ISP: TWC)
dconnor Site Admin
Joined: Mar 05, 2003 Posts: 2252
Location: The Beach
Excellent content scerruti, (as always), but not in this forum.
_________________ Have Questions? Need to speak to Vonage before signing up? Call: 1-888-692-8074 Both Business and Residential customers can call and speak to a Vonage Sales Rep 24 hours a day.
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
All times are GMT - 5 Hours
Vonage Service Plans
Vonage VoIP Members
Members New Raniinody New Today 0 Yesterday 3 Total 64297 Who Is On Site Visitors 103 Members 0 Total 103
1Unlimited calling and other services for all residential plans are based on normal residential, personal, non-commercial use. A combination of factors is used to determine abnormal use, including but not limited to: the number of unique numbers called, calls forwarded, minutes used and other factors. Subject to our Reasonable Use Policy and Terms of Service.
2Shipping and activation fees waived with 1-year agreement. An Early Termination Fee (with periodic pro-rated reductions) applies if service is terminated before the end of the first 12 months. Additional restrictions may apply. See Terms of Service for details.
HIGH SPEED INTERNET REQUIRED. †VALID FOR NEW LINES ONLY. RATES EXCLUDE INTERNET SERVICE, SURCHARGES, FEES AND TAXES. DEVICE MAY BE REFURBISHED. If you subscribe to plans with monthly minutes allotments (for example, U.S. & Canada 300), all call minutes placed from both from your home and registered ExtensionsTM phones will count toward your monthly minutes allotment. ExtensionsTM calls made from mobiles use airtime and may incur surcharges, depending on your mobile plan. Alarms, TTY and other systems may not be compatible. Vonage 911 service operates differently than traditional 911. See www.vonage.com/911 for details.
Thinking of signing up for Vonage but have questions? Business and Residential customers can call Toll Free 24 hours a day at: 1-888-692-8074 No Vonage Promotional Codes or Coupon Codes are required at www.vonage.com.
The Vonage Forum provides the Vonage sign up Best Offer Promotion Deal as a means to offset
our cost. If you are considering signing up for Vonage and have found our Vonage
News, Customer Reviews, Forums & all other parts of this site useful, please
use our Vonage FREE Month sign up offer Deal Coupon.
Vonage VoIP Phone Service is redefining communications by offering consumers & small business VoIP Internet phones, an affordable alternative to traditional phone service.
The Vonage VoIP Forum Generated This Page In: 0.42 Seconds and 365 Pages In The Last 60 Seconds The Vonage VoIP Forum
Members
New 
New Today 0
Yesterday 3
Total 64297
Who Is On Site
Visitors 103
Members 0
Total 103
0.00