[asterisk-biz] Consortium of Sorts for Interconnects and VoIP providers to a Lesser Degree

[Richard Lyman]

TP'n to follow flow.  I haven't read every post on this thread so 
forgive me (please) for stating something that might have been already 
stated.

 From what i am hearing..  various 'approved' consultants can join this 
consortium (bringing with it, its clients), the resulting 'client base' 
is served by all consortium consultants (by geographic or even specialty 
if needed).  This allow centralized resource sharing (office presence, 
etc). 

As nice as that sounds, i find it hard that any one (but a close knit 
group of 'buddies') would pool there clients this way.  Here are two 
brief examples.

1.  Clients that will work with various consultants, then decide they 
like 1 (or a small subset) best, and only work with them.

2.  Consultant could be contacted outside the consortium but a Client 
who then goes through the consortium.  (clients routinely hunt quotes, 
and how will the consortium do so against itself?)

Sorry if this seems convoluted, i am waiting for the coffee to brew.

Alex Balashov wrote:
> Hey Steve,
>
> It sounds like a good idea, but I'm having a bit of trouble 
> understanding how exactly it will work.  Can you clarify:
>
> 1) What exactly is a "consortium for all things VoIP?"  Just what does 
> that entail in practise?
>
> 2) How is it that various vendors doing overlapping things will be in 
> the consortium without directly competing with each other, if the 
> consortium is meant to be a channel for new deal flow?  What's the idea? 
>   Vertically integrate vendors that don't quite do the same thing?  If 
> so, there isn't a lot of room in the consortium.
>
> -- Alex
>
> Steve Totaro wrote:
>
>   
>> Hello everyone,
>>
>> I am going to throw out an idea and see if it sticks.  I have had this
>> idea for quite a while now and I think the moons have aligned to get
>> it done..
>>
>> I will be creating a consortium for all things VoIP as well as any
>> other specialties a shop or individual can bring to the table, such as
>> custom programming and dev work.
>>
>> The idea is that people and companies in the consortium operate under
>> the name of the consortium.
>>
>> Some will be rejected or be kicked out of the consortium for doing
>> anything that breaks the rules, such as stealing a customer, or
>> regular complaints from customers.  There will be a whole binding
>> contract in this regard.
>>
>> Consortium members will be picked by geographical location, skill set,
>> proficiency, and some other factors.
>>
>> Nobody in the consortium will directly compete with other members, and
>> prices for services will be standardized.
>>
>> The the whole idea is for you to keep your business, yet operate to
>> some degree in the consortium (no leaching).
>>
>> We all help each other out, either by sending leads, or even going on
>> a sales calls for another person in the consortium (obviously, this
>> would be a paid gig).  Let's face it, some people can sell much better
>> than others.  For a big deal, I would potentially fly someone in who
>> is great sales person and pay them well for their time.
>>
>> We can sub out work to each other that are in the inner circle of trust.
>>
>> One other HUGE and the main benefit when coming up with the idea, is
>> that we will all act as one company on the surface, so there is great
>> credibility there rather than a one, two, or even ten man shop.  We
>> will also act as one company to some degree behind the scenes.  I have
>> turned away plenty of business because I was booked solid or did not
>> have the skillset nor time to learn it.
>>
>> I would gladly turn over that business to someone else in the
>> consortium providing a get a kickback for the sale and the job get's
>> done correctly.
>>
>> To the outside world, we appear to be a single World Wide company,
>> with offices and technicians that could be onsite anywhere in the US
>> and other countries.
>>
>> If you have any interest, questions, or any kind of feedback, please
>> post to the list or email directly if it is not list material.
>>
>>     
>
>
>