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

[Steve Totaro]

On Wed, Jan 28, 2009 at 12:18 PM, Richard Lyman <pchammer at dynx.net> wrote:
> 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.

I do not forgive you, there are not that many posts to read through
and not taking a moment to do so makes you a non-candidate.

>
>  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).

Certainly not a candidate.  Your customers are your customers, they
are not part of the pool and this has been repeated several times.

>
> 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.

This may and will happen.

>
> 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?)

This may and will happen.

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

Proof you should read or at least skim (read speed reading) the whole
thread and get your coffee before you post.

>
> 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.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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-- 
Thanks,
Steve Totaro
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