[asterisk-biz] Calling Card / VoIP Service Provider Opportunity

[rhuddleston at gmail.com]

Just to answer some of the na-sayers.
We are a team of 3 with experience in facilities based LEC operations then when the market turned we deployed VoIP networks for residential / business subscribers.
Our reason for starting this company is simple - we've seen the profitability of other companies and we want our piece of the action.
Networking - of course I mean social/professional. I'd be stupid to try and start a carrier grade voip operation without network expertise.
In regards to Asterisk - we have been around it for years. And not just as implementors but also getting under the hood and modifying code.

I appreciate some of the positive helpful comments I have received and look forward to picking some more brains.


On Feb 16, 2011, at 7:54 AM, praveen kumar <pbx.kumar at gmail.com> wrote:

> I echo Steve's comments.
> 
> The VoIP market is BAD and getting worse. I am not sure how many agree
> with me here. Show me the money.
> 
> This has been dying and Skype/Vonage killed it completely. There is
> nothing left to innovate and even if you do, try building a business
> for 1-3c/min. You need multi-million minutes each month to build
> something worth calling a company.
> 
> For 1-2 man or a hobby - works out. I am surprised you have 35yrs of
> telecom experience and you are AGAIN doing it. Man!
> 
> No pun intended.
> 
> 
> On Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 4:49 AM, Steve Totaro
> <stotaro at asteriskhelpdesk.com> wrote:
>> On Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 1:04 AM, Sanjay Arora <sanjay.k.arora at gmail.com> wrote:
>>> On Wed, Feb 16, 2011 at 10:40 AM, Nitzan Kon <nk3569 at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>> 
>>>> 
>>>> Heh. Those were my initial thoughts too. Why would you need any partners if you've already had experienced people on board? rolling out a calling card platform is easy. Actually getting business/marketing is the hard part.
>>> 
>>> May I butt into the conversation, Guys?
>>> 
>>> I am a VoIP biz newbie, looking to get into it. All I have is
>>> marketing & capability for creating low cost support.
>>> 
>>> I am looking for various ways in which I can create own branded, low
>>> cost VoIP. Being from India, (telecommunication is low cost here...I
>>> sometimes find VoIP prices higher than being offered by our mainstream
>>> telcos) I need a really low cost solution, with no minimum commitments
>>> while I setup my marketing.
>>> 
>>> Also need integrated VPN based connection for Gulf origination and
>>> capability/client for smartphones i.e. Android, Symbian & iPhone.
>>> 
>>> Any pointers? Welcome to mail offlist for business offers.
>>> 
>>> With best regards.
>>> Sanjay.
>>> 
>> 
>> I would start with this mindset of "Low cost support" and "a really
>> low cost solution, with no minimum commitments"
>> 
>> For every market, there is a barrier of entry.  If you are just
>> focusing on, "Really Low Cost" then what are you giving up?
>> 
>> Your support is going to lousy and so is your service.  That equates
>> to unhappy customers and a bad reputation.  It is much harder to get a
>> new customer than it is to lose one.
>> 
>> Is your marketing going to be that you are the lowest cost?
>> 
>> I go for best value, cost always a factor, but it certainly is not the
>> biggest factor.  I want to be able to pick up my phone and call
>> anywhere and the call needs to go through.  If it doesn't, I better
>> get good support quickly and have my problem resolved.  I need SLAs
>> that I can hold you to.
>> 
>> Is this a calling card or just service?  Home users or business?
>> 
>> If you don't have the money to get into the game then it is better to
>> stay out.
>> 
>> Everyone seems to think "VoIP + ? = $$$"
>> 
>> VoIP is relatively cheap as far as barrier of entry.  I suggest you
>> find an investor, partner, or venture capitalist so you can do it
>> right.
>> 
>> I don't know if this still hold true in the US, but typically, you are
>> not going to realize a profit from a startup for two years.  Two years
>> in the red.  With VoIP service, it could be much less.
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> Steve Totaro
>> 
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