[Asterisk-Users] Cost of IP Phones, or Isn't It Just Software?

[Senad Jordanovic]

> Just to get an idea of hardware cost involved here:
> - I can buy a 4-port router with built-in firewall, web-server and
> email-client for $20-$30 RETAIL.  That would indicate a hardware cost
> of $10 max.  
> - I can purchase a Sipura SPA-2000 for $100 -- actual hardware cost
> should be $50-$75. 
SPA 2000 hardware cost is much less then that!!!

> - I can also purchase a fully featured ADSI speakerphone for $80
> retail, with an expected hardware cost of $50-$60. 
> 

Same here...

> Combine all these pieces for hardware cost of $110-$145 -- I'd think
> that synergies would push hardware cost under $100 -- and you have
> all the hardware required to build at least a 2-line IP speakerphone
> with a nice large display, webserver for config, and enough
> processing power to run some advanced functionality.  You could even
> add one of the Yamaha sound-chips for downloadable ringtones if you
> so desire.      
>

Well.. It still depends of what cup, dsp etc are included..
 
> The 2-line restriction would be purely theoretical, allowing for 4,
> 6, or even 12 lines to be registered (who really needs more than 3 or
> 4?). The device could be well documented, opening the door/port for
> open-source software.   
> 
> Does this sound to utopian, or do my fellow list-members think there
> is an idea here?  How many more PBXs would you integrators sell if
> the cost was down to $150/station for a business-class phone? 

This is a certainly a question needing an answer! However, lets see if
anyone will actually do so?

 How
> many more features could be implemented with an open-source UA? 
> (Menus, Visual Voicemail, extended CallerID info, Call Delegation,
> Queue handling, Email, Weather, Reminders, .... )     

If it too complicated.. End users may be reluctant to buy it!

> Could this be profitable?
> - You bet, I'd guess you could sell a few 100,000 of these devices in
> the next three years.  The design would be open, but protected from
> clones by virtue copyright law (bootloader and operating system could
> be proteges).  A public company would own the design and contract
> with a manufacturer.    

Well.. This is REAL problem.. I am sure that a lot of people on this
list have similar ideas to yours.
It would be very nice if we all could get together to produce a solution
like this... However, time will tell!
 
> Could this be financed?
> - I don't think it would take that much -- maybe $10K - $20K to
> purchase samples and development hardware and software.  Engineers
> could donate time in exchange for revenue shares later.  A small
> investment would be counted toward a purchase of a finished product,
> a large investment would buy you a share in the company.  200 active
> members in this list donating $100 each could get a handful of
> engineers on their way.      
> 

Well, said... $100 each would take project to "somewhere".. However, the
costs may spiral out of control!

> Where do we get the know-how?
> - Partner with existing companies like Digium and Sipura.  Once the
> project is complete, they would receive revenue shares and/or utilize
> their manufacturing resources.  

Yes, that would be good way... But what then? Who owns it? Who profits
from it...
A lot of questions needing an answer!
 
> Am I dreaming?

No, you are not dreaming!  It can be done! One just needs to find
correct way!
I personally would love to see a very low cost embedded board running *,
with FXS/FXO port on it!