Hi Scott,
Re: Touchwave. I do some of my "real world" market research in the VoIP space speaking with taxi drivers, hotel room workers, security guards, and various others with first generation ties to the old country. These are among the most targeted populations for cheap voice.
I recently gave one of the drivers in a local car service a copy of Internet Telephony after he asked for some literature on the topic. When he returned it to me there was a yellow stick-it type of place holder in it, with an arrow pointing to the Touchwave device.
He told me that this is what he wanted. Turns out, he has an in with a local phone hut, the type that sells minutes of overseas calls for reduced rates on a walkin basis.
I thought that this was interesting, and demonstrated a certain level of savoir faire of a kind that one would not expect ordinarily when speaking with a cab driver who could hardly speak English. Never should judge a book...
Of course, I left him advised that he should speak with an application engineer before making any purchasing decisions, and he said that he would do so, but there was a lesson to be learned by all this.
Another product line which portends these same multiline features, to some degree, is I-Link's, which just came out with DSL and cable modem compatibility. See press release below. Give them a look, too, at
i-link.net
Regards, Frank Coluccio
===================================
I-Link Adds xDSL and Cable Modem Support to its
Integrated Access Device - the 'C4'
PR Newswire - May 06, 1999 08:46
xDSL- and Cable Modem-Enabled C4s in Initial Deployment; Expanded Format Will Leverage Rapidly Emerging Broadband Access Networks
DRAPER, Utah, May 6 /PRNewswire/ -- I-Link Inc. (Nasdaq: ILNK), a next generation telecommunications company, today announced it has added xDSL and cable modem support to its C4 (Customer Communication Control Center), an industry leading customer premise "Integrated Access Device."
Roughly the size of a notebook computer, the C4 device is a combination PBX and LAN Router designed specifically for SOHO and small business use. As such, it allows a customer to have a single communications connection or line subdivided into multiple simultaneous phone/fax calls, while also providing a persistent Internet connection, all at substantial savings to the customer. For example, with an ISDN connection a customer will be able to have up to eight simultaneous phone/fax calls and 24 extensions on a C4. Naturally, a C4 with either an xDSL or cable modem connection will have even greater capacity.
Not only will C4 provide multiple simultaneous phone/fax calls off of one phone line, it will also provide a suite of communications services to consumers, including:
-- Local phone, fax, conference calling, and dial tone service;
-- Low-cost long-distance service;
-- Workgroup unified messaging and communication;
-- "Always On" Internet Access, web, and email service; and
-- Voice- and Fax-on-Demand and Broadcasting service.
Currently in field trials, the C4 already supports a Basic Rate ISDN interface, which is broadly available from most local exchange carriers throughout the U.S. I-Link anticipates beginning xDSL and cable modem field trials with the C4 in the second half of 1999, with initial sales of the C4 scheduled to begin by the end of 1999.
"By design, I-Link's IP enhanced communications services and devices are network protocol and transport independent," said John Edwards, I-Link chairman and CEO. "That means that it doesn't matter whether you're connected to a copper wire, a fiber optic strand, or a cable modem: I-Link's services and integrated access devices -- like the C4 -- will work on them."
According to Edwards, the majority of current broadband offerings, such as xDSL and cable modems, only provide higher speed Internet access rather than truly enhanced or fully integrated services.
"I-Link's recently completed nationwide IP backbone provides full Quality of Service (QoS) for real-time telecommunication services," Edwards said. "With the C4 integrated into their service offerings, Competitive Local Exchange Carriers and Internet Service Providers will soon be able to deploy high-speed network access into a customer's premise through the C4. As such, I-Link partners will be able to deliver the enhanced IP communications solutions necessary to survive in the new IP-driven marketplace."
Founded in 1994, I-Link Inc. is a next generation telecommunications company that uses its IP-enabling technologies to provide low-cost long- distance, conference calling, voice mail, fax, e-mail, and other enhanced communications services to its customers. I-Link delivers these services via its private IP network built with I-Link's next generation IP-based network platforms, I-Link Communications Engines(TM), and I-Link Enhanced Services Engines(TM). Through wholly owned subsidiaries MiBridge Inc. and ViaNet Technologies Ltd., I-Link develops emerging communications technologies that are used by I-Link and other leading communications firms worldwide. I-Link is headquartered in Draper, Utah, and its Web site is located at i-link.net.
The statements made in this release that are not historical facts contain forward-looking information that involves risks and uncertainties. Important factors that may cause actual results to differ include, but are not limited to, the impact of competitive products and services, the company's ability to manage growth and acquisitions of technology or businesses, the effect of economic and business conditions, and other risks detailed from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
SOURCE I-Link Inc.
/CONTACT: Media: David Politis of Politis Communications, for I-Link
Inc., 801-523-3730, cell: 801-598-3730, dpolitis@politis.com; or Financial:
Karl Ryser Jr. of I-Link Inc., 801-576-5025, karlr@i-link.net/
/Web site: politis.com
/Web site: i-link.net
ILNK %TLS %PDT V%PRN P%PRN |
