The VAR Guy

We’d previously reported that hosted Internet telephony automation service provider Ifbyphone had acquired VoIP application development environment Cloudvox, but now it looks like the acquisition is yielding its first fruit. Cloudvox has announced a pay-as-you-go rate of $0.03/minute and some new features for developers. Here’s the scoop.

Alteva claims to be the largest provider of enterprise hosted voice-over-IP (VoIP) providers in North America, so it’s no wonder that the company’s newly-announced porting capabilities for international numbers is rolling out in Canada first. But thanks to a strategic partnership with Microsoft, phone calls are only part of the hosted telephony solution they can offer VARs. Here’s the deal.

First, F5 Networks delivered strong Q1 financial results. Now, the company is preparing to announce the BIG-IP Edge Gateway. F5’s goal is to deliver “LAN-speed application performance for remote and mobile workers.” Here are the details.

Ifbyphone, which provides hosted Internet telephony automation solutions, has acquired Cloudvox. The move gives Ifbyphone a voice application developer platform that alledgedly “changes the face of cloud telephony.” That sounds like hype. But we’re intrigued. Here’s why VARs should pay attention.

Digium continues to build stronger partnerships in the unified communications market. The latest evidence: From Polycom to Skype, a long list of companies will evangelize Digium’s open source IP PBX during the Asterisk World conference (January 20-22, Miami Beach, Fla.). And yes, Digium will dial up channel partners during the event. Here’s the scoop.

Voice over IP technology has quietly matured from its status as cutting-edge to mainstream. But that doesn’t mean the technology isn’t moving forward. Quite the contrary: recent advances point to VoIP as a technology to watch (yet again) in 2010 = thanks to moves by Google and others. Here’s why.

I’ve had a Google Voice account since it was known as GrandCentral, but I never had much use for it. Until now. When I started blogging regularly I needed a desk phone to speak with my industry sources and with The VAR Guy’s staff. So I figured now is the time to take Google’s VoIP telephony solution for a test run.

When I wrote about my adventures in VoIP telephony back at the end of November, I only discussed the consumer-grade stuff. Well, after I spoke to the New York City-based M5 Networks, I have a new appreciation for what an enterprise-grade system can do (assuming Google doesn’t eat their lunch when they’re not looking). Here’s a little of what partners should know about M5 Networks in particular and VoIP systems in general.

My tiny apartment in one of the outer boroughs of New York City isn’t really set up to receive phone service without punching through more walls than my landlord would be comfortable with — but I still needed a desk phone for business. That’s when I decided that voice-over-IP (VoIP) Internet telephony might be the answer, since I didn’t need a phone jack and, at least in theory, it’d drive my phone bills down. So far, I’ve had the chance to try out MagicJack and netTALK. Here are my conclusions after weeks spent experimenting.

The VAR Guy has spent plenty of time covering Asterisk — the open source IP PBX — in recent weeks. But a few solutions providers are telling our resident blogger to give equal time to 3CX, which develops a software PBX for Windows. What’s the story?  You’re about to find out.

Has Google embraced Digium’s Asterisk, the open source IP PBX? Google Open Source Programs Manager Chris DiBona (pictured) provides some answers during the AstriCon conference in Glendale, Ariz. The VAR Guy captured DiBona’s thoughts in this FastChat video…

At the Astricon conference in Arizona, Digium announced the AsteriskExchange application store, an overhauled Asterisk.org community site and AsteriskForge for software developers. The three moves potentially solidify Asterisk and Digium as a disruptive force in the IP PBX market and the channel. Digium Founder and CTO Mark Spencer explained the strategy to The VAR Guy.

Asterisk, the open source IP PBX, is turning 10 years old. And Digium, the fast-growing provider of commercial Asterisk solutions, is hosting the Astricon conference this week. All sounds well. But The VAR Guy will raise seven key questions when he speaks with Digium officials later today. Here they are.

When the Astricon conference kicks off Oct. 13 in Glendale, Ariz., The VAR Guy will be checking to see if Asterisk — the open source IP PBX — is ready for mainstream VARs and solutions providers. Actually, The VAR Guy thinks he already knows the answer to that question. Here’s why.

For a “dead” market, the break-fix IT channel looks pretty darn healthy, according to the OnForce Services Marketplace Index (OSMI) for 1Q 2009. Here’s the scoop, including perspectives from OnForce CEO Peter Cannone.

Say it ain’t so: The glory days of voice-over-IP (VoIP) sales appear over, according to Garrett Smith, one of The VAR Guy’s favorite bloggers. Hey, the party wasn’t going to last forever. And this “bad news” is actually pretty good news. Here’s why.

Dell. Resellers. Unified communications. Open source. A small software company has found a way to roll up those four ingredients into a very successful IP PBX solution that’s now going global. Here’s the improbable story of Fonality, which is selling its IP telephony software on Dell servers by the truckload.

These are strange times at 3Com. Gloom-and-doom press reports focus on the company’s failed plans to go private. And more recently, 3Com has dissolved (i.e., shot) its worldwide channel organization. Business must be pretty darn bad at the networking company, right? Actually, that’s not entirely the case.