Pulver: VoIP lacks coolness

Delegates to the VON 2004 conference were told that Apple's Steve Jobs needs to step in to boost the popularity of voice over IP.

The trouble with VoIP is that nobody knows how to make it wildly popular a la Apple's iPod, says Jeff Pulver, who runs the VON shows.

"It's really challenging. We don't want to just replicate what we have [with traditional voice phones]," Pulver said. "I'd love to see Apple join absolutely to make it cool."

To continue reading, register here and become an Insider. You'll get free access to premium content from CIO, Computerworld, CSO, InfoWorld, and Network World. See more Insider content or sign in.

Delegates to the VON 2004 conference were told that Apple's Steve Jobs needs to step in to boost the popularity of voice over IP.

The trouble with VoIP is that nobody knows how to make it wildly popular a la Apple's iPod, says Jeff Pulver, who runs the VON shows.

"It's really challenging. We don't want to just replicate what we have [with traditional voice phones]," Pulver said. "I'd love to see Apple join absolutely to make it cool."

Pulver's kickoff address pointed to the many problems VoIP faces, including pending classification of VoIP and how strictly it will be regulated, limited uptake by potential customers who have broadband Internet access, and technical problems such as getting IP calls through firewalls.

He announced formation of an advisory group called Globally Accepted Service Principles (GASP) that is meant to encourage the development of voice and other IP applications on public networks. He says the group is based on four principles: access to content, encouraging use of applications, attaching personal devices to public networks, and obtaining service plan information.

Pulver said that VoIP is still being used only by early adapters. With about 25 million U.S. homes with broadband Internet access that could enable VoIP, only 200,000 use it, he said. "If anyone thinks we've gone mainstream, they should reconsider," he says.

His Free World Dialup group that supports VoIP software and free calling among members is being frustrated by user expectations and technical difficulties, he says. Users who sign up expect the service to be easier to set up and use than it actually is. One problem he cited was the difficulty VoIP calls have passing through consumer firewalls.

"Even for free, people have high expectations of service, 24-by-7 support and 100% reliability," he said.