* Mainstream media, general public now more familiar with VoIP
Over the holidays, we had a little time to actually watch television and catch up with the “mainstream” media. One thing we’ve noticed: Voice over IP has become a favored topic in the general media.
For example, we’ve seen articles on the importance of VoIP and voice over the Internet in Time, Money, Business Week and Fortune.
It also seems that VoIP receives near-weekly mention on CNN and MSNBC. Commercials about VoIP services and products from companies like Vonage, Comcast, and Avaya are hitting the television airwaves. Daily periodicals like the Financial Times, the Jerusalem Post, Canada’s Globe and Mail, and even The Daily Star (from Bangladesh) are covering VoIP and the impact of voice on the Internet.
What a difference a year makes. VoIP has finally come of age. We’re even getting calls from our “non-techie” friends asking us if it is OK to ditch their PSTN line in favor of the new IP-based phone services.
So why the onslaught of news items on VoIP? First, just about everyone who mentions VoIP knows it works as well as the PSTN. Second, the pricing and packaging is very attractive. For example, Vonage includes standard calling features like caller ID, call waiting, and voice mail into a $35 flat monthly rate that offers unlimited local and long distance calls within the U.S. and Canada. And third, VoIP is increasingly available in more and more calling areas as broadband access service areas grow with DSL and cable modem access.
In short, VoIP can be for nearly everyone – even Ma Bell. We’ll talk about her next time.
