MyGlobalCity

Roll Your Own VoIP Service June 13, 2006

Want to be a VoIP provider and achieve fame, fortune and fast cars? Well, maybe not all of that. But if you’re interested in joining what will probably a group of thousands of small- to medium-sized VoIP providers the world over, SkyVoIP will give you the necessary equipment for $499.95/m, plus a few other charges.

US calls are only 2 cents/minute. You have to have 786 DIDs ($5 each), but you can also pay $10 for other area codes. The monthly rate includes 100 extensions, and you can set up your own minute plans for customers, and determine your long distance rates. This plan also includes unlimited IP calls (extension to extension) and unlimited incoming calls.

If you need serious VoIP PBX gear, they have something called the SKYVOIP PBX softswitch (despite the fact that it’s actually hardware, not software) that goes for just under $4000, and requires “no technical ability” to operate. The switch is compatible with a number of IP phone sets including their own and the CISCO 7960.

If you’re not interested in being a provider and just want a residential VoIP plan, SkyVoIP has them starting at $14.95/m. Business plans start at $99.95/m.

SkyVista sells SkyVoIP services using “point-to-point encrypted high-speed two-way satellite SkyBand broadband connection.” They serve the US, Canada, and the Carribean using SkyBand Internet coverage. In fact, they can serve “[any] location with a clear view of the southern sky.” SkyVista also offers dealer packages, which are ideal for companies that are already selling satellite systems.

On one hand, it’s great that small providers can get into the VoIP business with little capital. On the other hand, I think the same kind of shake up is going to happen with the VoIP service industry as happened with small Internet providers: There are going to be a lot of them, and many are going to go out of business.

Most of these small VoIP providers will, unfortunately, not be set up properly for growth and will not have enough capital set aside. Hopefully, any such misfortunate providers will be bought out by bigger fish, along with their customer lists. Or else there will be a lot of unhappy VoIP customers in the next few years.

Tags: myglobalcity, my global city, VoIP providers, VoIP equipment