AT&T embraces VoIP – just a PR thing?
Last week, AT&T embraced cellular VoIP, clearing the way for Internet-based voice services like Skype, Google Voice and VoxOx to be used on the iPhone.
This looks to be on the heels of moves that Verizon has made with respect to Android phones that “opened” their network. AT&T had to emulate this in some way because of increasing regulatory pressure and their controversial positioning against Google Voice for blocking certain destinations with their calling service. AT&T is likely realizing that customer loyalty is more important than specific revenue streams, and there are two forces working in AT&T’s favor by being open:
(1) A vast majority of users probably won’t bother bypassing their calling plans on AT&T (or any operator) to install a VoIP application and use it to make calls. The overall risk from a business perspective is small in comparison to what something like this does for AT&T’s image.
(2) Over time, it is inevitable that all services will flow over a data connection. Fighting this concept is futile. The fact is, the customer is still using the AT&T network, and this might push more users to buy unlimited data plans to support these services. Most users will not get reliable enough service (yet) on a purely data plan, and without SOME sort of voice plan to rely on when the VoIP quality is not good enough (whenever there isn’t a very good 3G connection), the chances are they will be charging the customer the same or similar amount of money and providing less of the actual calling… this could convert to higher profit margins overall.
So embracing change as it happens keeps AT&T in a leadership position, and in the end they are not really risking much… they may even be increasing their average revenue per user as well as operating margins.
Do you agree? If you own (or will own) an iPhone, how likely are you to install a VoIP application for making cheaper calls?
8 Responses to “AT&T embraces VoIP – just a PR thing?”
October 24th, 2009 saat: 5:05 pm
Wow, great blog. I love reading blogs about Voice over IP! It’s such an exciting technology. I have learned a lot in implementing a small VoIP network at home, and am thinking of starting VoIP business in my area. There are a number of small businesses in my region that would benefit from it greatly. Thanks again for this blog – it is really good.
October 31st, 2009 saat: 12:52 pm
Greetings CEO (?),
I have an iphone but use skype on it, not so much to get around my mobile bill. What it does is provide me with more options then the mobile provider does. With skype and google voice, I can give number A to a business people and number B to girl I meet out. All at the same time, knowing my family and really close personal friends have my mobile number. Further to this for only about $100 more per year, I have multiple numbers, texting, forward, call following, call monitoring, etc. etc. etc. And then finally, when I am within wifi range, I am not using up my minutes or data plan.
Now with all of that said, I am more of the exception then the rule. I am a tech geek and always amaze people how I understand all of this ‘confusing’ technology.
I am eager to seeing an iphone and android version of voxox. There is a lot of opportunity with these technologies. But in the end, I think very few companies will get it right or past all of the patents out there. Can you say, mpegla?
Regards,
Charles
November 11th, 2009 saat: 8:14 am
Wow! What a blog. I was looking for something else on Bing when I happened across your site, and I am glad I did. Don’t have time to read all of it right now, but I have added your site to my Favorites and will come back to learn more. I find Voice over IP very interesting. I have learned a lot in implementing a small VoIP network at home, and am thinking of starting VoIP business in my area. There are a number of small businesses in my region that would benefit from it greatly. Please check out my site at http://www.ArtRL.com when you have a few minutes and please let me know how you like it. Have a great week.
November 12th, 2009 saat: 5:08 pm
blog.voxox.com is very informative. The article is very professionally written. I enjoy reading blog.voxox.com every day.
January 26th, 2010 saat: 4:01 pm
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January 26th, 2010 saat: 7:02 pm
Hola and Thank you, thankfully this has helped my research a lot!. Ironically, I have been researching VOIP for the past three or four days but I couldn’t see any business that allows us to place free calls to Russia, I saved 4 or 5 sites that made free phone calls to the US but wasn’t abled to find any for the the opposite so is there any product that allows you to dial infinite calls? Please contact me!
January 26th, 2010 saat: 7:40 pm
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February 10th, 2010 saat: 2:32 pm
wow congrats to the author of this. this is a wonderful and beautifully written post. i love the way you explain things. ill keep reading the other posts as well.
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