I’ve written a few times about the growing popularity of DECT based endpoints.

Thanks to the combination of familiar form, features  and performance many consumers, home office and small office professionals are selecting SIP based DECT phones for use with their BYOD VoIP service. It’s a trend that continues to growth month over month.

Yet there aren’t many non-BYOD VoIP providers who’ve capitalized on this opportunity.

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Every now and again I’m afforded the opportunity to spend a lot of time using a service before writing a review.

For the past five months I’ve been using the hosted VoIP phone service from Nextiva, one of the fastest growing hosted VoIP providers in the US. What follows is my review of Nextiva’s service based on this usage.
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VoIP hardware sucks.

Well at least for many VoIP providers.

It’s often troublesome to standardize on. It’s costly to purchase in volume and warehouse. Plus there is that whole “logistics” thing (including returns).

As a result many VoIP providers have decided to simply stick with what they do best - sell service - and allow customers to bring their own device (Bring Your Own Device).

For these providers and many an onlooker it seems like a smart move. Focus on what you do best (sell service) while giving customers the “choice” of whatever device they want.

A win-win right?

Well not quite.
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Late last week while enjoying some fantastic Mexican food for pal Cory Andrews‘ birthday, a discussion about high definition (HD) calling broke out.

Likely spurned by the recent completion of VoIP Supply’s own internal HD voice implementation, the discussion centered on the current applications and future promise of the technology. You’re sure to bet that we’re high on the HD voice.

However it isn’t the promise of HD VoIP calling that is left ringing in my head days later. It’s a statement that Cory made in regards to quality versus reliability.

Given a choice most people would choose call reliability over call quality.

It’s still ringing in my head because if this is true -  and personal experience tells it is - it means customers will choose the most reliable service over one that sounds the best. In other words,

Given a choice most people would choose the reliability of the PSTN over the great sound of HD VoIP (all other things constant)

Perhaps a bit extreme, but  today VoIP service reliability is still an issue.Yet it’s the thing most people look for first in a service.

Which makes me wonder why there isn’t more enthusiasm from the industry at large around delivering more reliable VoIP service (and a missed opportunity to maximize wideband telephony’s potential).

After all doesn’t 100% reliability really sound the best?

There was a lot going on last week at IT Expo.From the interesting talks about smart grid technology to well trafficked expo floor it was evident that the industry at large is still alive, kicking and poised for more growth.There were also a five trends that I spotted after three days of meeting and conversing.

1. Service Bubble - The show was dominated by VoIP service offerings- wholesale and retail alike. Yes there is money in VoIP services, but how many VoIP service providers can survive? Surely not as many as there are right now.
2. Microsoft OCS - Looks like all of the advertising, trials, betas and prodding is starting to work for Microsoft. Especially in the education sector. Seems like every CPE manufacturer is quickly trying to figure out their “OCS strategy.”
3. Creative Growth - Companies are growing, but the fast growth for most is coming through creative avenues. Case in point PAETEC’s announcement that they’re getting into the energy business. A $200 million plus per year revenue opportunity for them (that’s just through existing customers).
4. Fax Over IP - There are plenty of new entrants into this space. Unfortunately it seems that the same complications and issues that have plagued the technology still exist. One promising player is FaxSIPIt, which offers it’s own IP-based FAX network. Hopefully someone will get Fax over IP right one of these days!
5. HD Voice - Wideband Telephony support is no longer a luxury. Everyone has it. Well everyone except you and I. But at least all new VoIP equipment will support it.

At the show and see something I missed? Let me know about it in the comments.

Aastra has been on a roll the last two weeks. Especially with the growing popularity of VoIP mobility solutions.

Fresh off announcing stateside availability of the 312w wireless VoIP phone last week, Aastra has announced that three new DECT VoIP phones will be hitting the streets soon.
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