Hosted VoIP Services

As VoIP becomes more common place in the SME arena and end users are more educated and product savvy, how should resellers pitch their services in an increasingly crowded market space?

We talk to leading distributor O-bit Telecom who possess years of experience in VoIP technology and offer an end to end service for all client models.

VoIP technology is becoming more and more in demand as SMEs realise the full benefits of the service such as cost reductions for voice traffic and alternatives in suppliers for business continuity. This increase in customer demand offers fantastic business opportunities for resellers to open up bigger market opportunities and demonstrate to their client base that they offer the latest technologies. After all if they don’t another reseller will. It also gives the possibility for resellers to cross sell, not just lines and minutes but data connectivity and WAN/LAN equipment.

The success of Purple Networx Hosted VoIP services is partly due to its ease of set up and its ease of monitoring for resellers. O-bit has a ‘one-stop shop’ ordering portal (Merlin) where users can order their IPT service Purple Networx. This service is automated and O-bit can even send the equipment per-configured and ready to plug and play. Even better, they supply not only the equipment, the IPT platform and network but they can fully test and support users end-to-end. Paul Cloudsdale, IT Director at O-bit enthuses “If you have an issue with the service you don’t get any of this “You’ll have to speak to your ISP”. With O-bit’s VoIP offering you speak to the same people end-to-end so we know and understand all the areas that make the solution work.”

O-bit has recently launched a new VoIP offering called Purple Hosted Secure. This recently launched product allows VoIP traffic to run over the secure environment of IP VPN rather than the internet. It connects directly into O-bit’s NGN which has a dedicated voice network. The additional feature and indeed USP of Hosted Secure is that it has full integration of SpliceCom handsets and therefore offers end users the full feature rich services available on the platform. O-bit is the only company able to offer full integration and feature extension over a WAN for SpliceCom handsets. This exclusive USP is not matched or offered by any other reseller.

Some distributors have struggled with launching and maintaining their hosted VoIP product offering. When asked why O-bit has triumphed, Cloudsdale replied “I think it is due to the support and understanding of the full end-to-end service being offered. O-bit has a well-established technical team who really know their stuff. We also offer VoIP services that make commercial sense. O-bit not only offers Hosted IPT but also SIP Trunking and SIP Termination where customers can send SIP traffic to our network to process, port numbers to us and also take numbers (PRS, NGN or Geo) from us – all in a single order and supported by the same support desk!”

And finally what is Cloudsdale’s advice for resellers starting out in offering VoIP services to their client base? “Get on board or be left behind. More and more companies are asking for VoIP/SIP services – it’s a great tool to have in your tool-box. The cost savings, functionality and flexibility of Purple Networx offerings will open more doors for you.”