Emerging Tech Talk #014 – Is VoIP dead? It depends…
January 5th, 2009 by Dan YorkIs “VoIP” dead? As we start 2009, this theme of VoIP being “dead” is percolating throughout the VoIP/communications part of the blogosphere. Alec Saunders says it is (and said so again). Om Malik concurred with Alec. So does PhoneBoy. Jon Arnold says “it’s not dead yet“. Andy Abramson agrees with Jon. Ken Camp says VoIP is just boring. Jeff Pulver says VoIP is very much alive (and later amplifies that statement). And a zillion others have joined in as well…
In this episode, host Dan York looks at the truth – and fallacy – of the statements being made and provides his view that in many ways the whole theme is rather silly until…… (sorry, you have to watch! 
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January 5th, 2009 at 2:41 pm
For me VoIP is all about the fact that ubiquitous computing platforms (PCs to you and me) can now be used to replace a lot of the functions of specialized telephony hardware. In other words, telephony becomes a software problem, rather than a hardware one. It means that software developers have the freedom not only to process voice in the same way as legacy PSTN switches, but also to use implement ideas that connect applications to voice (as you well know at Voxeo). It also becomes possible to combine voice with every kind of messaging, video, data, and location information that can flow to the same server. This is a very different environment to the traditional telephone.
It’s correct also to say that VoIP is “plumbing” and in 10 years time you won’t be able to find an incumbent telco using the technology they all have today; they’ll all be using VoIP. We can find plumbing boring and still at the same time find it incredibly useful. There are very few people in the developed “West” (or perhaps “North”) who still have to walk to fill containers with water; We all have water on tap coming into the house. Of course this is convenient, and makes a more healthy environment for us than for some of our African cousins, but it also completely changes the technological landscape for us. Flowing water also means central heating systems, air conditioning, washing machines and so on. In other words, without the right architectural framework, there are a lot of benefits that can’t exist.
January 5th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
Very nice video. You bring calmness and authority to a silly debate.
Obviously not dead, but it may as well be.
VoIP as a disruptive technology is a disappointment. Many of us, got into it because we were attracted to the disruptive nature of what we thought VoIP would bring. The initial killer apps, such as unified messaging and teleworking were disruptive – game changing – new value prop technologies — disruptive.
But VoIP is becoming less about the applications and more about the plumbing. Not what draws the innovators.
The Internet has changed the way we think and work. IP technology, peer networking, a super connected flat world – is changing industry by industry – travel, retail, publishing, education, etc. But unfortunately, telecom, though vastly different technology, remains very similar and appears likely to remain so. From a PBX perspective or a carrier perspective – it appears VoIP is far better described as a ’sustaining’ technology – faster, better, cheaper characteristics of the same ol value proposition. Yes, there are elements of excitement – open source, mobility, presence, etc. Must be similar to what they felt with the introduction of electric windows and locks on cars.