HOSTED COMMS
www.comms-dealer.com
Hosted gaining traction
BUSINESS INTERVIEW
Over the past couple of years the hosted IP
Telephony model has become a viable alternative
to on-site IP PBX for several compelling reasons,
according to Mark Seemann, Product and
Strategy Director at Genesis Communications.
he UK’s broadband This effectively future-proofs
T
infrastructure is now businesses, enabling them to scale
capable of carrying to hundreds of thousands of users
business grade VoIP, if necessary. Pricing on hosted IP
and hosted IP PBX services have PBX is highly competitive starting at
now technically come of age, around £10 per user per month.”
believes Seemann. “These recent
developments have brought According to Seemann
about an ultra reliable service for widespread adoption of hosted
the end user. Businesses want to VoIP is attainable within the
maintain liquidity and the hosted next three years. “Broadband is
IP PBX model with its small monthly now ubiquitous and capable of
fee is ideal for organisations that carrying business grade voice,
want to maximise cashflow, and making quality hosted IP PBX
for those struggling to get leasing services accessible to SMEs. People
on new PBX equipment,” he are becoming accustomed to
said. “We are in a recession and purchasing software as a service
business finance has dried up. or cloud-based services, and
Mark Seemann
With businesses struggling, the hosted voice is a similar concept.
hosted model allows them to cut It’s much easier for them to services,” said Seemann. “There’s recurring service fee,” he said. “This
costs dramatically and doesn’t make the leap, mentally.” still a definite education job to is different to the traditional ‘one
usually require the financing of be done with customers who off’ yearly hit for the reseller, but
capital equipment. Hosted IP Both hosted and traditional PBX might not be fully aware of the over time these ongoing services
PBX/VoIP allows easy integration installations will usually carry benefits and implications of can exceed the profitability of
to unified communications, the an upfront setup charge. “This this relatively new technology. a traditional PBX maintenance
technological glue between is usually lower for hosted in Resellers will need to ensure they contract. Customers are also likely
business software and telephony. comparison with a traditional PBX have a firm understanding of the to show more loyalty to a wider
The technology can also wrap installation. The service revenue is product and work with vendors variety of services, as the actual
around a customer’s existing PBX paid monthly on an ongoing basis, that can provide expert advice telephony service is attached to
infrastructure, providing them with however the overall margins over and support when necessary.” the service fee, which includes
a low cost software upgrade to a three year period are usually a maintenance element.”
their in-house traditional PBXs.” equivalent,” said Seemann. The hosted model stacks up as
a profitable reseller product with The hosted IP Telephony model
Seemann highlights that some of There’s more to think about ‘impressive’ ongoing margin also releases new revenue streams
the key benefits of hosted solutions in terms of maintenance and opportunities, according to from the sale of additional network
in the business environment added service and upgrades Seemann. “Hosted IP PBX services services. For instance, business
are flexibility, scalability and on an ongoing basis. “This will provide the reseller with a good hosted services require high quality
affordability. “The monthly provide added returns and will upfront margin from supplying IP QoS or MPLS enabled broadband
price tariff and elastic licensing ultimately tie the customer to handsets, soft-phones, software connectivity to the customers’
of the hosted model provides you more tightly as they come to and video phones. The ongoing offices. “The low margin, highly
businesses with much needed rely on you for all their ongoing margins take the form of a commoditised ADSL connections
flexibility, enabling them shrink or are hardly ever suitable for
grow the system as required and connecting hosted IP PBX services,
without financial penalty,” he
With businesses struggling,
opening up better margin
commented. “The hosted system
the hosted model allows
connectivity products for the
gives additional scalability far reseller to sell, as well as the hosted
beyond what a company could them to cut costs dramatically IP PBX or VoIP and on-site network
afford to implement in-house. services,” stated Seemann.
n
For help and support in the mobile market
Call: 0800 019 8900
Look there’s big money in mobile
It’s easy with Chess Telecom
email: mobile@chesstelecom.com
www.chesstelecom.com
40 COMMS DEALER MAY 2009 www.comms-dealer.com
40 PG genesis.indd 1 24/4/09 11:56:23
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56