One of the key challenges for Skype market penetration will be providing the ability for consumers to make voice calls over Skype in a manner that is totally transparent and seamless to the average consumer. In a recent interview with Ron Sladon, President and CEO of Multi-Link, Inc. he explained how their Skype strategy has become an extension of Multi-Link's overall business mission: Providing cost saving telephony.
In executing on their mission, Multi-Link has several guidelines:
- Provide a seamless experience to the end user
- Maintain a <0.02% failure rate for their devices
- Support Skype as their platform for VoIP offerings
Multi-Link was founded in 1984 by several engineers who had developed devices that would recognize various DTMF tones to allow for line sharing across multiple functions such as voice, fax, alarm systems and, modems used for applications such as credit card/debit card transaction authorization. With over a million units installed, Multi-Link's most prevalent product is a line sharing device known as "The Stick":
The Stick® is a state-of-the art telephone line sharing device that screens and automatically routes all voice, fax, and modem calls to the right equipment every time - eliminating the need for costly dedicated phone lines.
Multi-Link also offers products designed for industrial applications including remote access power switches. For example, their IPS can be used for remote rebooting of computers via telephone, heartbeat software and/or web browser when a problem or interrupt occurs.
As part of their channel strategy for market penetration, Multi-Link has developed a network of telephony distributors and resellers with over 1200 locations supported across the U.S. In addition to reselling Multi-Link's hardware, these resellers employ installers and service personnel who go into the home or business to provide a total voice communications solution to their customers.
A couple of years ago Multi-Link started to look at VoIP products and picked out Skype specifically as the VoIP platform to support. Having sold their Board on this strategy, Multi-Link has spent over a year going through the appropriate design and Skype Certification process. Their product criteria included:
- Must be Skype Certified
- Seamless access to local and 911 services
- Seamless access to Skype/SkypeOut for long distance calls
- Where relevant, pass through necessary traditional legacy phone signaling such as ring tones and power support
Multi-Link introduced its first VoIP products last month at eBay Live. They include:
- TeleVoIP Stick: to provide seamless access to Skype from any home phone
- Perfectel Handset: a "Travel Phone" that is small enough to put in a brief case and use as a Skype Phone instead of a headset when on the road
- TeleVoIP Phone: a telephone set which simply connects to the PC's sound card and does not need any additional drivers. As a result when a Skype (or any VoIP client) call comes in, the phone set rings and, on picking up the handset, the VoIP application takes over the sound card (from, say, a Windows Media player or SlingBox).
In addition to their traditional channel of telephony resellers who provide full service solutions, Multi-Link is developing a new consumer channel for distribution of their Skype products, building relationships with retail distribution partners; these relationships will be announced over the next few weeks.
Multi-Link is also a member of the VON Coalition, founded by VoIP pioneer Jeff Pulver to build awareness of VoIP-related issues within the Washington regulatory environment. This often involves a commitment of time to meet and communicate with both FCC commissioners and politicians on various issues such as the Universal Service Fund.
In summary Multi-Link sees their VoIP strategy as an extension of their ongoing business of providing low profile, but essential, infrastructure hardware that builds business opportunities for their value-added reseller partners who, in turn, can deliver "cost saving telephony" solutions to end users.
Disclosure: Skype Journal would like to acknowledge the assistance of Multi-Link, Inc. in facilitating our attendance at last month's eBay Developers Conference and eBay Live.
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it's looks like cheap Chinese c r a p.
way not use USB ATA that have external sound card? and there is plenty like it!!!
Andy - whoever you are - if you are really interested, the design of Multi-Link's TeleVoIP Stick was no trivial task. I am on the founding team of TeleVoce and am also now working with Multi-Link. The TeleVoIP Stick includes TeleVoce's decision engine and bridging (between the landline & Internet/Skype) software so that unlike USB phones it doesn't eat up CPUs, and unlike other adapters, you just dial from your regular cordless or other phone and the system routes the call either to the landline (if local) or to Skype-to-Skype or SkypeOut (if long distance or international). It also defaults to the landline for E911 - maybe not a big deal, but the way I see it - you get the cost-savings of Skype with the reliability of the plain old telephone system. I've been seeing quite a few postings on forums, and esp. home-based and small businesses are asking for somethng just like this. I realize we live in a nasty, cynical age, and not everyone is upfront about their agenda, so allow me to be. For me, startups like TeleVoce are a labor of love, so excuse me if I am a bit passionate, but I have looked at a lot of PC adapters for Skype, and before calling something crap - you might actually want to try it out. You can buy it on the Skype store in Accessories and soon from TeleVoce (http://www.televoce.biz). You seem pretty opinionated - who are you and what's your agenda? And where are you from - your posting reads like it was translated. And "Chinese" doesn't mean crap - looks to me like almost every consumer electronic device is manufactured overseas.
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