charlesa920
Premium
join:2007-01-20
Sikeston, MO
| reply to dusty1300
Re: I need to partner with a VoIP provider
peavys & dusty 1300
Yeah, I knew it would not be just a simple plug & play.
But I'm thinking the time is right for this service.
VoIP is a huge opportunity and cannot be dismissed simply because it is difficult.
If you will permit me to predict the near future I suggest you mark your calendars... there will be reliable, WISP friendly, and profitable "whitebox" programs available by 7-4-07. It would behove each of us to be prepared.
Perhaps I am wrong, perhaps there is already one and I don't know about it.
Charles |
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dusty1300
join:2007-02-20
Mason City, IA
| reply to charlesa920
I tried to get into the VOIP business a couple of years ago and it cost me many thousands. I partnered with a company called TalkISP, bought their server software, put it on my computer and it finally after many, many, many firmware updates to phones was working. I had my own PRI line (23 phones lines) and a gateway adapter in my Cisco. Turns out TalkISP quit selling and updating their software and the PRI line at $ 1000 per month just didn't make sense to break even, so we have finally quit our contract on the pri, and am going to sell my card from the Cisco (at a huge loss I'm sure). I still like what can be done with VOIP and I even installed Asterisk on the TalkISP box to give a nice frontend to their system and to do other things. I'm in rural Iowa and terminating calls and giving phone number out locally was a major hurdle. I have been in the process of setting up a Trixbox on a VMware server to do our office phones. I just need to buy a quad phone card for my server and it should work. I already have a bunch of different phones.
Anyway, that is my experience and I didn't get into 911 and that whole mess, let alone virus protection and other things.
Tom |
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peavys
join:2004-03-15
Manor, TX
| reply to Believer
On my 802.11x network, none of the major players work reliably across the network. Some people do OK, others don't. Just too much occasional packet loss and latency spikes. The only thing I recommend to my customers is Skype, which works quite well, almost certainly because they use iLBC.
I have searched in vain for a reseller that uses iLBC, the only way I have found to do it is option #4, which I too find daunting. I have looked into having someone set it up turnkey for me, but the set up price usually comes in around $7000, which is pretty steep for my little wisp, and there is always the chance it would not work out for some reason. One problem is the fact that 911 is now required, which introduces liability issues and other legal risks.
The only way I have thought of to make any $ at all off skype is helping people set it up to work with phones in their homes. It's not very friendly in that department, but it is not recurring. I still get nothing for my increased bandwidth requirements, which are substantial if everyone starts doing it. At least skype is stingy with bandwidth. |
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Believer
join:2002-07-04
Baltimore, MD | reply to charlesa920
Run from Nuvio. Part-15.org just dropped them because they didn't pay.
--
Comtrain Certified Tower Climber |
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charlesa920
Premium
join:2007-01-20
Sikeston, MO
| reply to wispagod
I don't think I'm interested in climbing the learning curve required to establish my own VoIP. I am actually interested in the climb, but more than a bit concerned about the dangers and pitfalls.
I found several resellers for NUVIO. Are there any resellers on this forum?
hey, in my research I ran across several user opinions where they were less than complementary...
»www.whichvoip.com/voip/user_revi···view.htm |
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wispagod
join:2001-06-28
House Springs, MO | reply to charlesa920
Have you considdered setting up a Asteriks box and being your own VoIP service, it's actualy cheaper than you think. |
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Air WAV
join:2000-09-16
Saint Louis, MO | reply to Velosity
Ionosphere.net is Nuvio re-branded.
Nuvio has a "whitebox" program.
--
StLBroadband.com |
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hottboiinnc
ME
join:2003-10-15
Cleveland, OH | reply to charlesa920
SunRocket will give a one time "finders fee" its like $75 per customer. Your customer can sign up direct from your website using the URL SR gives you. Also this works for ANYONE that signs up on your site. So no matter what you get the $75. |
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RockyBB
Premium
join:2005-01-31
Longmont, CO
| reply to charlesa920
if you want assurances that your partnered VOIP provider will be financially solvent into the future, you will be sadly disappointed by what you will find. Packet 8 and Vonage are the only significant pure play VOIP providers that publish their financial condition...all others don't either because they're privately held or part of a larger company. Circumstances of the VOIP world are that it is in early adopter stage, and profits are not expected right now. You will have that financial risk with every VOIP provider. You will have to balance uncertainty of future payments, with the certainty of no payments if you make no deal. For that reason alone, you might strongly consider the upfront or "spiff" options of any referral or agent program. If you don't like the minimum volume requirements of the direct deals, PM me for info on a no minimum deal. |
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charlesa920
Premium
join:2007-01-20
Sikeston, MO
| reply to RockyBB
Yes, I have searched for reseller programs, requested info from several. waiting for email's...
Anybody already doing a reseller program?
Packet8, what's up with them? From what I find they have not and will not turn a profit in the foreseeable future. and there is a chance they won't be able to pay their bills? That's what I've read.
»blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?p=584 |
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RockyBB
Premium
join:2005-01-31
Longmont, CO
| reply to charlesa920
Packet 8, SunRocket and others have agency programs that will pay a commish and/or one-time for referrals. Different flavors, of course: the higher the commitment, the higher the payout. But common to all is to put a link or banner on your home page, and drive traffic to it. The providers do all the customer service, equipment fulfillment, regulatory reporting, call termination, E911, billing and collections. You simply promote, then cash the check. No more squatting on your bandwidth without compensation. Similar programs available for online retailers (target.com, buy.com, overstock.com, walmart.com, etc) that are also exploiting your generosity. Take what they offer, or just sit there and take nothing: it's your choice. Find your own links, or send me a PM with your contact info. |
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cowsgonemadd
join:2007-02-24
Ware Shoals, SC | reply to charlesa920
You could always affiliate with them.
Try cj.com
I am a member their. They house thousands of affiliates.
I have not check vonage or any others but some VOIP providers should have a affiliate program. |
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Inssomniak
Premium
join:2005-04-06
Cayuga, ON
| reply to charlesa920
Before I started into the WiFi venturing, I resell a white label DSL service as well with a great wholesaler, they also do VOIP wholesaling as well, so when I move into the wireless world, I can offer almost all ISP type services such as wireless, DSL, dial-up, and VOIP, and I charge what I feel for it  |
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charlesa920
Premium
join:2007-01-20
Sikeston, MO | reply to Velosity
You wouldn't happen to have a link to "SuperDuperVOIPreseller"?
This sounds just like what I need. |
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Velosity
join:2006-12-08
Cape Girardeau, MO
| reply to charlesa920
Whitebox is a gerneric term that I would describe as re brand wholesale product/service. Lets say you want to offer your own VOIP service, but dont have money/expertise/resources to do it yourself. However you do have a good relationship with your customers and they would buy voip from you. So SuperDuperVOIPreseller does it for you, but to the customer it looks and feels like they are getting service from you. Generally with this solutions you bill the customer and then the real provider bills you. So it's not really a set residual, just whatever you choose to mark it up. I am pretty certain that this is how Charter is offering telephone service now. |
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charlesa920
Premium
join:2007-01-20
Sikeston, MO
| reply to Velosity
There must be several iterations of how to incorporate VoIP into the WISP business.
1) Let your customers sign up for Vonage
2) Find a VoIP that will pay a onetime commission
3) Partner with a VoIP that gives residuals
4) Do it all "inhouse"
Options 1 & 4 are out for me. with 1 I don't make any money and I don't have the expertice for #4
2 is better than nothing but I'm looking for #3.
WHITEBOX, is that like what I called a number 3? |
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Velosity
join:2006-12-08
Cape Girardeau, MO
| reply to Mike_27
The links that people posted to asterik and ser are for the open source VOIP Server projects. That would only be a good option for you if you were planning on termination and switching all the calls your self. i.e. becoming your own VIOP ITSP (internet telephony service provider). I did look at a company »www.ionosphere.net/ that had a great US reseller program, but it looks like they have been bought out. "Whitebox" is a generic term a product or service from someone else that you re brand it/resell it as your own. |
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Mike_27
Premium
join:2004-05-15
Gardiner, MT
| reply to charlesa920
more on asterisk:
»www.voip-info.org/wiki/index.php···Asterisk
more on sip express router:
»www.voip-info.org/wiki/index.php···s+Router
Mike |
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DaSneaky1D
one wall to block them all
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-29
The Lou | reply to charlesa920
Though I don't have partnership advise, I would warn that "getting that money" will reqiure that your network is up to snuff to support voip.
You're going to need to apply QoS policies at the cpe, edge router/ap, and the egress backbone dump. |
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charlesa920
Premium
join:2007-01-20
Sikeston, MO
| reply to Velosity
John & Mike,
I went to your sites and came away without a clue. I need some "Cliff Notes" or "VoIP for dummies".
Velosity, what is a "whitebox". Could not determine if that particular program is available in the US.
Is there anybody reselling VoIP, making money on it, and think the company they are dealing with is worth recommending?
Charles |
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