Coming Soon: New VoIP Lab at VoIP Supply

December 31, 2014 by Nathan Miloszewski

Custom VoIP lab at VoIP Supply is starting to take shape.

Coming soon to VoIP Supply is a brand new VoIP lab.

It may be hard to see from the picture above but that’s a custom hardwood table hand-built by the father of our CEO, Ben Sayers.

This will be a fully interactive lab with VoIP phones, headsets, PBX’s, gateways, and more from every brand that we carry. That way, when you call in asking about compatibility issues or solution suggestions, we’ll be able to more easily run tests for you and share our experience.

There’s a lot more to come in 2015 and we’ll keep you updated.

Happy New Year, everyone.

VoIP Holiday Specials on Aastra, Cisco, Jabra, Plantronics Over 40 Percent Off

December 23, 2014 by Nathan Miloszewski

Thanks to all of our wonderful, loyal customers, we’ve had another great year here at VoIP Supply.

As our way of returning the favor we’d like to pass along some VoIP Holiday Specials.

Limited Quantities, Offers Good Until December 31st

Going on now until December 31, 2014 there are limited quantities available for these deals on top brands like Aastra, Cisco, Grandstream, Jabra, Plantronics on devices such as:

VoIP Headsets
VoIP Phones,
Webcams
USB Speakerphones,
And more…

If you need help or have any questions about availability, talk to one of our friendly reps by calling toll-free 800-398-8647

Why Mobile VoIP Is Boring, Hosted VoIP Services Should Be Consolidated, and More On Peter Radizeski’s VoIP Radar

December 19, 2014 by Nathan Miloszewski

Peter Radizeski presenting at Ignite Tampa 2013

In this next installment of our VoIP Blogger Interview Series, we get the perspective of another industry veteran, Peter Radizeski (@radinfo) who has two blogs and runs his own telecom sales and marketing consulting firm, RAD-INFO, Inc.

The bio on his website says, “His honest and direct approach make him a refreshing speaker.”

You’ll find that to be true in this interview too where he doesn’t hold back his opinions on the technology, the players, and what he’d like to see more of.

VoIP Supply: Tell us a little bit about who you are and what your blogs, On RAD’s Radar and NSP Strategist, aim to provide for your audience.

Peter Radizeski: So I worked for a Novell VAR from 1996 till 1999 doing tech support, building servers, etc. In 1999, a buddy I played volleyball with was closing his GTE telecom agency (due to GTE being acquired by Verizon) and opening a BellSouth agency. I went to work for him selling primarily to ISPs and CLECs. I was full service – router configs, CPE, marketing and sales tips. I figured the more they sold, the more I sold.

This morphed into me doing consulting to service providers in sales, marketing and strategy. My marketing was a weekly newsletter about the industry, books I read, marketing and sales tips, case studies, and what the FCC was up to.

“I think mobile VoIP is the most boring usage out there. You already HAVE VoIP – that’s what a cellular call is.”

This newsletter morphed to the NSP Strategist in June 2004. In 2007, I was blogging for Virgo as an Advisory Board member when Rich Tehrani asked me to blog for TMC, so in 2008 I started blogging On RAD’s Radar about the channel, telecom, and lots of VoIP. On NSP Strategist I write for service providers about strategy, sales and marketing like my newsletter. My latest blog post Outside the Box in CLEC-Land was about four different service providers and the cool stuff they are doing right out – different from everyone else.

When I say strategy, I mean not just transitioning to Hosted PBX. I do webinars on Goal Setting and Sales Planning every year. I have written (and given presentations) about hiring, culture, change, innovation, motivation and management. The telecom executives who read NSP Strategist are getting valuable information on how to run their business.

On my blog on TMC, On RAD’s Radar, readers get a view of the indirect sales channel, VARs, Agents, sales, marketing and a not so grand view of the world of telecom and the carriers.

I also have columns in Cloud Computing Magazine, Internet Telephony Magazine and ChannelVision Magazine.

VS: How did you get started in VoIP?

PR: In 2003, Broadsoft’s second customer signed me as their first agent. I knew VoIP was going to be an opportunity; I just didn’t know it would take 10 years and many starts-and-stops (and even failures) for that to happen.

For my service provider clients who didn’t want to drop the big bucks on a TDM switch, VoIP seemed like a cost effective alternative.

VS: What are your favorite things about VoIP, or some of the creative ways you’ve seen people use the technology?

PR: Kindle Fire support is probably the best VoIP (WebRTC) use case.

I like click-to-call. I would like to see more widgets that enable voice. For example, on Android the way you can click a phone number in an email or web page to dial. That is how it should work.

I think mobile VoIP is the most boring usage out there. You already HAVE VoIP – that’s what a cellular call is. It’s not like these apps are enabling HD Voice or anything extraordinary. VoIP for some is still just arbitrage. It’s the biggest problem with calling it VoIP – the mainstream equates that with low cost dial-tone replacement. It’s the bane of the industry.

How do you compare a free Android app or a Vonage ATA or MagicJack device with a managed Hosted UC deployment?

Radizeski says, “…consolidation should happen a little more often, since there are 2000+ providers of hosted VoIP in the US. It will be fun to watch which players get taken off the table.”

VS: What trends are you seeing now and any predictions for the future?

PR: Well with the TDM to IP transition almost every LEC – ILEC, RLCE, CLEC – has a softswitch and is offering some form of hosted VoIP. Many buyers are aware of Hosted PBX and UC – not by that term, but by capabilities like find-me/follow-me, simulring, voicemail to email (my three favorite features). So adoption should speed up in the SMB space.

Lync/Skype for Biz adds an interesting element of competition to the Broadsoft world, who already had to compete/differentiate from the non-Broadsoft/Asterisk switches, Cisco Call Manager and premise based PBX.

I think Hosted UC will allow smaller companies to spin up a 2 to 4 seat call center with enterprise level software easily. If only the salespeople could figure out that functionality, like that is the reason we have the cloud to begin with (Enterprise level applications easily digestible for SMB on a monthly recurring bill.)

Also, consolidation should happen a little more often, since there are 2000+ providers of hosted VoIP in the US. It will be fun to watch which players get taken off the table.

It will be interesting to see who gives 8×8 and Comcast a run for their money in business hosted VoIP. Vonage might do it with the Telesphere acquisition, but then the Vocalocity buy didn’t pan out like they thought either.

VS: Writers read a lot. What’s on your reading list; websites you love or books you’d highly recommend?

PR: Highly recommend Linchpin by Seth Godin or anything by Seth Godin! Endless Referrals by Bob Berg was one of the first sales books I read. Accidental Salesperson is good. Marketing Outrageously. The Sales Bible by Jeffrey Gitomer. Duct Tape Selling by John Jantsch.

I read Telecom Ramblings, Seth Godin, Rich Tehrani, Nicholas Bates, James Altucher, project Exponential, INC magazine, Forbes, MojoMarketing, ChannelVision Magazine and Channel Partners regularly.

I still check my RSS reader once a month. Blogging has slowed down for many people. My Twitter feed provides too many articles to read in a year – every single day – so my biggest issue is time.

I would suggest that your audience read my latest book, SELLECOM2: Selling Cloud Services available in paperback or Kindle on Amazon.

First Look: Plantronics EncorePro 500

December 11, 2014 by Kelsey Sherwood

VoIP Supply has added a new series of Plantronics Wired Headsets

What is it?

Plantronics EncorePro is a lightweight wired headset that incorporates all day wearing comfort, a superior noise cancelling technology and long-term reliability.

Right now VoIP Supply has added the following EncorePro Models:

EncorePro 510

(more…)

Did You Change Your IP Camera’s Default Password?

December 5, 2014 by Nathan Miloszewski

A website based in Russia is broadcasting live video streams from private cameras around the world says Simon Rice in his blog for the Information Commissioner’s Office in the UK.

Any camera-enabled device such as webcams, laptops, tablets, baby monitors, and cell phones are all at risk.

They’re gaining access just by using the camera’s default password that’s set up by the manufacturer which is easy enough to find anywhere.

Even we’re guilty of sharing this list from IP Video Market in this blog post way back when, but it was for nefarious purposes.

If you don’t want someone spying on you, Rice advises these three things:

Change your default password!
Review all available security settings on your camera.
Secure any device that’s connected to the internet.

And if you’re still not convinced you should protect yourself, check out this post on Gizmodo, A Creepy Website Is Streaming From 73,000 Private Security Cameras.

Via Information Commissioner’s Office Blog | Gizmodo

VoIP Cyber Monday Deals

December 1, 2014 by Nathan Miloszewski

Up to 76% Off

We can’t help you with your case of the Mondays after the holiday break. But we’re hoping that these VoIP Cyber Monday deals will help improve your day some.

Limited Stock and Special Flat Rate Shipping

Going on now until December 5th, enjoy great VoIP Cyber Monday Deals plus Special Flat Rate Shipping on select items.

Due to limited stock, some items are limited to just five each per customer.

Offer Details

Cyber Monday Deals Pricing will be available starting Monday, December 1, 2014 thru 5pm EST on Friday, December 5, 2014.

This offer cannot be combined with any other offer or special pricing.

Instant Rebates on Sangoma Vega Gateways and Session Border Controllers

November 29, 2014 by Nathan Miloszewski

Sangoma Instant Rebates are back.

From now until December 31, 2014 enjoy up to $200 off in instant rebates on your favorite Sangoma Vega Gateways and Session Border controllers:

Vega 50 Gateways $25 Rebate
Vega 100 Gateways $50 Rebate
Vega 200 Gateways $75 Rebate
Vega 400 Gateways $100 Rebate
Vega 5000 Gateways $50 Rebate
Vega Enterprise SBCs $50 – $150 Rebate
NetBorder Session Controller $200 Rebate

Why Sangoma?

Since 1984 Sangoma has been a leading provider of hardware and software products that enable and enhance IP, Unified Communications (UC), and telecom solutions. Sangoma specializes in solutions for Microsoft Lync, Session Border Controllers (SBCs), and VoIP Gateways.

Why Do I Need a Session Border Controller?

VoIP security is just as important as any other firewall you use to protect your network. But as Simon Horton, Sangoma Director of Product Management, explains in our interview:

The role of an SBC is to sit on the edge of a network and act as the front door to all IP communications. This adds huge advantages as an SBC is intimate with VoIP it can take a much more active part in securing that network, easing interop, performing media tasks and dealing with policy control. These are areas when traditional firewalls and application aware firewalls do not do a good enough job.

Horton goes on to list the four main roles of an SBC. Click here to read more.

Need Help?

Call one of our friendly VoIP experts at 800-398-8647 if you have any questions.

OTT Video Webinar Will Discuss Effects of On-Demand Video Traffic on Networks

November 25, 2014 by Nathan Miloszewski

fiercetelecom

The telecom industry news site FierceTelecom is presenting a webinar with Qwilt, a video delivery platform, to discuss The flood of OTT video traffic from the likes of Netflix, YouTube, Amazon, DailyMotion, BBC, Canal+, RTL and Sky.”

Consumer demand for on-demand video is growing rapidly.

What can network operators do to prepare for it?

Dan Sahar, a co-founder of Qwilt, will share his experience with open caching of content and how it can help your network infrastructure deal with the Over-the-Top (OTT) video problem.

Register

The webinar has ended.

Date: December 10, 2014
Time: 10 AM EST
Duration: 1 Hour
What You’ll Learn: How Open Caching works, how it can be deployed, how it improves quality, and how it keeps you on top of video traffic growth and trends.

Via FierceTelecom

Office Makeover Challenge for Buffalo, NY Companies

November 22, 2014 by Nathan Miloszewski

office makeover2

Two questions:

Does your office look a little shabby and could use a makeover?
Is your company in Western New York?

If you answered ‘Yes’ to both of those questions, head over to WBEN.com to enter the $100K Office Makeover Challenge.

What You Can Win

Play a quick game arranging the participating companies logos and if you’re the one that gets the right pre-determined order, you can win $100,000 worth of office equipment and services.

As one of the sponsors, VoIP Supply will gladly help you redo your telephone system.

And if no one picks the winning list, don’t worry, there are other prize packages and some good deals going on right now for the contestants from all the sponsors.

So head on over to WBEN.com today and good luck!

Note: Contest open to New York State residents only.

10 Years Running VoIP Supply Named to List of Top Private Companies in Buffalo

November 20, 2014 by Nathan Miloszewski

For the 10th straight year VoIP Supply has been named to the list of Western New York’s Top Private Companies for 2014 by Buffalo Business First newspaper.

The top spots on this years list are occupied by local juggernauts Rich Products and Delaware North, two companies that are also on the Forbes list of America’s Largest Private Companies.

How VoIP Supply Started

In 2002 Ben Sayers founded VoIP Supply which was, at the time, one of the first online retailers dedicated to VoIP hardware and network devices.

Since then the company has grown to over 30 passionate employees who are all focused on the goal of solving problems and creating solutions with VoIP.

Building on his two decades worth of telecom experience, Ben recently launched CloudSpan, VoIP Supply’s own line of Hosted IP PBX, SIP Trunking, and Hosted Fax services catering to small businesses that want exceptional support.

With CloudSpan, VoIP Supply can better serve the needs of our great customers who helped us become a top private company.

More Than Just a Website

At VoIP Supply we believe that we have a greater mission than just being a profitable company.

“VoIP Supply is more than just a website,” Ben Sayers, CEO of VoIP Supply

In 2012, VoIP Supply became Western New York’s first Certified B Corporation (B Corp) which is a sustainable way of doing business that puts people ahead of profits.

As the B Corp movement likes to say, “B Corp is to business what Fair Trade certification is to coffee or USDA Organic certification is to milk.”

VoIP Supply regularly gives back to the local community and we’re currently in our Year of Giving where we volunteer, on company time, for a different charity every month.

“VoIP Supply is more than just a website,” said Sayers. “My team’s commitment to helping others reach their goals with VoIP and their dedication to doing well for others has allowed us to continually be regarded as a top private company.”