Your Top 3?

[Merlin]

Hi all,

I am working on an article for a local bus' mag' all about VoIP.

I'm more or less there with the info', but I need some help please...

Out of the three email interviews I sent out, only one local company has bothered to come back to me despite me receiving read replies.

If a company isn't interested in helping out for some marketing, I'm not about to give it to them.

I need some rough ideas on what it would cost for a SME to get started with VoIP and I could also do with your recommendations for the top 3 VoIP providers in ZA.

Thanks.

 

[warwickw]

1. Switchtel
2. Connection Telecom
3. ECN

Costs vary you need to maybe define what is an SME first, 10 staff 2 managers 1 receptionist or what.

 

[NightShift]

I believe that the government regards an SME to be any business with a turnover of less than R6 million per annum. Also as I understand it ECN are targeting companies outside of the SME space no? It's true to say that there are currently very few stable VOIP providers out there. There are LOADS of fly-by-nights. Aside from those mentioned, you may want to investigate VOX Telecom, who seem to be quite big in that space.

 

[Merlin]

Thanks guys.

This is a new venture between myself and the publication, so I'm still getting to grips with their exact target market. I've been told to focus on the broader SME space for the interim, so let's go with Markd's definition.

I'm well aware of the multitude of dodgies operating in this sector at present. Thanks for the tip though.

I have Vox listed here, but will check out Warwick's three too.

 

[MKSolutions]

Hi Mikroz

Good luck for your assignment, this is by far one of the most topical subjects.
To get to your question... there are so many providers out there and the only way to gauge which one is better, is based on a per Project Basis. Connection Telecom for instance dont carry traffic (well, as a business offering) but rather focus on in-house Asterisk skills. Switch are also very strong on Asterisk. If you want to move out of the OS domain you can look at ECN but they will only assist directly with a customer expenditure of more than R40k. Perhaps look at one of their Wholesalers like Centracom or iConnect.

Fundamentally the provider of choice is really determined by the target market you intend on bidding into.

PM me if you want more detail, or hit WhichVoIP.co.za (www.whichvoip.co.za) to check out the different providers.

 

[Merlin]

Hi MKS,

Thanks - and thanks for the info'. It's definitely appreciated.

After a long, long time of trying to get a break in 'proper' freelance writing, this is my 'break', if you will.

I'm learning a lot with this article - top of which is the severe word count. I'm wringing my article out to get just the essentials. Quite the learning curve. Hehe.

I'll be raiding this forum for opinions and info' for quite some time though, if this becomes a regular gig.

Your website has been bookmarked and will definitely get a looking at.

Cheers.