It’s a given that with time VoIP will replace traditional voice technology in corporate networks. Sales of IP phone systems have surpassed those of traditional PBXs, and business VoIP will exceed traditional voice by 2010, according to IDC.
?In the meantime, companies will need technology to make the transition smoothly and expand VoIP to wireless phones, handhelds, laptops and other devices. And they will expect to benefit from the new capabilities voice has when it is sent via IP; for example, it can be embedded in applications.
Here is a list of 6 companies that warrant attention as the business environment shifts its voice technology:
Cantata
Founded: 2006
CEO: Marc Zionts, who was instrumental in spinning off Excel Switching from Lucent, then merging it with Brooktrout Technology to form Cantata.
Headquarters: Needham, Mass.
Funding: Undisclosed investments from GreenView Associates, Oak Investment Partners and TowerBrook Capital Partners.
What it offers: Technology for core and peripheral support of IP communications, including media servers, speech recognition software, enhanced IP services software, and combination IP and TDM voice signaling.
Why company is worth watching: It can provide products that will become more sought-after, as large corporations and service providers adopt VoIP and need to revise their infrastructure.
How it got its start: The merger of Brooktrout Technology and Excel Switching.
Who uses the product: Alcoa, Bank of America, Comcast, Verizon.
DiVitas Networks
Founded: 2005
CEO: Vivek Khuller, formerly with Clearstone Venture Partners, Sycamore Networks and Verizon.
Headquarters: Mountain View, Calif.
Funding: US$23 million from Clearstone Venture Partners and private investors.
What it offers: Mobility Communication Platform, an appliance that combines VoIP, security, wireless LAN (WLAN) switching and cellular connectivity for Vo-Fi-to-cellular roaming. The product is not yet available.
Why company is worth watching: Now that IP telephony network convergence is mature, fixed-mobile convergence is being identified as the next big technology challenge for enterprises and carriers. DiVitas says its product someday could let businesses give employees a single device for all communications.
How it got its start: Khuller was a venture capitalist who came up with the idea to create the company, then shifted over to running it.
Who uses the product: So far, WLAN vendors Trapeze, Symbol and AirMagnet have announced partnerships with DiVitas, but the company keeps information about its enterprise beta customers close to the vest.
Vonexus
Founded: 2004
President: Jerry Fleming, former executive vice-president of Interactive Intelligence, the parent company of Vonexus.
Headquarters: Indianapolis
Funding: Privately backed by Interactive Intelligence.
What it offers: An all-software IP PBX customized for Microsoft networks.
Why company is worth watching: The company says its Enterprise Interaction Center breaks apart the traditional, centralized call-centre model and makes customer service operations less expensive to run and easier to manage. EIC uses Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)-based software clients, which provide a telephony interface and access to other Microsoft-based applications.
How it got its start: Spun off from Interactive Intelligence, which makes large-enterprise contact centre software.
Who uses the product: Broyles Kight & Ricafort (law firm), Dupaco Community Credit Union.
NewStep Technology
Founded: 2003
CEO: Neil Baimel, former CEO of Syndesis, maker of service-fulfillment software for service providers.
Headquarters: Toronto
Funding: $11.7 million from Vengrowth Private Equity Partners.
What it offers: Hardware and software that broker signaling among disparate communications networks to facilitate, for instance, linking traditional PBX calls to Wi-Fi handsets within businesses.
Why company is worth watching: As businesses convert to IP, this will enable expanding connections to IP phones, softphones and various handheld devices, as well as traditional phones, without forklifting current hardware.
How it got its start: It spun off from Bell Canada. Who uses the product: Embarq.
Sipera
Founded: 2003
CEO: Seshu Madhavapeddy, who joined in 2005, was co-founder of Spatial Wireless and is entrepreneur-in-residence at venture capital outfit Austin Ventures.
Headquarters: Richardson, Texas
Funding: $19.5 million from Austin Ventures, Star Ventures and others.
What it offers: Sipera Internet Protocol Communications Security (IPCS) boxes provide firewall and threat-protection services specific to VoIP networks.
Why company is worth watching: Some analysts say VoIP technology is ripe for the picking by hackers and malware crafters. As enterprises convert PBXs to server-based VoIP systems, and consumers cut their copper plain old telephone service lines for VoIP, protecting traffic will become increasingly important.
How it got its start: Founder and CTO Krishna Kurapati sold IPCell Technologies to Cisco for $213 million in 2000, then pulled together a team of engineers to begin work on enterprise VoIP security out of a one-bedroom apartment in Dallas.
Who uses the product: Goldsmith-Agio-Helms, a Minneapolis private investment bank, and Avaya.
FirstHand Technologies
Founded: 2002
CEO: David Hattey, former 3Com vice-president in charge of enterprise VoIP gear.
Headquarters: Ottawa
Funding: $16.5 million through BDC Venture Capital, Covington Capital, Skypoint Capital, Venturelab Partners.
What it offers: Software that extends PBX functions to handheld devices.
Why company is worth watching: Its products will help companies integrate VoIP with their Wi-Fi networks and commercial wireless services to broaden the reach of corporate PBXs.
How it got its start: Alain Mouttham licensed critical technology from Columbia University to kick off the company.
Who uses the product: OneConnect, Nortel.
QuickLink: 077186
