I found this streaming media interview with the CEO of AT&T blogged by Jeff Pulver’s late yesterday and viewed it.
Dorman comes off very well in the interview. He’s glib, knows the business and explains a lot about what AT&T is seeking to do with CallVantage.
Dorman said “it’s very early” and estimates that cable service has penetrated between 60-70 percent of the homes passed, and that VoIP is less than one percent penetrated, and that 30 million households in the USA have broadband which have been growing.
On the RBOC’s Dorman said that both the cable and Bell companies are going through changes driven by technology and regulation but that AT&T has some strategic advantages.
First is their IP network and experience running VoIP over a carrier infrastructure and the ability to scale. Their wholesale expertise is also a key factor, which makes me think that AT&T may become a private labeler of VoIP at some point, putting some heat on Level3 which has taken that role on.
Dorman also looks towards WiMax as another channel indirectly giving creedence to Craig McCaw’s vision for Clearwire, since wireless is easier and less costly than fiber.
On the business market, he talked about supply and demand, citing some suppliers as having unsustainable business model. On the subject of MCI he said that AT&T is in a different place financially, but still takes MCI seriously.
Dorman closed the interview by saying that VoIP is a part of AT&T’s business but not all of their business going forward, something that the other players in the space can’t really say right now.
AT&T David Dorman interview on VoIP and AT&T’s plans
Andy Abramson’s blog brought to my attention an interesting interview of AT&T’s David Dorman where he discusses AT&T’s future direction, including how VoIP will play in AT&T’s plans. Overall, Dorman does a good job at deflecting some of the “rumors”…
Excerpt of letter sent to ATT CallVantage folks
We have been left without phone service for our fire system and security system by your ATT CallVantage group. The service was supposed to activate on Friday and I spent 6 frustrating hour on the telephone (almost 2 hours of that hold time) only in the end to be told the people working the issue left for the weekend. Some Customer Service! We are telecommunications consultants (members of FCBA) and we used to recommend your services. Five day a week support will not hack it. I plan to pass these comments along to various FCC Section Chiefs Monday. I think that the VoIP industry will need significantly strengthen regulation if this type of Customer Service is what we can expect in the future. I would be available by cell phone at 386 405 6606 to discuss this further. (I also did not mention that the equipment order was equally screwed up)
Richard Holtz