For Whom The Bell Tolls

Over on DSL Reports is a note that AT&T has stopped putting new customers on their VoIP platform called CallVanatge.

While current customers are not affected, it looks like any new additions are a thing of the past for the foreseeable future.

As a CallVantage customer, I have yet to have any major issues other than a burned out Linksys ATA in the four years or so I’ve used it. The service remains in my mind the benchmark that all other service have to follow.

That said, this clearly opens the door for ailing Vonage to make some network related moves to shore up things and they could quickly step into the primary non cable supplier of VoIP. Additionally, this likely means that we’ll see more VoIP related uVerse marketing and a stepped up “take-a-way” program by the cable MSO’s to get those customers (and their phone numbers) away from the former Ma Bell.

This also opens the door for companies like clients PhoneFusion, PhoneGnome, Jazinga, Junctions Networks, non-client Earthlink and others to start adding new customers who want a Vonage alternative.

Update-> Tom Keating weighs in as well on what he thinks this means.