One has to read between the lines and see who is being quoted to really seperate the wheat from the chaff.
As more stories pour out about VoIP it is important to realize that the analysts at companies like Yankee Group and IDC are paid by the telcos and the next gen carriers, though not always at the same time. Comments from analysts at these firms usually represent a view that one side or the other has requested a position on.
In reading the article from News Factor Network I can’t help but feel that the old line telcos are driving the “opinions” right now simply because too much of what is being said reflects a protectionist view of customer ownership.
Basically, if Jeff Pulver’s not being quoted, you can bet your bippy, that the story is really more biased than it should have been. Pulver has been a VoIP loyalist and pioneer for many years. His understanding about the space is second to none, and he is on a crusade. By not including his view on the space most articles are missing out on reality.
But there are others. Christine Hartman of Probe has extensive SBC experience on the softswitch side. Her predecessor, Hilary Mine, who Alcatel scooped up to guide their next gen efforts, both were VoIP loyalists who never got the recognition for understanding the space as well as they did.
Bottom line, is the right people have to be asked the right questions for a story to really matter. Unfortunately, sometimes journalists never let facts get in the way of a good story!
Stay connected,
Andy Abramson