Virtual Office Resource

ITEXPO (News - Alert) is the event where service providers learn how to profitably roll out services their subscribers need. This year’s ITEXPO West was a huge success and, on top of bringing together sellers, resellers and manufacturers, TMCnet’s Erik Linask (News - Alert) had a moment to sit down with Joel Maloff, vice president of Channel Delveopment for Phone.com (News - Alert). Phone.com is a provider of cloud based Web, mobile and Internet communications services and applications for businesses and consumers.

Phone.com strives to be more than just “another phone company,” notes Maloff. In fact, their strategy is to reach the SMB community, and they’re doing so by additional partnering.

One of the more recent partners Phone.com is proud to have is the Tarkenton Companies, of the Fran Tarkenton NFL fame.

“He’s a serial entrepreneur, has bought and sold twenty companies, and right now his focus is entirely on small business. We are working with him and cross-marketing and branding and we believe that will be very successful for both of us,” said Maloff.

Under the agreement, Phone.com will offer and market their Virtual Office phone solutions and services to the small business owners who use Tarkenton Companies' OneMoreCustomer solutions. The Tarkenton Companies will market their suite of Web-based CRM applications for small business to Phone.com's users.

“We have a very dynamic offering for both sides,” said Maloff.

Right now, things are good for Phone.com. Their business is booming and their channel partner program is thriving, but it’s not all just about what their name represents.

“We’re not sitting still. We believe that Phone.com is a great brand, it’s a wonderful name, but we’re more than just phones,” noted Maloff. “To us, that’s very exciting.”

The need for IP communications in the small business is a topic that’s always been a hot one in IP telephone news. SMBs in particular need dependable communications because it provides themwith enhanced communication tools to better serve their customers and get the most out of their work force.

Maloff spoke anecdotally about his own brother’s small business that, due to location, was affected by all of the inclement weather from tropical storms to hurricanes and, of course, lost all of his communication systems.

The nature of his business led to his being unaware of IP telephony, however, knowing who Maloff worked for, called upon Phone.com for their services so that they wouldn’t be without communications. Phone.com had them up and running within one hour.

“As we see these kinds of drivers occurring and people start to become aware of the flexibility of IP telephony, the fact that it is not a toy anymore, that it is now very real, it’s less costly than the PSTN, and the PSTN is going to go away anyway, they’re thinking about now, “ said Maloff. “Will that help drive it? Yes, eventually but right now I feel there are more significant drivers.”

News on the horizon for Phone.com are many more channel opportunities, of whom and when are yet to be disclosed, but we will be hearing about it here on TMCnet when the time comes.

Want to learn more about the latest in communications and technology? Then be sure to attend ITEXPO East 2012, taking place Feb. 1-3, 2012 in Miami, Fla. ITEXPO offers an educational program to help corporate decision makers select the right IP-based voice, video, fax and unified communications solutions to improve their operations. It's also where service providers learn how to profitably roll out the services their subscribers are clamoring for – and where resellers can learn about new growth opportunities. To register, click here.