The move toward all-in-one VoIP solutions continues to gain steam as firms seek to develop platforms that allow network operators, service providers and even content developers to outsource operations to fully functional third-party providers.

           

Delivering VoIP services once meant lengthy network and back office systems development, but this new breed of outsourcers is allowing providers to hand off most, if not all, of the physical operations tasks to an independent firm, allowing them to concentrate on marketing functions, such as features, pricing and bundling.

           

A recent agreement between Brekeke Software (pronounced breh-keh-kee) and Solegy LCC highlights this trend in that it expands the reach of both companies by allowing them to provide an integrated system linking Brekeke’s SIP-based IP-PBX and SIP Server software to Solegy’s ServicePDQ management platform.

           

For service providers and applications developers, the deal offers a simplified means to target business owners for IP and wireless voice services with a single system that handles development, deployment, management and billing of network services, even over heterogeneous network configurations.

           

“We wanted to move beyond basic features into things like group-ring, park and the like, without forcing the customer to buy a separate feature server and deploy it themselves,” said Eric Hernaez, CEO of Solegy. “This allows us to be a one-stop shop for the customer, either by buying a Brekeke license from us or buying it as a hosted service directly from Brekeke.”

           

The Brekeke system also brings a set of open APIs to the Solegy platform, allowing it to incorporate third-party applications much more easily.

           

“The benefit of our platform is that it allows their customers to choose what they need,” said Tomoko Shimicu, chief operating officer at Brekeke. “If you want to work with a third party product, we provide the API to work with the interface.”

           

The scalability of the Brekeke system was also a key consideration in that it allows the two companies to provide a robust solution to the SMB market that can grow or shrink according to business conditions.

           

“They chose us because of the ease of use of our system and the fact that it is available for smaller-scale operations,” Shimicu said. “We offer a lower price point for those serving a small number of customers, and we can combine different characteristics to match whichever market they are targeting.”

           

Solegy usually deals directly with customers, selling very few of its products through VARs or distributors. However, Hernaez said the company counts as customers many VARS and other firms who bundle telephone minutes for resale.

           

“The opportunity is for them to move up the food chain a bit,” he said. “A lot of our customers started out as VARs and agents for other companies. We gave them the ability to start selling their own service, rather than selling others’. We provide them with more control over pricing and services, which in the end improves their bottom lines.”

           

Another opportunity is to bundle resold minutes from Solegy into the ServicePDQ system, according to Stu Sleppin, Solegy’s president.

           

“Our customers can access and load wholesale term rates,” he said. “This allows them to build a one-stop package for customers who want to use our system.”

 

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