Internet telephony provider could be gearing up for channel programme
Internet telephony provider Skype has launched a small-business offering and has hinted that a channel programme could be in the pipeline.
Skype for Business will have a dedicated web site to provide support for businesses with fewer than 10 employees.
Niklas Zennström, chief executive of Skype, said: “We know from listening to our 75 million customers that 30 per cent of them are regularly using Skype for their businesses. Most of these are small companies.”
Alistair Shrimpton, UK country manager at Skype, told CRN: “At this stage we are looking at the business market, but we are examining projects with resellers. There is an enormous demand on the reseller front, and Skype likes to fulfil demand. Skype has become so popular. We are offering the product to small businesses.”
Shrimpton added that half of Skype business users have less than 10 employees, and the offering is focused on the demands of these businesses.
“We are expanding on the success of Skype and have added in new hardware, features and simplified management for businesses. There is always talk about security,” he said
“We place an incredible amount of focus on security. It never comes up as a problem for us.”
Shrimpton added that the new business capabilities have been driven by market demand, a factor which could see the introduction of a UK channel.
“We have seen huge demand from resellers for a specific offering for them. We are currently negotiating, and you can expect more from us in the future,” he said.
Steven Winstone-Adair, sales director of VoIP reseller Margolis, said: “The channel would only be interested in working with Skype provided that it could guarantee the margins and the quality. If the quality is poor, resellers will lose customers.”
Tony Lewis, managing director of VoIP VAR Club Communications, said: “If Skype wants to be a success in the business market, it would have to embrace the channel.
“To launch a channel Skype would have to improve in terms of quality of service for the business environment. The channel would also need reassurance.”
Internet telephony provider Skype has launched a small-business offering and has hinted that a channel programme could be in the pipeline.
Skype for Business will have a dedicated web site to provide support for businesses with fewer than 10 employees.
Niklas Zennström, chief executive of Skype, said: “We know from listening to our 75 million customers that 30 per cent of them are regularly using Skype for their businesses. Most of these are small companies.”
Alistair Shrimpton, UK country manager at Skype, told CRN: “At this stage we are looking at the business market, but we are examining projects with resellers. There is an enormous demand on the reseller front, and Skype likes to fulfil demand. Skype has become so popular. We are offering the product to small businesses.”
Shrimpton added that half of Skype business users have less than 10 employees, and the offering is focused on the demands of these businesses.
“We are expanding on the success of Skype and have added in new hardware, features and simplified management for businesses. There is always talk about security,” he said
“We place an incredible amount of focus on security. It never comes up as a problem for us.”
Shrimpton added that the new business capabilities have been driven by market demand, a factor which could see the introduction of a UK channel.
“We have seen huge demand from resellers for a specific offering for them. We are currently negotiating, and you can expect more from us in the future,” he said.
Steven Winstone-Adair, sales director of VoIP reseller Margolis, said: “The channel would only be interested in working with Skype provided that it could guarantee the margins and the quality. If the quality is poor, resellers will lose customers.”
Tony Lewis, managing director of VoIP VAR Club Communications, said: “If Skype wants to be a success in the business market, it would have to embrace the channel.
“To launch a channel Skype would have to improve in terms of quality of service for the business environment. The channel would also need reassurance.”
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