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Brand Integrity Blog » Volckmann (& friends) Say, "Goodbye AT&T, Hello Skype"
11 Comments- Add comment | Back to Brand Integrity Home Written on 21-Jun-2009 by russell.volckmannYes, it's been a wonderful lifetime of playing Ponzi games with phone companies, monthly rates, add-on charges, and other nonsense, but even good things come to an end sometimes.
Today, Volckmann (& friends) say, "Goodbye AT&T. Hello Skype!"
Goodbye: AT&T land line (415) 333-8300
Hello: Skype Online phone number (415) 992-5570
Goodbye: US Toll-Free number (800) 333-6760
Hello: Skype-to-Skype video phone volckmann.friends
In a similar way that Television forced us toward other media—and similar to record companies who did not get with online music until after it was too late—the phone companies are forcing us toward alternate communications providers. Skype-to-Skype and local calls are 100% free for everyone, making the old AT&T lines irrelevant.
And yes, there is a lesson to be learned in branding here too: No one feels any brand loyalty to AT&T or any of the other telecom companies. You've merged, acquired, divested, and merged again with as many name changes as a chameleon has spots. Your Ponzi "new rate plans" are lies with rates creeping up despite your words to the contrary. The telecoms have done nothing to earn our trust and respect.
サヨナラ AT&T!
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written on 21-Jun-2009
chickerino says:
All telephony should be done via the internet because voice is simply another form of data. Telecoms companies are clinging on to the legacy phone system because no one has yet figured out how to make money for calls via the internet - remember too that Skype would have no business model if they didn't charge for calls to non-internet phone numbers.
The one saving grace that they do have is that in most cases, you are still required to have a phone line in order to be able to get broadband.
Mobile phone companies will be next in line, though technology probably still stands in the way a little - i.e. needing a fairly reliable 3g connection in order to be able to use services such as Skype - though some companies are already trying to make it work:
http://www.three.co.uk/Mobiles/3_Skypephone
Will be interesting to see how things pan out!
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written on 21-Jun-2009
cristian.saracco says:
Actually, almost 80% of telcos LD calls are using Internet protocol... instead of that they charge us a good amount in our invoices
... That's because thay are so, so funny...__45__(@16x16C).jpg)
written on 22-Jun-2009
russell.volckmann says:
hey Marcus & Cris ... great to have both your thoughts here...
Truth be known, we need to keep that one single AT&T land line for our DSL connection. However, we are eliminating at least two land lines, and maybe even our fax line if we find there is a better e-fax option out there.
Questions for everyone: How often does your business use fax? Do you really need a traditional paper fax solution? Are you using an e-fax solution? Have you found a good plan for e-faxing?written on 22-Jun-2009
russell.volckmann says:
Looking at this one at the moment....
http://www.saveonfaxes.com/learn-more-pricing.html(@16x16C).jpg)
written on 22-Jun-2009
julio.ferro says:
I haven't received any fax for years! Are you sure you still need it, Russell?
written on 22-Jun-2009
russell.volckmann says:
Just for things that require signatures: agreements, etc.... are you Skype, Julio?
written on 22-Jun-2009
julio.ferro says:
Sometimes. It's not so popular here in Argentina so my list is really short. But my friends who live abroad use it really a lot.
I've heard there's a way to use Skype with the iPhones and there's an increasingly number of users that started to try it.
May be you should try PamFax. It's a plug-in for Skype. http://www.pamfax.biz/en/written on 22-Jun-2009
russell.volckmann says:
I read about PamFax on a Skype discussion group today... some users reporting some problems. Definitely worth looking into though.
written on 22-Jun-2009
cristian.saracco says:
In certain countries the fax is still needed for legal purposes... e.g.; a contract (it's not valid via E-Mail)
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written on 22-Jun-2009
THEARTIFACT [http://G10Writers.com] says:
Right you are here! No loyalty what so ever. I have been using Skype for a year now and I really like it. Although they just did an upgrade and it seems to have messed with the quality of the voice if there are over four people trying to have a convo at once, but I am hoping the "kinks" will be taken care of with that.
written on 22-Jun-2009
russell.volckmann says:
Right you are Cris... and not every client/ partner is savvy enough around digital signatures yet either. Or their organization may require a "pen & hand" anyway.
Otherwise, I would be thoroughly prepared & happy to go completely paperless & digital...
... hey, maybe that's a good subject for your new "green blog"!
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