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IPitomy President Reflects on World Events with TMCAs a developer of business telecommunications solutions for small to mid-sized businesses, IPitomy provides products that are open standard-based utilizing the SIP protocol.
Not only does IPitomy (News - Alert) deliver reliable and affordable IP Telephony products, but IPitomy Exchange is a full service VoIP provider. Subscribing to the company’s services will increase your communication options while reducing your expenditures.
Nick Branica, president of Ipitomy, took some time to share his thoughts on the future of IP communications with Technology Marketing Corporation’s President, Rich Tehrani (News - Alert).
RT: Are you generally optimistic, pessimistic or realistic?
NB: I am always optimistic. At the same time, I like to be prepared for the worse. I guess that makes me a realistic optimist.
RT: How many frequent flyer miles have you amassed?
NB: Millions.
RT: How surprised are you at the global financial situation?
NB: I am very surprised. I am shocked that our banking system could have contributed so much to the global meltdown. The events leading up to the situation appear to be the result of some relaxed regulations and some careless investing. Knowing what we know now, I guess it is not too surprising that this happened. It is surprising that the politicians, banking, insurance and investment executives that contributed to this had such an extremely weak moral compass as to allow this to happen.
RT: How is your company changing the way it does business as a result?
NB: We are very careful about granting credit. We keep inventory at a minimum. We watch our spending.
RT: How have customers reacted to the slowing global markets?
NB: We are not seeing a huge impact to sales. We are cautiously optimistic that our products and services are part of the solution rather than part of the problem.
RT: Do you see this time as an opportunity or a rough spot to get through quickly?
NB: We look at it as an opportunity. Enterprises looking to reduce expenses and increase productivity can benefit from IP Telephony on many fronts:
SIP Trunks
Remote Workers
Lower Bandwidth Costs
Reduced Service and Maintenance costs
Low initial equipment costs
Low installation expense
Managed service contracts to reduce expenses
Multi Site deployments to save on intra company telecommunications expense
RT: What will companies need to do to survive this downturn?
NB: Being right sized for the sales velocity that their individual company has. Management will need to keep a tight rein on expenses. Make every penny count. At the same time, don’t throw out the baby with the bathwater. Keep up as much sales and marketing efforts as possible to improve sales. Be innovative on web marketing and email marketing.
RT: How do your company’s’ products help customers in a slow market?
NB: All of the above. We sell through resellers. They are all looking for a product to differentiate themselves from the competition. IPitomy is focused on reducing installation costs, reducing equipment costs and increasing margins for our resellers. By differentiating our products and services, we can help our resellers exceed their margin goals by reducing their labor costs.
RT: What do you feel is the strongest segment of the communications space? Technology?
NB: IP telephony. SIP technology. Multi Site installations. Managed Services. CPE Equipment.
RT: Which would you rather be president of and why? Google, Yahoo, Microsoft (News - Alert), Cisco, the United States.
NB: Google. I love the innovation.
RT: What does President Bush need to accomplish before he leaves office?
NB: Hurry to the door.
RT: What does an Obama administration need to do to help communications and technology become more pervasive?
NB: Make sure that IP Telephony is not disrupted by corporate policies that affect it. Comcast (News - Alert) and other companies have been known to negatively impact SIP traffic; ostensibly so only they can provide telephony services on their networks. This should be outlawed.
RT: Will this slowdown present an opportunity to reinvest in your company/market? If so, where will you invest?
NB: We are investing in product development. We have completed the development of a complete line of IPPBX systems and a SIP telephone which are now in the marketplace. We will be developing a complete line of telephones. The market is not really effecting our current investment strategies. It is effecting how we view hiring and increasing overhead expenses.
RT: Which country will present the largest opportunity for your company in 2009/10?
NB: The USA and South America.
RT: What device(s) do you use and wish you used?
NB: We use our IP PBX incessantly. We have many branch offices and routinely dial overseas using our branch offices and remote extensions in foreign countries. Not only do we save money on Long Distance charges, but our conferences calls are free and can be set up whenever we want. We use webinars a lot and find that it reduces our expenses dramatically. We would like to expand our use of video to enhance training.
RT: If Nokia (News - Alert), RIM, Google and Apple devices are stranded together on an island, who survives and why?
NB: They would all survive. They would load a Google phone on each device and call for help over the wireless Internet.
RT: I understand you are exhibiting at ITEXPO which takes place Feb 2-4 2009 in Miami. What will you be showing there?
NB:
-- Three models of IP PBX Systems -- Two Gateways for Analog connectivity
-- IP 550 SIP telephones
-- Auto-Configuration technology for the IP PBX and the phones
-- Desktop call control and management for Receptionist and standard users
-- ACD Software
-- Call Center management reports
-- Call Center Desktop management client for Call Center Manager and Agents
RT: What sorts of companies/people should come to your exhibit?
NB: Telephony and IT resellers wishing to expand their sales with innovative industry leading technology designed to make them money
End users and enterprise customers with multiple locations
End User and Enterprise customers who would benefit from reduced costs
End Users and Enterprise customers who want to get the latest technology but don’t want the headaches of untested products.
Call Centers
RT: Why should customers choose your company’s solutions – and how do they justify the expense to management?
NB: IPitomy products provide a Pure IP PBX environment so customers do not have to worry about purchasing a product or services that will become obsolete in the next few years. While IPitomy products and services are the latest technology, the user experience is much the same as the traditional applications that they may be used to. This will reduce the learning curve and provide a comfortable transition to the new technology. Along with all of the ease of use and simplicity comes a comprehensive list of advanced features that will reduce expenses, reduce labor costs and reduce the total cost of ownership.
In many cases, the cost of an IPitomy system can be justified in savings on current monthly dial tone and bandwidth costs. Additional justification and cost savings come from advanced features like presence management, meet me conferencing, remote workers
RT: I am a purchasing decision-maker, why do I need to speak with you before I buy?
NB: IPitomy staff is very knowledgeable on the complete telecommunications application; from dial tone to equipment, IPitomy employees have the experience and the commitment to provide users with an accurate assessment of their business telecommunications needs. If we can’t help them, we can tell them who can.
RT: What is your favorite part of your job?
NB: The smile on the face of our customers when they realize that we are committed to delivering the best applications possible and we mean what we say.
RT: What do you look forward to in the future and why?
NB: I look forward to the widening possibilities in the business telecommunications environment. As technology becomes more complex, it is our job to make the complex simple. Rich Tehrani is President and Group Editor-in-Chief of TMC. In addition, he is the Chairman of the world�s best-attended communications conference, INTERNET TELEPHONY Conference & EXPO (ITEXPO). He is also the author of his own communications and technology blog. Edited by Michelle Robart More Hosted VoIP Community Stories
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