ISP-Packages & Partners - Epygi Technologies, Ltd.

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Become a Big Wheel in Small Business Telephony.

Packages and partners are the keys to small business VoIP

Imagine a new model that emphasized the business benefits of convergence while it eliminated risk with an on-premises "hybrid" IP PBX.

An Example

Your customer orders VoIP+ service. In a couple of days, hardware and applications arrive preconfigured, ready to install by the end-user or a technician. The system might include new, smarter IP phones or may rely on the customer's existing analog equipment. All services get deployed within hours.

The customer pays an agreed upon monthly fee per phone. Capital expenditures are insignificant or nonexistent. How and where the switching happens is irrelevant. The agreement includes a clearly defined bundle of services:

Reduced telephone and long distance expenses
Free calls between networked sites, regardless of location
VPN four-digit dialing among extensions, regardless of location
Voice services like IP and PSTN phone calls, customized voice mail, auto attendant and others
Business voice services like call transfer (internal and off site), conferencing, hold, call waiting and many others
Optional advanced IP business phone sets (internal and remote)
Remote access via soft phones
Centralized provisioning, management and billing
Operating expenses rather than capital investment
Simple PC screen administration with no need for on-site technicians

Yes, a softswitch could support all of these services but the problem of a purely centralized IP centrex server remains: if the IP link goes down, so does the service. The same is true with blackouts or power failures.

Until VoIP achieves greater than 99.9% reliability, hybrid is the way to go

Consider the Epygi Quadro IP PBX. With a range of products that address different size businesses and varying bandwidth needs, Quadros offer the same valuable set of advanced features as IP centrex and eliminate the need for multiple boxes at customers' premises.

Quadro handles services and switching locally. The Internet service provider’s provisioning and management reside on the Web. If the IP link goes down, local service soldiers on. Users still have voice mail and make and receive calls via back-up PTSN port(s) built into every unit.

The business manager (making the buying decision) receives peace-of-mind that his customers can always communicate with his business.

(A variation on this model offers services deployed via centralized switch--the IP centrex server--with the PBX capabilities of the Quadro serving as backup.)

Customer support

As a service provider you'll need a centralized support structure that can provide initial provisioning, maintenance, and potentially some ongoing "moves, adds and changes." If your customers expect access to technicians, you can easily outsource the labor.

No new cabling. The system works off the existing LAN (or voice network, for analog phones). You can train a local administrator to make simple changes like names and extensions, moving phones from one room to another, etc.

Quadro combines your customer's office router with a firewall and security protection. The integrated gateway prioritizes voice over data traffic for better call quality.

Quadro's PBX software, router and gateway have been integrated into a single unit. Users have one point-of-contact for all support issues, eliminating the "it’s not our box, it’s your box" buck passing that happens with multiple boxes on the customer's premise.

Financial concerns

Both the Quadro and IP centrex solutions deliver an affordable cost per port. With the centrex model, each new seat can trigger additional cost depending upon the wholesale agreement. With Quadro, the service provider only incurs additional cost when a new customer requires hardware.

Obviously, with the Quadro IP PBX, customer premise equipment (CPE) makes up most of the service provider's costs. As a service provider, you'll probably feel the need to recoup the cost of the CPE to avoid obsolescence or unreturned assets. Simple. You can manage this with contracts or third party leasing agreements.

Financing, leasing and term service contracts can ensure a steady income for you while your customer avoids any initial capital expenditure--a potential barrier to sales.

Partnering is a critical component of the success equation

When you become a Quadro reseller, Epygi can help you with pricing strategy, the right business message for your customers and value-adds that can differentiate you from competitors.

You'll also need relationships with distributors that stock the hardware you need and provide first line support for your installations.

Outsourced on-premise technical help can give you an advantage in customers' eyes. Financial and leasing services remove barriers to sales and eliminate your risk of "getting stuck" with excess equipment.

Of course, you'll need sales help. A little creativity can go a long way here. For example, independent mobile phone retailers have experienced stagnating sales over the past few years. They might jump at an opportunity to develop new revenue streams. They could add value by addressing small business' knowledge deficit by explaining benefits in layman terms.

What if the customer has a PBX and only wants to add IP features?

Epygi's product line includes intelligent, affordable gateways that bridge traditional PBX to the Internet. These appliances provide firewalls and VPN support and different models offer unique broadband connections: FXO, ISDN and E1/T1. Contact Epygi about this opportunity to ease PBX owners into your services.

It all boils down to this.

Your path to recurring profitable income from your existing and new customers is a complete packaged solution with clear business benefits. Your offer must be easy to understand, relatively free of risk and easily deployed for an affordable monthly price. Epygi can help you with the tools and techniques. Contact Epygi.

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