The Vertical Group has claimed its new VoIP telecom business has saved companies up to 80% compared to the cost of a conventional PSDN network
WTM 2010: Vertical claims VoIP product can deliver 80% savings
The Vertical Group has claimed its new VoIP telecom business has saved companies up to 80% compared to the cost of a conventional PSDN network.
Mi Telecom, launched at World Travel Market this week, offers travel firms a full suite of communications services including phone, broadband, conferencing and number services.
Mi Telecom is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Vertical Group, which and has been using the technology in-house with a handful of its members for the past two years.
Peter Healey, chief executive of the Vertical Group, said: “If you are currently on an old PSDN switch platform you will save up to 80% of the cost if you move to this platform.
“We have essentially built a platform that takes away the headaches of telecoms from any business. We are going to focus on the travel industry initially but it’s a product that could be used in any sector. We have taken away a lot of the set up charges and fees.”
The Vertical Group claimed Mi Telecom technology offers low-cost entry and free internal telephone calls.
It also gives operators the chance to offer free calls for agents instead of 0800 numbers, and to have overseas staff on UK numbers.
Staff members who travel abroad can use a portable, plug-in telephone to make free calls in the destination.
Russ Gardner, Mi Telecom sales director, said reliability concerns about VoIP were a thing of the past.
“It’s not something we come across day to day,” he said. “This is a very exciting product for us all and puts us in the unique position of offering a full suite of products to both the home and business markets.
“Hidden costs, complex pricing models and complicated technologies are a thing of the past and we hope that our simple and completely transparent approach will enable customers to focus on their priorities of growing their businesses and enjoying life.”
The Vertical Group expects the technology to interest all travel companies from big call centres to small travel agents.
Healey added: “They are having to spend money on PDSL. This is a case of adding more services for something they are already paying for.
“We have been developing our communications products for some time now and use these products across our own businesses.
“The opportunity for us was to make these same products available outside our own business, providing customers with a choice of products alongside a simple, competitive pricing model.”
- More from World Travel Market at travelweekly.co.uk/wtm2010
