![]() On the other hand CISCO innovates through its M&A strategy so it could quickly buy itself back into contention. However, the company struggles to sell to smaller businesses and that could be its Achilles heel. Though they don't have the Skype address book they have market leadership in visual communications, through WebEx, and a full suite of unified communications products. Global unified communications leadership has been CISCO's to lose over the past five years. Right now, Google is getting the vote over Skype for video calls. It is well capable of selling to smaller enterprises. Google also has the fastest growing social network and growing loyalty in the enterprise market. Google's White Space trials seem less well-developed in emerging markets and better targeted at the US, from what we heard earlier in the week. ![]() Like Microsoft, Google is piloting White Space infrastructure that will permit users to hook into WiFi almost anywhere, and get into the IP network without incurring carrier voice charges or data charges, if they are roaming. Google is already a player in video communications through Hangouts, Chat and its email/voice integration, and it seems likely to will launch a super-integrated product, Babel, in the near future. Microsoft has been around long enough to be deeply embedded in all its markets, an advantage even over Google, which has its problems once it steps outside the USA.īut can Microsoft convert Skype to an ultra-agile unit, pumping out updates and features at the speed of Google? That also means it could be the first to provide a truly global, high quality service, without drawing users into high-priced carrier data plans. Microsoft is involved in White Space spectrum trials in Europe and the USA but has a plan for White Space roll out across Africa, giving it a position in universal WiFi availability. Skype is headed by ex-CISCO executive Tony Bates. Over 600 million people had signed up to Skype prior to the Microsoft takeover and right now it looks as though the monthly usage pattern is well over 250 million. That assessment is based on a conversation I had six months ago with a senior CISCO executive who told me they secretly fear Microsoft's challenge to WebEx, from Lync, and the address book Microsoft has in Skype. Microsoft, surprisingly, is in prime position to be the global comms service, though probably for the enterprise rather than the consumer. I've excluded Apple and Face Time on the grounds that Apple will not easily promote networking outside of the Apple ecosystem whereas Skype and Hangout are ubiquitous: I'm curious about this area and could not find out a huge amount online. Let's look at the major possibilities - and please, pitch in with your own observations. ![]() I think that signals a particular business vision that European or Asian entrepreneurs lack. One thing is for sure, American companies are once again in prime position to create a global communications service with a billion plus users. According to August, 2012 comScore Top 100 Properties - Panel Only rankings, ooVoo was the #1 site with teens and the #1 site for people under 25 ![]() 65% of ooVoo worldwide users are currently under 25 years of age, and 55% of ooVoo subscribers registered in the United States are under the age of 25.
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