The Call 5 - 5/3/2004
From Michael Robertson, CEO and founder,
SIPphone.com
SIPphone Invades Iraq
I'm thankful I'm not a politician because Iraq is a mess. While people may disagree about the best course of action going forward or how we got there, we all agree that the soldiers, reporters and others involved deserve our support. You might be surprised to hear that SIP phones are actually at work in Iraq keeping businesses, soldiers and civilians in contact with the rest of the world. I want to tell you the story about two SIPphone deployments in Iraq to illustrate just how far reaching SIP technology has already become.
Most CNN viewers are familiar with the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad. Its balconies and roof have been the host for countless live reports. Outrageously expensive satellite phones are typically used to phone in the live reports, but other communications are difficult since there isn't a robust phone system. Surprisingly, the Palestine Hotel does have Internet connectivity. We shipped a Call-In-One to the hotel, quickly followed by 3 more. Entreprenuering individuals have purchased our SIP adapters, allowing hotel guests to make free Internet calls, call any phone in the world at ultra-low rates and even receive calls. Equipped with our Virtual US telephone number, calls to the Palestine hotel halfway around the world are just local calls to family and friends back home.
Elsewhere in Iraq, soldiers in the US Military have discovered SIPphone to make and receive stateside calls to family and friends. It is fitting that the team in charge of keeping soldiers connected to each other, are now bringing SIPphone to the troops in Iraq. Imagine you are serving over in Iraq and you can receive "local" calls from the US. With SIPphone, they're doing it now!
SIPphone's use in Iraq is an extreme demonstration of the potential of SIP. Each day SIP is being deployed in less traumatic regions. Just yesterday I received a call to my SIPphone from a new customer Finland. The call sounded like we were next door. A loyal son was plugging in a SIP adapter for his mother so he could talk to her from his home in Lexington, Kentucky. For about $100 he is now able to talk to his parents whenever he wants without worrying about phone bill. He thanked me for the this "incredible invention". It's the early days of a phenomenal telecom transformation, but its the most exciting period. Let me hear how you're using SIP. There's a growing list of great stories about how SIP is helping people connect.
Let us know how you're using your SIPphone and read other great stories in our SIPphone Forum.
Michael Robertson
CEO and Founder
SIPphone.com
