Source: smithonvoip.com

I enjoy the unique pleasure of sitting at the cross roads between the end user, the phone system manufacturer, the VAR, the open source community and the VoIP service provider. It is a position that allows me the ability to look down each of the different roads to see the sticking points and the pain that each of these groups continuously encounter. As the market has continued to grow and mature with each passing day, I am getting more and more inquiries from all in-roads about IP based phone systems. Most these inquiries come from frustrated VAR’s or phone system manufacturers who just can’t seem to get their offerings off the ground.

Most feel like they are constantly trying to hit a moving target. They are right. With the rapid growth of the industry, the low barriers to market entry and the downward pricing pressures due to immense competition it is tough for everyone involved to turn a profit (when they do sell something) and for the customer to be happy with the solution they receive.

But the outlook is not that bleak. Most of the problems that folks are facing all the way down phone system food change can be corrected - and this is were I come in. Over the next four days, I am going to release a series of posts that discuss the major road blocks and problems each “tier” of the phone system channel is facing and offer some insights and solutions that can be implemented in hopes of increasing sales, profits and customer loyalty.

So check back tomorrow for the first part of this series where we will take a look at the phone system manufacturers/vendors.