Open Source Model Helps Push Innovation in the Telecom Space: AstriCon Presenter

The gradual adoption of the open source model has helped bring a myriad of new innovations to the telecommunications market over the last few years. Without having to reinvent the wheel each time they develop a hardware or software solution, designers have been able to push the communications space to new levels.

Open source software like Asterisk allows PBX (News - Alert) vendors and end-point designers to pick up where the last development left off, and bring products to market in a less time-consuming and more cost-effective manner. Asterisk (News - Alert), one of the world's most popular open source telephony offerings, has also helped level the playing field by enabling small- and medium-sized development companies to compete with some of the larger telecom-related enterprises.

In an effort to gain a better understanding of the open source model and the Asterisk market in general, TMC CEO Rich Tehrani (News - Alert) recently conducted an interview with Cheryln Chin, vice president of marketing for Cloud Telecomputers, maker of the new Glass business phones.

During the conversation, Chin touched on a number of benefits associated with widespread open source adoption, as well as some of the barriers that developers may face in the future.

Chin also gives readers a sneak peek into AstriCon 2010, the world's premier Asterisk user conference and expo. AstriCon will kick off on Oct. 26, at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md.

At the conference, Cloud Telecomputers will show off the company's Android-based platform for desktop business smartphones and Glass, the telecom provider's 8.9-inch capacitive touchscreen device.

The complete interview with Cheryln Chin can be found below.

Rich Tehrani: How has the Asterisk market changed over the past year?

Cheryln Chin: The introduction of dozens of new Asterisk-based products and services over the past year is strong evidence that the open source model for innovation is working. The thought leadership of the Asterisk community has significantly fueled new business opportunities for developers of all sizes, including Cloud Telecomputers.

Asterisk has gone from being a budget solution to a quality solution with enriched feature sets for vertical markets, making it a good choice for delivering compelling new products like the Glass platform from Cloud Telecomputers. This unique, Android-based platform for desktop business smartphones integrates productivity-increasing features like Advent (hedge fund software), Salesforce.com (News - Alert) and instant screen sharing. Cloud Telecomputers’ Glass platform transforms Asterisk from just another competitive IP PBX to a “Best in Class” enterprise communications solution.

RT: What influence has open source had on the overall communications space over the past 12 months from a product and/or competitive perspective?

CC: Open source has enabled both IP PBX vendors and end-point designers to focus on advancing the technology instead of having to recreate the base code. By using open source Android code, an innovator and new market entrant like Cloud Telecomputers starts where the last development left off. We can then focus on enhancing our platform to provide productivity features that make VoIP endpoints much smarter and more compelling. By utilizing an open OS like Android, companies like Cloud Telecomputers are able to radically advance the power and functionality of the desk phone without becoming cost prohibitive. Simply put, the barriers to entry have been virtually removed for smaller players in the business communications market.             

RT: Is open source still primarily an SMB phenomenon or has it seen increased acceptance in the large enterprise space?

CC: The fact that enterprise-focused leaders such as Cisco (News - Alert), IBM and Microsoft have introduced open source-based solutions, and are continuing to expand their product and service portfolios with key open source technologies, is a telling indicator that open source is no longer limited to the SMB market segment.

Open source, if mature and supported, like Linux, Android and Asterisk are, will continue to gain broad acceptance in enterprise markets. The Motorola Droid is a good example. The Cloud Telecomputers Glass platform is another. To date, 25 percent of the Glass phones sold have been to large enterprises. We are seeing rapid penetration in the enterprise marketplace with Android-based devices like Glass, and the continued release of new business apps will further accelerate that trend.

RT: What has been the key driver of open source adoption?

CC: No up-front license fees and reduced cost of development are still the key drivers for open source development. Another key benefit is the reduced cost of ownership when a developer or company can leverage the contributions from the community back to the code base as a result of the open source governance models.

RT: What barriers remain to the continued growth of Asterisk and open source?

CC: Asterisk’s licensing terms may drive (or limit) its growth rate. Other open source platforms, such as Android, enable developers to own their proprietary enhancements for competitive differentiation. If Cloud Telecomputers was required to contribute its proprietary code to open source, that would severely limit our ability to leverage our development efforts and time to market advantages. There has to be a balance. Cloud Telecomputers will continue to contribute to open source, especially Asterisk, while owning and keeping our proprietary code.

RT: Has the success of Google’s Android mobile platform helped create awareness and interest in open source?

CC: In the short time since its release, Google Android has exploded in terms of popularity, quickly becoming one of the world’s most esteemed operating systems. With the combination of its ease-of-use and the strength of Google, Android is making huge gains in market share. Today Android is the top-selling smartphone operating system in the U.S. With its open code, Android is the better long-term business solution for mobile and business platforms, like Glass from Cloud Telecomputers.

RT: How can the Asterisk community capitalize on the growth of mobile communications?

CC: The Asterisk community can take advantage of this growing trend by not differentiating between the desk phone and the mobile phone, thus pursuing an integrated approach to unified communications applications, such as the voice mail stack, and enabling WiFi calls to go through the Asterisk system. At Cloud Telecomputers, we are doing more integration of mobile and business applications since a large segment of our targeted user base demands these key features. We are also replicating our workflow applications on the mobile device to be accessible from the Glass platform. Android simplifies this process since we can run a Cloud Telecomputers Glass application directly on the mobile device without modification (assuming the screen design anticipated this). Other desk phones will have a significant problem and will have to write and maintain two separate code bases, doubling their cost.

What are you hoping to see at AstriCon 2010?

CC: We hope to see innovative new business solutions, new Android apps for business, and a continuing enthusiasm from the developer community in writing applications for our Glass platform. Since we are 100 percent targeting businesses, which are less price-sensitive and more focused on productivity-enhancing solutions, we believe we offer a great platform for applications developers to monetize their services.

RT: Why is your booth a must-visit for attendees?

CC: At ITEXPO… the most telling comments were: “This is the most exciting new product at ITEXPO in the past five years.” And: “People are fawning over the Cloud Glass like 12 year old girls at a Justin Bieber concert.”

Within the next three years, the business phone industry won’t look anything like it does today. Cloud Telecomputers has changed the game with Glass. Our Android-based platform for desktop business smartphones delivers compelling VoIP and web services on a beautifully-designed 8.9” capacitive touch screen device with HD voice and many other key features.

Cloud Telecomputers has first-mover advantage with the Glass platform. Asterisk developers and IP PBX manufacturers need to know about it. The first IP Communications provider to integrate the Glass platform into its solution will gain a huge advantage. Imagine being a sales rep walking in with a 10-year old gray SIP phone and having to compete with a Glass phone!

Glass is the business communications platform that every developer will want their Asterisk-based apps delivered on. Come see how you can partner with us in booth No. 324 at AstriCon 2010.