Pipex pens IP-centrex deal
ISP forms partnership with InClarity
UK resellers can now offer hosted voice over IP (VoIP) services to SMEs, following a partnership deal between IP-centrex vendor InClarity and ISP Pipex.
Under the terms of the deal, InClarity will provide Pipex with its hosted VoIP service for SMEs. The service comes white-labelled, allowing Pipex to pass the service onto its resellers under its own brand name.
Resellers are then free to market the service to their SME customers. Pipex said it will also be able to cross-sell the service with its existing products and service range, as well as up-sell to its customer base.
"This enables Pipex resellers to get to market very quickly and they will find the white-label facility very useful," said Sue Davidson, managing director of broadband telephony at InClarity.
"The service will also increase reseller's up-sell opportunities and enable them to attract new customers without extra capital outlay. Our partnership will launch a snowball effect, and the mid-market will take off quite fast now. A hosted service is great for SMEs."
The two firms also said they will work together to develop the channel through a series of joint marketing activities.
Kurt Lyall, an analyst at research firm FirstPartner, said the SME VoIP market space will explode over the next three years.
"Bringing VoIP communications to SMEs through ISPs shows how the communications industry will be transformed in the years ahead by the opening up of new sales channels," he said.