Jim Jamieson
Province
A Richmond wireless-communications company is hoping to ride the explosive growth of Internet-telephone service with an agreement to supply cordless phones specially designed to work with web wunderkind Skype.
The phones will be branded through major electronics firms.
Ascalade Communications Inc. [www.ascalade.com] has already begun shipping its first Skype-compatible phone in the U.S. and expects to see the product available in Canada in the next two months.
The wireless phone functions through a small device that plugs into the USB port of a computer that has a high-speed connection to the Internet. The phone allows users to make calls directly through Skype, and features a colour screen, caller ID and conference calling.
Skype has taken the Internet community by storm since its launch in 2003. It provides free, unlimited computer-to-computer voice and video calls worldwide to other Skype users.
For a fee, users can also make calls to traditional phone numbers (on land line or cellular).
Skype’s service is provided through Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) technology, which industry analysts predict will eventually replace traditional land lines.
The Luxembourg-based company was purchased late last year for $2.6 billion US by online auctioneer EBay.
Ascalade president and CEO Edmund Ho said the deal, whose financial details were not revealed, is a major opportunity.
“We are building on our core competency in digital wireless,” he said. “We believe the market will change to VoIP. This is a step to move Ascalade into the future.”
Ascalade, which manufactures cordless phone products for major electronics players such as Philips, NEC and Toshiba, employs about 110 in its headquarters and research and development centre in Richmond.
All manufacturing is done in China, where 2,600 are employed.
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FOR THE WEBWISE
What It Is: An Internet-based phone service that is free between Skype users and for-pay to or from traditional land-line or cellular users.
Founded: Mid-2003.
Growth: Currently has 70 million users, adds about 170,000 daily.
Starting: Download the free software [www.skype.com] and plug in your microphone-equipped headset.
© The Vancouver Province 2006
