A few years ago I went to CES2005 in search of new VoIP products. At the time I came across VoxLib a product that could make and receive Skype calls on a normal home phone. When you picked up the phone you got VoxGirl who asked… who would you like to call. There were many other features in this box.
A few years later. I meet Eric Reiher the founder. At first there was some familiarity like we had met before, although we couldn’t quite place it. We connected again late last year. When the box came up we made the connection. Here’s what Eric had to say about the box.
“I also remember the comment you made at the time: “too many wires”I guess we listened to you, we eliminated the whole box, the PC,
everything.”
Today the box above is Mobivox. It works from any handset. Just dial a local number and VoxGirl says “Hi Stuart! Who would you like to call?”
Even today some 2+ years later I don’t think many people understand the power of that statement or the ramifications. Mobivox does what we already do naturally. We call each other by name. Mobivox is about connecting you and me by name. It can become a lot more in time.
Even today this has implications for every IM system, every mobile phone directory, in fact even the old keyboard. Put Mobivox on speed dial and everyone is available by name. It’s not yet perfect; yet the promise is there. Not only did they eliminate the box they provided the opportunity to make directories smart and invisible over time.
I was drawn to Mobivox partially because I still believe we need a simple easy to use approach that brings all our communications into one. I found that “one id for all communications” wasn’t quite the panacea. I only have to look at Facebook to see the number of people that share my name. That’s why I like the Mobivox solution. I only need to capture the name I know you by. Overtime the whole directory process can become a whole lot smarter. In a world of fragemented communications it would be nice if when you wanted to get ahold of me… you could. Simply by saying my name.
{ 1 trackback }
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Couldnt agree more, one of my favourite voice products.
Pat, Thanks for the comment. I don’t think the real potential of Mobivox is yet understood. I’ve been sitting quietly on this one for quite some time. I think holding a broader conversation around Mobivox may well create an interesting new set of pathways for VoIP and the future. Cheers Stuart