VoIP on Facebook – Is it Worth? asks whether, after all of the hype months ago about Voice on Facebook, it makes sense to integrate voice applications with the platform. The writer observes that it’s relatively easy to simply exchange phone numbers.
I can’t speak for the other vendors mentioned in the post, but I will say that a substantial portion of Calliflower’s call volume is still generated from our Facebook application, more than a year after we moved to the web. Calliflower on Facebook continues to grow at the same pace as our web application, despite the fact that we do no promotion on the Facebook platform as well.
The audience for Calliflower on Facebook are primarily people who are trying to use the Facebook platform as a prospecting tool. They’re seeking to network with individuals and businesses, and host a call with potential customers using Calliflower. It’s quite a different demographic than the typical Facebook user, but it’s still a strong demographic. The Facebook for Business group, for example, has over 40,000 members.
So is it worth integrating with Facebook? As Andy Abramson said, “[yes], from the perspective of being a call trigger point, not a voice hosting platform.”
Alec Saunders is the Vice President of Developer Relations for BlackBerry make Research in Motion. This is his personal blog, with his personal viewpoints. Prior to this Alec was the CEO and co-founder of Calliflower — the easiest way to hold a meeting, online, on a conference call, or on the go. A double-decade veteran of product management and marketing, he spent nine years at Microsoft where he helped launch Windows 95, the first two versions of Internet Explorer, the Universal Plug and Play initiative, the push into home markets, opt-in email marketing and what might well go down in history as the very first direct email list ever.
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Totally agree, and much much more to come from it as a “trigger”.