Using a metaphor from the Matrix films, David Beckemeyer of PhoneGnome challenges us to look at the future of voice over IP. He argues that the current state of IP telephony is much like internet 1.0: Service providers determine the services, applications, and innovation available. Consumers, once they've chosen a provider, are basically locked in.
Beckemeyer explains that the internet of today is more open. Consumers are not locked in by their service providers. Rather, innovation can be created anywhere, and the marketplace decides which ideas are successful. His question, then, is how to move to this kind of thinking in the voice over IP market.
In discussing his new venture, PhoneGnome, Beckemeyer describes the beginnings of this VoIP 2.0 vision. This different approach to VoIP allows users to shop around for plans to call PSTN phones rather than forcing users into a plan. To create an open future for VoIP, he argues, providers must create services that give people value now and are flexible enough to allow consumers and developers to move to a new era for VoIP. According to Beckemeyer, innovation and wealth are created only in a climate of freedom and choice, and this is the future he is trying to foster.
As chief executive officer, David Beckemeyer sets corporate strategy and oversees all aspects of the business for TelEvolution. He has been instrumental in spearheading and executing TelEvolution's major milestones including: founding the company, developing the patent-pending PhoneGnome technology and business model, securing angel financing, establishing a world class advisory board, and recruiting a seasoned executive team. Beckemeyer secured TelEvolution's strategic relationship with Linksys/Cisco and retail distribution of PhoneGnome. Most recently, Beckemeyer led the successful deployment of PhoneGnome around the globe, including the Americas, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
Prior to founding TelEvolution, Beckemeyer was co-founder of EarthLink, where he served as vice president of engineering and chief technology officer. As CTO, Beckemeyer directed EarthLink's technical growth from a single server and a few modems to a multi-billion dollar company with state-of-the-art data centers in Pasadena, California, and Atlanta, Georgia. Beckemeyer was instrumental in EarthLink's initial public offering in 1997. He is currently EarthLink's distinguished research engineer, serving as strategic advisor to executive management.
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