At the Emerging Communications Conference 2008, Jonathan Christensen of Skype speaks about the development of IP communications over the past 10 years. Christensen is general manager of audio and video at Skype.
The pioneers of VoIP developed the basic technology between 1996 and 2001. The first ever usable VoIP technology that people remember was the VoltaTec VoIP phone. Following that, companies that established gateways across end-points entered the market. They were followed by carriers that established gateways and POPs and connected them to the PSTN networks. The two important use cases that drove the VoIP market were -- PC-to-PC ham radio users such as Jeff Pulver, and tandem trunking, or two-staged dialing.
Cost saving potentials and the regulatory framework of VoIP, have changed the telecom industry profoundly. New players have entered the market and influenced prices pushing them down and as a result, per the vision of Jeff Pulver, commoditizing voice.
In summer 2003 Skype entered the market. This was really the beginning of mass market VoIP client usage. Skype combines VoIP with IM, video and visual sharing. It is simple and reliable to use and build on cost efficient P2P technology. The growth of the Skype user base has been phenomenal. However, the VoIP industry reacted negatively to Skype.
Skype clients for mobile devices are the most important next step. However, market incumbents will probably try to block this new market entrance with network discrimination of applications. The future will remain thrilling.
Jonathan Christensen has more than 15 years of experience shaping strategy for the growth of IP communications in start-ups and world class organizations such as Skype, Microsoft, and Time Warner. In 2005, Jonathan co-founded Camino Networks where he was CEO until it was acquired by Skype. He is currently a senior member of the Skype team leading core technology development for audio and video, as well as initiatives for voice quality, network interconnect, and business adoption.
Prior to Skype/Camino, Jonathan was CTO and VP of products at FaceTime Communications, where he led the company's product strategy in a shift from call center applications to real time communications security solutions. At Microsoft, Jonathan lead program management for the company’s Real-Time Communications group and delivered the first generation of its SIP based products (aka Live Communications Server). Christensen also held group manager roles in the Network Solutions Groups and MSN Voice Services groups where he was responsible for business and product development.
Prior to joining Microsoft Corporation, Jonathan held management positions at Time Warner, pioneering commercial Internet services including access, hosting, and Web design. While at Time Warner, he was instrumental in bringing to market the first generation of consumer broadband services.
Jonathan has a Master of Business Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and a Bachelor of Arts in Law and Society from the University of California at Santa Barbara.
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