Original posting on August 7, 2008
Callwithus Calling with DIDX
By Tim Gray, TMCnet Web Editor
When Callwithus began operations in late 2006, its plan was to provide a more user-friendly Internet Protocol-based communications service.

The New Jersey-based company had already established itself as a user-friendly choice for consumers and small businesses by using every day language on its Web site that could be easily understood. And, to truly set itself apart from the many VoIP company start-ups fiercely competing for business, it decided to employ DID direct inward dialing local phone numbers from all over the world for its extremely diverse set of customers.

Sergey Okhapkin, a director at Callwithus, said he first approached Super Technologies, Inc. for its DIDX.net wholesale DID exchange service with the idea of developing a “no-nonsense” Web site, offering not just call termination like everyone else but worldwide call origination, and still deliver effective, versatile, flexible communications platforms to ensure end-user satisfaction.

“Most of all, we have an ever increasing demand for in-country and out of country telephone numbers. Before using DIDXchange (News – Alert), Callwithus.com’s available DID pool were from Canada, USA and a few other countries,” said Okhapkin.

The problem was that the experience for new IP communications companies to secure the end-user’s most important piece of identity for one’s communication, the DID phone number, is a typically lengthy and complicated interop process, high financial deposit demands and a minimum quota of DIDs purchased requirement.

In order to partner with just one carrier in perhaps each of 20 countries throughout the Americas, Europe, Africa, Australia, and Asia would take a combined total of at least one year of interoperability testing, $200,000 or more in deposits (sometimes non-refundable), and a monthly minimum DID purchase of at least 20,000 per month beginning day one. Callwithus was looking for a Web 2.0 type situation where collaboration was possible even among competitors. DIDXchange appeared to offer that potential.

“The world is full of entrepreneurs with a better idea than yours and mine,” said Rehan Ahmed, inventor of DIDXchange and CTO of Super Technologies. “We developed DIDxchange with its complimentary API for DID and DDI sellers and buyers with the intention of making sure that these next-gen companies such as Callwithus would be able to use our basic platform to accomplish more than we can imagine, rolling out communications mashups and solutions to meet every need on the planet.”

In fact, even the largest carriers and providers have a guaranteed wholesale market, and as of Sept. 18, 2007, of 6900 wholesale Internet protocol-based communications companies such as Callwithus.com when using the DIDX seller API. Their DID database are for sale to the millions of end-users of each.

The customer service, billing, DID testing, quality of service, and marketing are done by the DIDXchange Care Team for the sellers and the buyers. Callwithus.com was able to avoid hiring additional staff for those tasks by using DIDX.net, saving at least $150,000 annually, according to the company.

One problem to solve, says Rehan, was how to assure the reliability that DIDXchange member Callwithus needed. That is because all DIDX members are encouraged to participate in testing and with suggestions to improve the DIDX ecosystem. Each DIDX member decides what it is willing to accept in quality and reliability by vendor rating.

Callwithus began with a handful of customers, mostly friends and family, like many VoIP startups, but after signing on with the DIDX ecosystem, the 55+ country DID footprint and the complimentary API enabled him to power his company to meet the needs of over 1000 new customers in less than three months with choices of phone numbers from 55+ countries.

“My company mission is to disclose everything upfront, no hidden charges. The DIDX API assists me to follow this principle,” said Okhapkin. “Customers know the price for every combination of services before signing up via the API. I have not found a better more versatile, flexible and scalable DID solution than DIDXchange.”

Now Callwithus customers are able to browse a list of available phone numbers and purchase on demand without a huge financial DID commitment on Callwithus’ part. The features of the combination of the DIDX API and Callwithus communications offering give his customers, with a few mouse clicks, the exciting opportunity to own local phone numbers in their home country and abroad to meet business and personal objectives.

”I can’t wait to see the new customer interface which is rumored to roll out by late 2007. I will be one of the most vocal as always with suggestions to make DIDX the best. We need more companies to take advantage of DIDX to buy and sell reliable DID and expand the choice of country codes even more,” said Okhapkin.

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Tim Gray is a Web Editor for TMCnet, covering news in the IP communications, call center and customer relationship management industries. To read more of Tim�s articles, please visit his columnist page.