Show Me The Minutes: Voice Over Broadband
Tuesday, April 19, 2005, 1:45pm - 3:00pm
AOL Canada, Vonage, Comwave, and many more have made a commitment to VoBB services that ride over existing broadband infrastructure. This panel of service providers shares their vision as to what customers they’re serving, what features and functions are required (perhaps including 911), AND how they intend to differentiate themselves from the competitor that also provides access.
Jonathan Askin, General Counsel, pulver.com
Jonathan Askin is General Counsel/Wartime Consiglieri to pulver.com, which controls approximately 20 operating companies touching various aspects of IP-based communications. Before joining pulver.com, Jonathan was President and General Counsel to ALTS, the leading national trade association representing facilities-based CLECs. Jonathan was a senior attorney in the FCC’s Common Carrier Bureau before joining ALTS. Prior to the FCC, he was a New Jersey Deputy Public Advocate, where he represented the public on telecommunications and cable issues. Jonathan also practiced law with the New York offices of Davis, Polk. Jonathan is an honors graduate of both Harvard College and Rutgers Law School, and clerked for the late Chief Justice Robert Wilentz of the New Jersey Supreme Court.
Yuval Barzakay, President & CEO, Comwave Telecom
President & CEO of Comwave Telecom a long distance provider with operation
in Canada and the US. He brings visionary leadership to Comwave rolling
out residential VoIP to Canadians in June 2004 with the introduction of
Comwave iPhone. He has over 15 years in Telecom , marketing and product
development through lengthy opportunities with leading providers like Bell
Mobility and Rogers Wireless. Yuval was also responsible for the launch of
Yapalot Communications in 1999 and its deployments in ten countries. He
eventually took the company public. Yuval is personally involved with VoIP
911 solutions and is an active member of the the CRTC's CISC group on
911. Comwave like 911 solutions are now mandated by the CRTC.
Ken Carriere, VP, Product Development, Yak Communications
Mr. Carriere is responsible for product development across all product portfolios within yak Communications. In addition, Mr. Carriere leads the Broadband division, which launched yak WorldCity VoIP to the Canadian, US and overseas residential markets on September 8th. Prior to joining yak Communications, Mr. Carriere had 14 years of telecommunications industry experience at Bell Canada, Sprint Canada, and AT&T Canada in the areas of marketing, sales, finance, and regulatory with a special emphasis in product development.
Kan Inaba, Director, VoIP, Voice & Messaging, Bell Canada
Kan joined Bell Canada in 2004 as overall product development prime for building Bell Digital Voice, Bell's first residential Voice-over-IP service. He has leadership responsibility for product development, strategy & planning and business development & planning. Kan also has product ownership for the wireline services portfolio. He is a veteran of the engineering and telecom industry with over 15 years experience in Director and Group Product Manager positions with Roadpost, Sprint Canada and ACC TelEnterprises. He holds an MBA from Wilfrid Laurier University and a BASc in Civil Engineering from the University of Waterloo.
Steven Koles, GM, Netscape & Enhanced Services, AOL Canada
As General Manager, Netscape and Enhanced Services for AOL Canada, Steve Koles is responsible for the ongoing strategy and operations of AOL and Netscape services that leverage the Internet. He oversees the continued development of a variety of Netscape and AOL-branded products including AOL TotalTalk using Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP). With a broad range of experience in the technology and telecom industries, Mr. Koles brings more than 10 years of strategic marketing and business development expertise. Prior to joining AOL Canada, he was Senior Vice President, Marketing & Sales at Group Telecom, responsible for comprehensive marketing and sales support strategies to position the company as a next-generation telecommunications provider. Previously, Mr. Koles held several senior management positions at TELUS Corporation.
Joe Parent, VP, Marketing & Business Development, Vonage
Joe Parent is a veteran telecom marketer who has heldha progressively senior marketing roles at Unitel, Sprint Canada and Primus Telecommunications prior to joining Vonage Canada. As Vice President, Marketing & Business Development, Joe's mandate is to drive consumer awareness and adoption of Vonage Canada's Internet telephone service offering, build the Vonage Canada brand and secure the company's leadership position as the Internet phone service provider of choice for Canadian consumers and small businesses. Joe is also responsible for product development, channel development, advertising, public relations, direct marketing, interactive marketing and customer communications. He holds a BA in Economics from the University of Windsor and an MBA from McMaster University in Hamilton.
