Packet 8 CEO: expect Yahoo! to compete against Skype

VoIP service Packet 8 does not currently offer softphone service. As such, they are not a competitor to Skype, the Gizmo Project, or Yahoo!'s often-speculated on efforts to build a telephony business out of its recently purchased Dialpad acquisition.

Yet as a major player in the overall VoIP space, the thoughts of Packet8 owner 8x8, Inc. CEO Bryan Martin carry weight. 

What does Martin think will happen? Martin gives his frank opinion on his new blog.

On a thread called "VoIP Heavyweights," Martin gives his thoughts. Before I go there, and before you commit to reading what Martin has to say, I should tell you that Martin of the very few major VoIP provider CEOs I know of who blogs regularly, Martin seems to be writing under his own power- not recycling flavored screeds from the p.r. department.

Here are some of Martin's comments:

"We received an investor inquiry yesterday (Tuesday, August 16) from a longtime shareholder, Jim B., asking for comment on the FierceVoIP 'rumor mill' article predicting that Yahoo! and/or Google are readying VoIP servce offerings. What struck me about the e-mail was the question of whether EGHT (stock symbol for 8x8) can stand up to these heavyweights now entering the space. 

"My response to Jim was, first, that nothing has been announed by either Yahoo! or Google and I do not comment on rumors. What is factual is that Yahoo! recently bought Dialpad's prepaid calling/softphone business, run by Craig Walker, who incidentally is a fellow high school alumnus. (Bold face is mine): I would expect an entry by Yahoo! into the softphone/prepaid computer phone business in an effort to compete against Skype.

Of course, the cause of marketing communications is served, but Martin speaks his mind and writes fluidly. Just like he is talking to you, which is the way blogs should be written.