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One relatively (comprehensively?) unknown individual to challenge Skype in mobile VoIP arena, another vows to ‘take on Google’ in search engine biz…
Mark Ismach, described as a ‘seasoned Internet ceo’ has filed a new voice over IP (VoIP) patent which, according to a press statement, puts the expansion of Skype and other VoIP businesses at risk. The patent apparently allows anyone with a mobile phone, regardless of generation, to place VoIP calls anywhere in the world at low VoIP prices without having to enter a long series of complex numbers.
Ismach is looking for investors willing to fund the project, and initially US$50,000 investment increments are up for grabs. The business plan is to first develop a Skype plug-in that will offer this functionality to all Skype users, then when the product becomes popular, sell the patent to either Skype, Yahoo Messenger, Windows Live Messenger or Google Talk. The aforementioned press statement helpfully notes that currently Skype has the most to lose if either AOL, Microsoft, Yahoo or Vonage purchase the patent.
And in more David and Goliath stuff, one Adam Blair, described as an ‘upstart Internet entrepreneur’, has launched a search engine that he claims has the potential to challenge Google’s dominance of that sector within five years. Blair, who according to a statement is previously best known for helping people avoid speeding tickets, has set up windizzi.com. The cunning wheeze here is that the venture is based on a joint ownership model where users of the search engine can register as ‘Founder Members’. Registering, which is free, entitles people to a small portion of the value of the company, and enables those concerned to have an input into what the product looks like and does. “The whole idea behind windizzi is that the content, the results, the features, even the look and feel of the site will be decided by the users. It won't be a case of a board of directors saying 'this is what we are going to do' and then serving something up to users that they don't really want,” says Blair. “We are going after the big boys. Google needs a true competitor in the search engine race and there is no one who looks like taking to the fight to them at the moment. That's my vision for windizzi.”
We say: errr….
John Williamson
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