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If not 8×8, Then Who?

January 29, 2005 BY Mark Evans

To pursue the 8×8 train of thought a little more, I'm wondering how investors can leverage the emergence of VOIP. Do they take advantage of industry growth by pursuing companies in the hardware, software, security or service sectors? If so, do they stick with well-known brand names such as Symantec, Juniper, Cisco and Nortel, or are there interesting niche players out there? Any feedback/ideas would be much appreciated – not from a personal investment point of view but in terms of getting a better handle on whether the investment opportunities out there come anywhere near the hype surrounding VOIP.

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  • Anonymous

    Well, since we have the CRTC holding Bell's arms behind its back, allowing the independent VoIP providers and cablecos to punch them in the gut repeatedly, seems that the play *may* be shorting the telcos and going long cable stocks. Just an idea.

  • Anonymous

    Now 8×8 goes back to the well for another $14M and 7M shares. Do you feel the dilution now? That balance sheet must be weak.

  • Anonymous

    Have service provider stocks ever done really well over the long run? incumbents not included, especially not canadian ones…
    I think investors would be better served looking at infrastructure enablers… and maybe enterprise plays….
    Perhaps an AUDC, INTL, or maybe chip heavyweights like TI, BRCM who have embraced VoIP early on as part of their growth strategies… Or access network vendors who benefit from VoIP demand… ARRS, TERN…
    Or you go with CSCO/AVaya…
    8×8 is one of the weakest ideas out there… although perhaps at times a great “trading idea”.

  • Anonymous

    Packet8 is the best rated service around. It had a former life which makes it tough balance sheetwise but it will be a winner in the end.
    I tried Vonage. It sucks by comparison.
    http://blog.tmcnet.com/blog/tom-keating/voip/packet8-videophone-review.asp

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