Startup Whaleback Systems hopes to make a big splash with a PBX system specifically outfitted to handle IP-based voice services.
The company, founded by Mark Galvin, who also founded Cedar Point Communications, built its PBX platform from the ground up to support IP, whereas many other circuit-based PBX systems have to be hacked or altered in some way to support IP-based services.
Although legacy systems can be made to work, connecting them to other offices can be a challenge because they require investments in adoption hardware (gateways, typically). Whaleback’s platform, in comparison, is structured to carry traffic end-to-end in packetized form, Galvin explained.
The platform, which scales from one line to 1,000 lines, is comprised of a software app that runs on a standard application server. It supports fax and credit card verification machines via an adapter.
At the show, Whaleback is demonstrating the system in a mini-office setup running off of a broadband connection. The demo will also show off seamless mobility devices that provide dual support for cellular and Wi-Fi connections.
Whaleback is also coming to market with some internal cable acumen. Wray West, a Whaleback founder and vice president of engineering, also hails from Cedar Point. Ken Stess, Whaleback’s new VP of corporate and business development, is late of General Fiber Communications (GFC).
“We understand PacketCable and models for residential voice,” Galvin said. “We feel there is a big opportunity [for cable] in the commercial side with VoIP.” Such services are “almost pure gravy on top of their residential telephony business.”
Whaleback expects to enter beta tests by the tail end of the summer, with revenue shipments starting by year-end.
