The company makes the QuesCom 400 communications server that sits alongside an existing ISDN private branch exchange (PBX) box to provide VoIP and messaging functionality. It is said the unit offers businesses cost efficiencies in that it uses a direct GSM connection that avoids high charges for fixed to mobile calls, and VoIP to get free inter-site calls over the enterprise IP network.
An average selling point for the product is around 5,000 to 10,000 euros, which sits well against an investment in a PABX which might be ten times that amount. It provides unified messaging over IP, integrates with Exchange, Outlook or Notes and manages all GSM handling, Philippe Oros, QuesCom President told us.
QuesCom has traditionally sold via carriers and service providers but has lately been trying to engage directly with the reseller channel to break into the enterprise market. We will target mid-sized enterprises needing IP telephony for between 30 and 300 seats, he said.
He went on to say that the Sophia Antipolis, France-based company will be hiring more sales staffs to add to its headcount of around 60, who this year he expects to produce revenues of 5m euros ($5.7m). The company started life as a spinoff of Interface Corp of Dallas, Texas and in February 2003 acquired GeoSoft, a CTI software editor shop.
In March 2002 it closed a second round of funding for a total of 12m euros ($13.7m) led by SPEF Venture and Mitsubishi, who joined original investors that included Sofinnova Partners, SGAM and Cross Atlantic Ventures. A couple of months later it picked up an additional 2m euros ($2.3m) from BayTech Venture Capital, a subsidiary of the Bayerische Landesbank based in Munich.
Oros claims the company has no direct competitor. According to the geography it will compete in bid situations with the heavyweight encumbents of Alactel in France, Siemens in Germany, Avaya and Mitel in the UK, and Ericsson across northern European regions.
Source: Computerwire
