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Hauling Wireless From the Warehouse

When you need of 48 rolls of toilet paper in one handy package, the place to go is the local Costco warehouse. Now it’s also the place where small and medium sized enterprises can get hosted wireless communications, thanks to a unique partnership between the wholesaler and Sotto Wireless. Called Sotto@SOHO, the service is an […]

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Judy Mottl

Jul 16, 2008

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When you need of 48 rolls of toilet paper in one handy package, the place to go is the local Costco warehouse. Now it’s also the place where small and medium sized enterprises can get hosted wireless communications, thanks to a unique partnership between the wholesaler and Sotto Wireless.

Called Sotto@SOHO, the service is an all-in-one wireless and office communications service that supports up to 10 virtual employees. It uses Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) to provide voice and data capabilities via a WiFi gateway that lets users seamlessly move from an office network to a GSM cellular service without dropping a call or data packet. Sotto back-end hosting provides the needed PBX-like functionality.

The recently-launched service is the latest vendor pitch to offer SMBs wireless and unified messaging services at prices they can afford. For SMBs that may not have access to major carrier business-oriented plans or in-house tech knowledge, unified messaging for smaller players has to come at the right price point.

Sotto is trying. It offers the services with a monthly plan starting under $50, considered lower than some similar offerings, which may also get the attention of competitors.

Vendors are responding to spiking mobility technology adoption in this sector. In 2005, 68.8 million U.S. enterprise users had mobile wireless services, with 25 percent using a mobile wireless broadband solution, according to a CTIA study. By 2016, it expects the U.S. alone to count 81.9 million mobile enterprise users, with 83 percent using wireless broadband.

Costco will sell Sotto@SOHO starter kits, featuring two smart phones and the gateway, for $399. A $699 kit kicks in a Polycom IP320 desk phone with Office Attendant features built in.

Plans start at $49.95 per month for unlimited nationwide VoIP calling, and cellular bundles start at $49.95 for 1,000 voice minutes. A special introductory offer features 90 days of free wireless VoIP service, 1,000 cellular voice minutes, 20 MB of data, 100 text messages and a 60-day money-back guarantee.

As one pundit noted, most SMB have wireless contracts. But unified messaging and communications still remain out of reach for many, who would love the big company feel the services provide.

This article was first published on InternetNews.com. To read the full article, click here.

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Judy Mottl

Judy Mottl is an experienced technology journalist who has served as a senior editor, reporter, writer, and blogger for InformationWeek, Investors Business Daily, CNET, and Information Security Magazine, as well as other media outlets.

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