Quip introduces Web based telco service

Backed by BT, Unisys and Bank of Scotland, the new venture is targeting the low-cost telephony market of residential, SOHO and SME users with discounted call charges. By using the Internet to provide its service, the company believes it will be able to offer highly competitive prices against other re-sellers because of the reduced overheads.

It is also planning to use the site's collection of call data to target services and products back at customers. “If we know why you call we can put offers your way,” explained Lubin. “For example, if you regularly call Australia, we can let you know when we have cheap minutes to call there available, or offer related products of third-party partners.”

The system works by the four digit code connecting to Quip's exchange switch, configured by Unisys, which then feeds call information into a billing server once the call is connected. The billing server, supplied by Geneva Technologies, then feeds call info into the web server where the user's records are updated. Lubin advised this all happens almost instantly.

The site's front end was developed by London interactive agency Organic, with back-end build and integration handled by Unisys.

Lubin said the company is planning to introduce automated personalisation on the site, but that a customer relationship management system had not yet been chosen: “In our experience, if you buy CRM software before you have customers, you can end up buying the wrong one or only using about ten percent of it. We need to be specific about what we need.”

He also advised that once Voice over IP networks were “robust enough and of good enough quality,” particularly for the residential arena, that Quip would look to introduce those services.