VoIP VARs Make World Series Wager

OK, now you know where my loyalties lie, but that doesn't mean this year's Fall Classic isn't any less interesting, particularly to fans in the two cities vying for the title. Make that the solution providers in both cities as well.

Tampa, Fla.-based Telovations and Philadelphia-based Alteva, two VoIP specialists, have put up two bushels of oranges and a dozen cheesesteak sandwiches, respectively, on the outcome of the Rays-Phillies series that begins tonight in Florida.

"Just like major league sports, business is all about competition. These guys on the field are fierce competitors, but off the field many of them are good friends," said William Bumbernick, president and CEO of Alteva, in a statement. "Our industry is no different. While we compete on opportunities, we also have a common goal to educate businesses about how Hosted VoIP or IP PBX solutions are superior to the traditional customer premise based PBX model. Most importantly, it is a great opportunity to show our support for our Phillies, especially since our offices are located in the heart of Philadelphia," added William Bumbernick.

Rick Schonbrun, president and CEO of Telovations, agreed that hosted IP communication solutions have surpassed premise-based systems, but he countered that "Tampa is the best team in baseball and it's hard to find a good cheesesteak down here."