Despite the fact that he's dressed in a suit, Yogesh Patel comes across as rather laidback. He smiles often, knows what he wants, and is comfortable handling all kinds of tech-related questions. Which makes sense, considering his background. Patel has played the roles of founder as well as co-founder for a number of start-ups. The most notable of these was Hotvoice Communications International, Inc. At one point, Hotvoice.com was the world's largest unified messaging service provider.
Patel has also worked at IT consulting companies, technology solution providers, and at IBM Storage Division. For now, his word of the moment is VoiFi -- described as a 'next generation' communication software providing superior quality Internet telephony services as well as audio entertainment.
Patel is Chief Technology Officer and co-founder -- along with Hotmail co-founder Sabeer Bhatia -- of VoiFi Technologies Corp.
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VoiFi is a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) software that combines Internet-based technologies such as Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and Peer-to-Peer (P2P) to offer a variety of services. Apart from simple voice communication, it boasts user-friendly features that include multi-party text chat, text and voice messaging, voice conferencing, group dial and file transfers. Both founders believe it will revolutionise the Indian market within a couple of months.
Senior Features Editor Lindsay Pereira asked Patel to elaborate.
Why did you decide to come to India at this particular time?
We believe India is potentially the second-largest market for Web services, after China. Broadband penetration is increasing. It is still a low base, but that will change. Just as cell phones have evolved from the initial stages eight years ago, broadband will too. With its advent, there are a lot of applications that have come up on top, communication being one major component.
VoIP is changing the world outside India. It started off around ten years ago, went through its ups and downs, has matured as a technology, and is being now accepted from a consumer's perspective. We have been working on this product for a year-and-a-half, and have developed it in India.
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Your product foresees a fairly large exchange of data. Given our current infrastructure, do you think you will be able to attract enough users?
Yes. We expect a few million users in India alone, by the end of the year. After launching it here, we intend to take it outside the country. We have had a few test runs in the US and India.
What about file transfers? A number of companies have burnt their fingers on that issue.
We are not talking about file-swapping, merely the exchange of files transfers -- between individual users.
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The idea of a WiFi network isn't alien in the US, but will it work in India considering how expensive the creation of a HotSpot is?
That will come over time. I am confident that this will be a big market. WiFi and the HotSpots will come, and users will also be comfortable after a while. As far as ubiquitous WiFi deployment over India is concerned, the US is just getting started on city-wide networks. There are a number of prohibitive reasons, including costs, but WiFi HotSpots and phones will also come to India. Of that, I am certain.
Do you foresee an income stream from advertising, with reference to VoiFi?
We foresee a number of streams, advertising being one of them. The second stream will come from a dialogue feature that we intend to start offering soon. We are also bringing in entertainment, with games like Teen-Patti, which can be a potential revenue stream at some point.
As an entrepreneur, what is it about a new idea that excites you? What makes you want to back a start-up company?
It is always the concept. At the end of the day, there has to be a need for a given solution. If not today, then maybe a couple of months down the road, because there is a development cycle. Voice Blogging, for instance, is something few people in India do. So, that is a concept with a development cycle.
These technologies take time, not just from a technology perspective but also from a maturity and deployment perspective. VoIP took time, for example, while WAP simply failed to take off. There are risks associated with new technologies and that is part of the game.
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Is there anything from the Indian market that you have found particularly interesting lately?
I think, overall, India is a good place for entrepreneurs. There are a lot of entrepreneurs here, many of whom are focused more on services. What we are trying to do is make a product out of India, and shift focus from the service sectors to the product sectors.
There are pros and cons to both sides, of course, but I believe a product is slightly higher in the value chain. At the same time, it is also more risky.
What advice would you give young Indian entrepreneurs?
First of all, make sure your team is good. Without that, nothing will happen. Make sure they follow through and not give up the first time they experience a sense of failure.
If you look at all the things that failed in 2002, the companies that survived are the ones that are shining right now. You need to make sure you have lasting power, and the markets will change.
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