Yesterday Verizon Wireless announced Group Communication, a new service available exclusively to VZW customers geared toward simplifying the way in which communications with groups take place. At first glance the service appears to be nothing more than a dial-in conference calling line set up for VZW users and accessible from your My Verizon online account. But let me assure you, a dial-in conference calling service it is not, at least not in theory.
Yesterday, I had the good fortune of speaking with Bruce Lawler, Co-Founder and CMO of Kodiak Networks, the company behind Group Communication. Kodiak may not be a name you've heard before in the wireless industry, but if that's the case it's largely because the services they provide tend to be on the back-end, and by the time they reach the customer it's re-branded and offered directly by the company who buys it - in this case Verizon.
To give you a brief background on Kodiak, they provide several features that you may be familiar with on varying carriers, such as push-to-talk, conferencing, and group messaging, to name a few. According to Lawler, Kodiak has installations in seven of the top 20 global operators. The two that you are almost certainly familiar with are the nations top two carriers, Verizon and AT&T.
Before I go any further, let's look at some of the features that Verizon is offering its customers via Group Communication. There are two main services being offered here, Family Group Contact and Group Contact. While you might think Family Group Contact is strictly for family plans, that's actually not the case. Though it's called "family," any customer (business or consumer) with multiple users on their account can use the service.
"Family Group Contact provides a toll-free number – 888-VZ-GROUP (888-894-7687) – that automatically connects up to 20 members of an account with a call, text or voice message. Businesses that have more than 20 lines can select up to 20 account contacts and connect with them using the toll-free number. Members of a Family Group may include anyone on an account, plus one non-Verizon Wireless number or any wireline number not associated with that account. Family Group Contact is $4.99 per month per account, and once subscribed, any member of the group with a Verizon Wireless number has the ability to initiate communication with the others."
I like the idea of the Family Group Contact plan because anyone on the family (or business) account can initiate the call. On the other hand, the Group Contact plan offers added flexibility and the Quick Contact feature, which has the potential to be quite useful.
"Group Contact allows a customer to create up to seven customized groups, each with up to 20 different wireline, wireless or international phone numbers. Group owners can initiate communication with a call, text or voice message by dialing a unique phone number assigned to the group when it is created. Group Contact is $6.99 per month per line and includes Quick Contact, which allows users to ring all members of a Quick Contact group simultaneously. When the first line answers, all others are disconnected, making Quick Contact perfect for those looking to connect with hard-to-reach individuals."
Though I'm not sure it's 100% clear in the quote above, Quick Contact allows you to contact individuals with multiple numbers by calling all of their numbers at once. Once the person your trying to reach answers, the other line hangs up. Let's say, for example, you have a friend who is notoriously difficult to get a hold of and you never know where they'll be. Add them as a Quick Contact and you'll be able to call, text or voice message all the numbers you have for them at once, saving the time it would have taken to hunt them down.
What separates Group Communication from other conferencing tools is the ability to make impromptu calls, texts, or voice messages without the hassle of setting up call-in numbers, giving out passcodes, and having to schedule meetings in advance. When I called into the conference line used to speak with Mr. Lawler last night, he mentioned that he got rejected from the line the first time around - another issue avoided by using Group Communication, according to Lawler.
The services being offered by Verizon are certainly interesting, and would most likely add value to business accounts. The question I have (and I'm curious to know what you think) is whether consumers will find the service useful in their own personal lives to the point where they can justify spending $4.99 or $6.99/line per month? I asked Mr. Lawler this very question, and he said that in the studies they've done the results suggest that people find this service to be a good value, and when asked what they felt the service should cost, they thought it would cost much more.
What's more, Lawler believes that people have group communication needs but don't currently have tools that are as simple, cost effective, and available as Group Communication. An added Value, from Lawler's perspective, is that these tools are being made available from a company that you're already doing business with (assuming you have Verizon) and presumably trust.
So there it is folks, a new service from Verizon with a very simple and interesting concept. It could make your life a lot easier, or maybe you have no use for it. If I was with Verizon, I'd probably give it a run myself, just to see how it works and how often I'd use it. But the real question is, what do you think? Is this something you would consider to be valuable? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!
One Number, Many Contacts: Stay Connected With Group Communication, Only From Verizon Wireless
BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless is making it easier for customers to call, text or send voice messages to their friends, family and colleagues with an exclusive new product called Group Communication. Equally valuable for both customers and small businesses, Group Communication can help families plan where to meet for dinner, coaches schedule a baseball or soccer practice or business owners contact their employees quickly. Group Communication enables simple, collaborative calling without the hassle of multiple numbers or conference bridges.
“For years, wireless phones have helped people stay in touch wherever they are. Verizon Wireless is taking the next step by offering Group Communication, a service that lets people use one number to connect with all those people at the same time,” said John Stratton, executive vice-president and chief marketing officer at Verizon Wireless. “Group Communication offers a new way to share information, make plans and run businesses more efficiently, all managed online in your Verizon Wireless account.”
Customers have two choices on how to set up Group Communication:
Family Group Contact provides a toll-free number – 888-VZ-GROUP (888-894-7687) – that automatically connects up to 20 members of an account with a call, text or voice message. Businesses that have more than 20 lines can select up to 20 account contacts and connect with them using the toll-free number. Members of a Family Group may include anyone on an account, plus one non-Verizon Wireless number or any wireline number not associated with that account. Family Group Contact is $4.99 per month per account, and once subscribed, any member of the group with a Verizon Wireless number has the ability to initiate communication with the others.
Group Contact allows a customer to create up to seven customized groups, each with up to 20 different wireline, wireless or international phone numbers. Group owners can initiate communication with a call, text or voice message by dialing a unique phone number assigned to the group when it is created. Group Contact is $6.99 per month per line and includes Quick Contact, which allows users to ring all members of a Quick Contact group simultaneously. When the first line answers, all others are disconnected, making Quick Contact perfect for those looking to connect with hard-to-reach individuals.
Customers can create and set up groups by logging into their accounts on either My Verizon or My Business. Managing groups, including adding or deleting members, involves just a few clicks, and changes take effect immediately.
Group Communication from Verizon Wireless is powered by technology from Kodiak Networks. For more information on Group Communication, go to www.verizonwireless.com/groupcomm, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store or call 1-800-2 JOIN IN.
Group Communication is not available in all areas and is subject to specific terms of use.
