Industry Analyst Jeff Kagan: Anthony Russo New VP Mobile at MagicJack
Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) April 05, 2014 -- Anthony Russo has been hired by magicJack COO Timothy McDonald as their new Vice President of Mobile, according to their press release, Apr. 3.
Industry analyst Jeff Kagan offers comment.
“This is a clear signal that magicJack is about to enter another growth faze. This time in the mobile space. MagicJack VocalTec Ltd. has been a player in the VoIP business for years. They let users make VoIP calls, similar to telephone calls, over their computer. MagicJack is in the mobile space now, but it looks like they will get a lot more serious beginning now in the mobile VoIP space,” says Tech analyst Jeff Kagan.
MagicJack is now calling themselves a cloud-based communications company. Thinking about magicJack as a cloud company is a new way to think about the same VoIP service which the marketplace is already familiar with.
“I think this means we can expect magicJack to become a more visible competitor in the wireless or mobile space. Their competitors are not wireless carriers. Their competitors are other VoIP companies like Vonage. Vonage is also looking to grow in the wireless end. Instead magicJack will likely offer their services through an app. If so, this means magicJack will be a data service, not a voice service,” says wireless analyst Kagan.
NOTE: Read this recent column on Vonage by Jeff Kagan on Equities.com April 2.
“We don’t yet have all the answers to what magicJack will look like going forward, but hiring Anthony Russo as VP of Mobile says quite a bit. It looks like magicJack looks to mobile or wireless for much growth going forward,” says principal analyst Kagan.
The press release says Anthony Russo is a digital voice and mobile app expert bringing more than 12 years of experience from Vonage and AT&T Mobility (Cingular). Most recently he directed global mobile strategy and app development for iOS and Android at Vonage.
It says he will lead the ongoing expansion of magicJack’s over the top mobile communications solution. He will report to COO Timothy McDonald.
McDonald says of Russo, he has held a number of product and sales roles at AT&T Mobility and Cingular Wireless, which included launching the first U.S. carrier branded VoIP app, AT&T Call International.
“It is becoming more clear what direction magicJack want’s to grow into. That’s why McDonald hired Russo. The next obvious question is simple. Will it work? Will magicJack be able to start their next wave of growth in the VoIP space? I can’t answer that question yet. We’ll have to wait and see. However we know the direction magicJack is heading. It will be interesting to watch how much of an impact they can make in the industry going forward,” says Kagan.
About Jeff Kagan
Jeff Kagan is a Technology Industry Analyst, consultant and columnist. He is regularly quoted by the media and shares his opinion in many ways over 25 years.
He offers comment to reporters and journalists on wireless, telecom, Internet, cable television, IPTV and other tech news stories.
Kagan is also known as a Tech Analyst, Wireless Analyst, Telecom Analyst and Principal Analyst.
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Jeff Kagan, Jeff Kagan, Industry Analyst, http://www.jeffKAGAN.com, +1 (770) 579-5810, [email protected]
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