Greetings,

The questions that need to be answered are fairly simple, but since
I'm software-building illiterate person, I have to ask someone who
knows the subject fluently, to actually help me gain the understanding
on this matter.

I started using Skype.com for communication, but got involved myself
into this world and now thinking what does it take to build such an
application from a business standpoint. I was invited to join a
start-up company to develop a VOIP telephone, just like Skype.com,
only better. But my job would be to find the right team for the job.
So, I'm facing the following issues:

- the challenges of product and development of a VOIP telephone like Skype.com

- the technical knowledge (languages, software, other skills) required
to complete such a project successfully

- the technical knowledge required to produce the same product that's
integrated with the same network and workable on PDAs through WI-FI
channels. Is the building and skills used any different to build the
application for PDAs?

- how much people, time and money do YOU think (in your best estimate)
it would take to develop a quality product like that?

- when hiring a technology office who will manage the developers, what
educational and maybe work background should I look at with that
person?

- any other technical suggestions that you think might help when
starting a venture like that would be appreciated.


In very general terms, I need to know what kind of KNOWLEDGE and what
kind of SKILLS one should be going after in case of launching such a
venture to build the internet telephone like Skype?

Thank you in advance. Greatly appreciate any assistance.

Best,
Artashes

Dear ArtAshes

It is not a simple question; anyway I would like to answer for free
here. Since I had been part of such team, which has developed a
project like this, that project is in Client Acceptance Testing Phase
currently.

Main Challenges:
================
1) The challenges of product and development of a VOIP telephone like www.skype.com

* Main challenge would be hiring technical team who has right
technical abilities to develop this application

* Architecture and design would be the most difficult part


Technical Knowledge
===================
2) The technical knowledge (languages, software, other skills)
required to complete such a project successfully

This project can be developed in Java or Visual C++ or VB .Net etc but
development team should have good knowledge of media servers,
Streaming Servers and related protocol.

For example if you go for VB .Net then you should have very well
knowledge of Microsoft Media 9 Series.

PDAs
====
3) The technical knowledge required to produce the same product that's
Integrated with the same network and workable on PDAs through WI-FI
channels.

Is the building and skills used any different to build the application for PDAs?

* More technical skill would be needed since PDA programming is
different and done in different development environments. However,
careful selection of architecture would reduce development efforts
some how.

Time estimate:
==============
4) How many people, time and money do YOU think (in your best
estimate) would be required to develop a quality product like that?

In my opinion a team of ten skilled resources working for 6 months
would be able to do this job.

Money: Development Effort Cost + Software (Development and Deployment)
Cost + Hosting Cost

Money totally depends on the solution and can't be told like this here

Resource Hiring
===============
5) When hiring a technology officer, who will manage the developers,
what educational and maybe work background should I look at with that
person?

You should consider following:

Must have development experience of atleast 5 years
Must have development experience of C++, Java and .Net
Must have development experience Audio/Video Streaming
Must have experience in Media serves (Media 9 series, Real Players etc)

6) Any other technical suggestions that you think might help when
starting a venture like that would be appreciated.

If you are serious then you should buy some product like this and get
that customized according to your needs.

Kind Regards,
Tobascus2002