Primus Puts Its Money on VoIP Expansion

We’ve heard plenty of bad news lately from the world of VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). First, there was the SunRocket debacle, where thousands of customers had to scramble to find new Internet phone service providers. Then Skype temporarily blacked out, leaving millions of global users in the lurch. So it’s a relief to get a bit of good news from local VoIP provider Primus Telecommunications Group Inc. of McLean, Virginia.

Primus plans to open two regional sales offices in McLean and Boston, with 20 new employees by the end of 2007. This doesn’t reflect a huge increase in its work force, as the company has more than 1,000 employees. However, Primus stated in the past that it intended to invest further in VoIP and mobile technologies. We can see that it’s certainly hoping to deliver on its intentions.

In addition to VoIP, Primus also provides data, Internet access, e-commerce, Web hosting, enhanced application, virtual private network (VPN), and international and domestic voice services. Founded in 1994, its customers are located primarily in North America, Europe, the United Kingdom, and Australia.

Primus offers VoIP services to both business and residential customers. However, its new regional sales offices will focus on business customers only—specifically small- and medium-size businesses.

The telecommunications company ranks among the Washington DC metro area’s 125 largest public companies when ranked by annual revenue. That’s according to a report compiled by The Washington Post in May of 2007.

Of course revenue alone never guarantees success, and Primus has faced hard times in its long-distance phone and dial-up Internet service sectors as well as tough overall losses. It’s hoping VoIP can help dig them out. I’m sure Chairman and CEO K. Paul Singh would sleep much better at night with earnings in the black.