“The conversation doesn’t end when you hang up the phone. That’s when it begins.” – Jeff Pulver

At the recent TMC event, Technology Reseller News publisher Doug Green sat down with Jeff Pulver, a pioneering voice in the VoIP industry and now the driving force behind vCon. Their conversation, much like the technology it centered on, was a glimpse into the future of communication—one that redefines how we capture, analyze, and leverage conversations.

30 Years of VoIP: From VocalTech to vCon

For Pulver, February 13th, 2025, marked a milestone—30 years since VocalTech introduced the first consumer VoIP application, a moment that proved voice could travel over the internet, not just phone lines. While voice-over-IP technology has been in development since 1969, Pulver sees 1995 as the true launch of the VoIP industry. Since then, the landscape has evolved in ways few could have predicted.

Now, Pulver is championing vCon, an IETF standard that could revolutionize digital communication. “If you’re familiar with SIP (Session Initiation Protocol), then you’ll appreciate that the same people behind SIP are bringing you vCon,” he said. vCon is more than just a file format—it’s a way to store, analyze, and extract value from conversations across voice, email, and text.

A Game Changer for Businesses of All Sizes

Until recently, only large enterprises could afford advanced AI-driven conversation analysis, using sentiment and metadata to gain insights. But vCon democratizes this capability, allowing small and medium-sized businesses—or even individuals—to capture and analyze conversations effortlessly.

Pulver envisions a world where conversations are no longer lost but instead serve as valuable data points. “We’ve been letting metadata fall on the cutting room floor. Now, we can take conversations, apply AI, and gain insights without millions in R&D costs,” he explained.

The First-Ever vCon Interop Event

To further the adoption of this groundbreaking standard, Pulver announced the first-ever vCon Interop event, set for April 22-24, 2025, in Cape Cod. The event will feature a workshop, hands-on application development, and an industry showcase where companies can test interoperability.

Additionally, he is spearheading Vinevolution, an event in Bentonville, Arkansas, on April 9, focusing on the intersection of AI, telecom, and supply chain, as well as AI Com in New York City on April 4.

The Future of Conversations

Pulver, who coined the term Voice on the Net (VON) in 1995, sees vCon as a natural progression of his work. “We’re living in a world where AI is pervasive, and communication is evolving again,” he said. “This is more than just telecom—it’s about transforming how we do business.”

With vCon, conversations become assets, not just fleeting moments. For those who want to be part of this next wave of innovation, the opportunity starts now. As Pulver put it, “If you’re an early adopter, come join us.”

For more details, visit pulver.com or join the vCon Foundation at pulver.com/join.

(This podcast summary was done by vCon)