The vCon Revolution: Transforming Conversations into Billion-Dollar Assets

From inefficiency to opportunity: how vCons are redefining the future of business communication

In 1996, when I traveled the world telling people the future of communications was “Voice on the Net,” I wasn’t always met with applause. Some thought I was dreaming. “Voice over the internet? That’ll never work!” Fast forward to today, a big part of the 2.2 trillion dollar global telecom market continues to be driven by advances in VoIP. The global acceptance of business tools like Zoom and Teams prove those early skeptics wrong each and every day.

Yet, even with all our progress, many businesses still mishandle customer conversations. Last week while working in a coffee shop in Bentonville, Arkansas, I witnessed a man re-explain an issue he was having with his bank five separate times. We’ve all experienced this. It’s frustrating, wasteful, and entirely avoidable.

Here’s a core business truth: inefficiency equals opportunity. The billions wasted in poor conversational management represent a massive, untapped business opportunity. And that’s where virtualized conversations (vCons) come in.

Why vCons Are a Game-Changer

Since the mid-1990s, I’ve seen almost every so-called “revolutionary” communication technology. Most were evolutionary, not revolutionary—incremental upgrades marketed as breakthroughs. But vCons? They’re truly different.

Think back to when we finally got SIP working at VON. SIP transformed voice into data, enabling manipulation, optimization, and entirely new possibilities.

vCons are doing the same for business communication. By capturing context and meaning, vCons turn every interaction into actionable intelligence. Just as VoIP unlocked unforeseen markets, vCons are set to redefine how businesses communicate and create value.

Why Now?

We’re standing at a pivotal moment. In 1997, VoIP was just starting to reshape the world. Early adopters wrote the rules. Today, vCons are at a similar inflection point. The technology is at a tipping point, ready for those eager to seize first-mover advantages.

The Untapped $50 Billion Opportunity

Every day, billions of business conversations disappear, treated as fleeting moments instead of strategic assets. Businesses are sitting on a gold mine of conversational data—and throwing it away.

Here’s the reality: Poor customer service costs companies billions annually, inefficiencies in call centers waste time and money, and the demand for AI-driven solutions is skyrocketing. vCons unlock the hidden value in every conversation by transforming them into actionable, measurable assets.

Think about it: If you could turn even a fraction of these lost conversations into tools for customer retention, compliance, or operational insights, the potential is enormous. By addressing inefficiencies, enhancing customer experience, and fueling AI systems, vCons represent a business opportunity easily exceeding $50 billion.

What’s Next?

For those who’ve followed me since the early days of VoIP, you know I don’t jump on trends lightly. I’ve seen too many “next big things” fade away. But vCons? They’re different.

In today’s world, platforms like ChatGPT can natively read a vCon just as easily as they read a Word document. This makes vCons foundational to a new era of AI-powered business communication. They aren’t just tools; they’re transformative infrastructure.

I’m assembling a group of forward-thinking companies—early adopters ready to shape the future. If your organization wants to lead in this new frontier, let’s connect. I’d love to explore ways to showcase your product, service or vision at our upcoming 2025 events.

And for those still skeptical? Remember, the same doubts surrounded VoIP—and we know how that story ended.

Welcome to the vCon Revolution!