Clark Peterson - Telesphere
Phoenix-based Telesphere, a nationwide business phone and internet service provider, recently opened its doors in Utah. We had the chance to speak with Clark Peterson, CEO of Telesphere, to find out more about the companies technology and services and how they can help businesses along the Wasatch Front.
Silicon Slopes: What is Telesphere?
Clark Peterson: Telesphere provides advanced business phone and Internet services in a non-traditional way. Our signature offering—hosted private branch exchange (PBX) services—allows us to offer businesses the latest and greatest in phone services and features without any upfront capital costs. Telesphere’s mission is to become the country’s leading provider of hosted PBX services for businesses. Although this is a newer technology, all statistics indicate hosted services will be the preferred way to receive business telecommunications services by 2011. Ahead of the curve, Telesphere is aggressively expanding throughout the country to be in lead position as this migration to hosted services takes place.
Silicon Slopes:What kind of services do you offer?
Clark Peterson: Telesphere provides complete voice and data solutions, from connections and hardware, to service and monitoring. Telesphere can also supplement a business’ existing telecom solution with the latest telecom features, like voicemail to email, web click to dial, simultaneous ring and cell to desk phone call swap.
Silicon Slopes: What is Hosted PBX?
Clark Peterson: With Telesphere, no longer do businesses need to spend $20k to $80k to purchase a PBX phone system and handsets for each of their offices. Now the customer simply has a router and small switch that makes the connection between the handsets and Telesphere’s centralized PBX that serves the entire country. This efficient manner of providing phone and internet allows small and medium sized businesses to have all the features of Fortune 500 companies, like voicemail to email, fax to email, web click to dial, and simultaneous ring, all at a price as low or lower than they would have paid monthly in the traditional model of getting phone service.
Content will be centralized in the future for most of the services we receive. Just like most consumers now get their music content from iTunes, and are able to access it over a broadband connection, Telesphere gives customers access to a central platform for all of their business telephone and internet services through a private broadband connection. And just like iTunes’ ability to give customers the ability to choose only the songs they want, rather than buying the entire CD as in the past, Telesphere allows customers to pick and choose the telephone features and services they need and instantly provide them to their office.
This innovative product offering is clearly changing the telecommunications industry and empowering the business customer to access this centralized content of phone services to create their own customized services in a very simple and affordable manner.
Silicon Slopes: Who are your typical customers?
Clark Peterson: It’s hard to choose a typical customer, since we can provide service to practically any business. We originally focused on small to medium-sized businesses, but now we are finding businesses of all sizes benefit from the services Telesphere provides. Businesses that are moving, expanding, or adding a location, as well as businesses with multiple locations, find Telesphere’s services to be particularly valuable and cost effective.
Silicon Slopes: What makes you different from other telephone and Internet service providers?
Clark Peterson: Traditional phone and internet service providers require business to invest in expensive on-site equipment that must be constantly updated, programmed and maintained. Telesphere’s signature hosted PBX services eliminate the need to purchase and maintain expensive equipment. We also offer world class 24/7 monitoring and support with no maintenance contracts. Telesphere actively monitors our network, and when we discover an issue, we proactively resolve it.
Silicon Slopes: You’ve partnered with a number of community programs. Why is that an important part of your growth strategy?
Clark Peterson: Telesphere values community involvement not only because it allows us to make key relationships, but also it allows us to give back to the communities where we live and work. I am personally involved in the community on many fronts, serving on the boards of the greater Phoenix Chamber, Tempe Chamber, and the Board of Governors for Boys & Girls Clubs of Scottsdale. Telesphere also financially supports key business organizations that further the development of small to medium businesses. Here in Utah, we support several Chambers, Economic Development Corporation of Utah, Corporate Alliance, Utah Technology Council, and we are working with Discovery Gateway Children’s Museum on a donation of cash and in-kind services.
Silicon Slopes: What is your background and how did you become a part of Telesphere?
Clark Peterson: I have been in the telecommunications industry for more than twenty years. I have been in both the wireline and wireless industries with some of the most respected names in the telecommunications industry. Most recently, I served as the president of U.S. major markets for Clearwire and was one of the original employees of Clearwire. Prior to joining Clearwire, I was with XO Communications as the president of the west region, XO’s largest region. I received my degree in business management from Brigham Young University.
Silicon Slopes: You just recently opened an office here in Utah. How are you being received so far?
Clark Peterson: We have been received very well in the community, and we’re excited to let businesses know there’s an alternative to traditional phone service that will simplify the way they do business.
Silicon Slopes: How did you ultimately determine Utah as a location for your expansion?
Clark Peterson: Telesphere chose to expand into Utah for a variety of reasons. First, Utah has a thriving business community that has not been as deeply affected by the economy as other parts of the country. Utah also appreciates new technology and embraces more efficient ways to conduct business. Finally, we quickly found and assembled an amazing team of professionals to carry our message to the business community.
