Last week during the eComm conference, I didn't go, but I did get to talk to Irv shapiro at IfByPhone about how they are making it dirt simple for small and medium businesses to add the power of voice to their website. So simple, in fact, if you can code an HTML form, you can use IfByPhone!

Without writing a single line of web services code, IfByPhone gives SMBs the ability to set up:

• An automated attendant


• Find-me, follow-me


• Voicemail


• An outbound customer survey


• Voice broadcast, i.e. automated outbound calling

If you're more ambitious, there's also an open API where you can do your own telephony mashup.

I asked Irv about how they prevent people from using the service for nefarious means, e.g. pretending to be American Express and using it from phishing. The simple answer: the accounts require payment and no account is activated without a live phone call from IfByPhone. Most phishers would rather not expose themselves in this way.

The service is available now starting at $14.99 a month and includes 100 minutes of calls. Additional minutes cost extra, with discounts given for volume commitments.