Cogeco expects to have 7,000 to 8,000 cable telephone customers by the end of fiscal 2006 - a number analysts see as very conservative. TD Securities, for example, was looking for 30,000 in F2006.. So far, the service has only been launched in three markets, while Cogeco still plans to spend a modest $5-million this year on capital expenditures. Cogeco's cautious approach contrasts with its Quebec peer, Videotron Ltee, which has takent market by storm (42K subscribers) with its inexpensive ($15.95 to $30 a month) telephony service in Montreal and Quebec City.

Skype Journal, which usually waves the flag for Skype, takes the company to task for a press release it issued last week that highlighted the fact the software has been downloaded 130 million times, including 30 million since April. Clearly, unsatisfied with knowing the tip of the iceberg, Skype Journal wants insight into metrics such as:
* number of accounts,
* number of SkypeIn numbers,
* number of SkypeOut calls made,
* number of SkypeOut minutes served (total and per capita),
* number of affiliate sales,
* frequency distribution of languages people choose in their profiles,
* moving averages and peaks of simultaneous users online or in calls,
* number of text conversations.
I'd also like to see the number SkypeIn and SkypeOut users, and a break-down on how frequently they use the two services. Perhaps Skype could provide ARPU as well.
Jumping on the "Now Hear This Skype" bandwagon was Skype Journal domo Stuart Henshell who slammed Skype for not supporting its independent software developer community. After going through eight different areas, he gives the company a "D" rating. Ouch!