The beginnings of estos
Our recipe for success? Professionalism and passion! "The joy that customers have expressed when they describe using our software was and remains the force that still drives us today. Inspiring people is what we want to achieve. We accomplish this together with our employees who do their work passionately every day. Only this way could we realize our success over the last few years." (Stefan Hobratschk, founder)
Read the very personal interview with Stefan Hobratschk, one of the founders of estos. Read now!
In the mid-nineties, the two estos founders, Stephan Eckbauer and Stefan Hobratschk, were dealing with typical problems of student life. Everyone in their shared accommodation phoned home but at the end of the month, nobody wanted to pay the phone bill. Technically savvy, they solved the problem: an adapter was soldered and the ISDN telephone (ASCOM EaURIT) was serially connected to the computer (Windows 95 OSR2) to evaluate the call data with a self-developed software program. In the process they found out that the telephone could also be controlled by using the software.
The project grew as family and friends encouraged them. The first customer orders appeared. Signs of technological trends (ISDN, Windows and Microsoft Office) were emerging. A business plan matured. In 1997, the two founders, now passionate software developers, laid the foundation for the present company.
The technical term CTI – Computer Telephony Integration – appeared in the Gartner Hype Cycle.
A telephone plug-in for Microsoft Outlook was the first commercial success. With their business sense awakened, they focussed on the office workplace in small and medium-sized companies using the Microsoft’s TAPI interface. This gradually developed into a quasi-industry standard – reputation built on expertise.
The software was recommended, initial sales successes emerged and telephone system manufacturers and distributors became partners. The company went from strength to strength and a limited company was founded in 2000. IP-based networks were establishing themselves, the CTI interface (TAPI) got new features, a client server software, the TapiServer, emerged – which became the next bestseller.
The beginning of the history of estos was characterized by the founders' passion for technology and their empathy for the users. The positive user feedback hugely motivated the two students at the time. "We will continue with what we're doing because what we accomplish inspires people!" Today, almost two decades later, this is still the basic estos formula for continued success along with an appreciation for trends.
Are you interested in how the story continues? Read on.....