BellSouth (NYSE: BLS) and 8x8, Inc. (Nasdaq: EGHT), the Packet8 voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) and videophone communications service provider, today announced the signing of a private label agreement to provide technology, integration and operational services for BellSouth® Digital Phone Service.

“With the introduction of BellSouth® Digital Phone Service, we are broadening our portfolio of consumer services,” said Martin Chandler, Vice President – Product Management for BellSouth. “This new service is another example of our commitment to providing customers with the greatest choice when it comes to their communications and entertainment services.”

BellSouth’s agreement with 8x8 calls for the development of BellSouth® Digital Phone Service based on 8x8’s internally developed technology. This includes a suite of VoIP service components including a call switching platform, feature servers, customer portals and consumer premise equipment.

“BellSouth’s selection of 8x8 as its VoIP partner is a tremendous credit to the technology and service expertise which has made 8x8 one of the industry’s leading VoIP service providers,” said 8x8 Chairman & CEO Bryan Martin. “Our extensive residential, business and video technology portfolio was a key component to our winning BellSouth’s business. We look forward to working closely with BellSouth to offer their customers an enhanced, robust Internet phone service alternative.”

Seems my 15 minutes of fame applied again this week. My views on the Yahoo Voice 2.0 plans and how it impacts Skype are being picked up all over the place by many a respectable outlet or commentator.

This time The Deal, Internet Outsider, and IP Democracy which pulled together comment from Telephony Magazine’s Carol Wilson, Om and Yahoo’s new VoIP rock star, Jeff Bonforte. Just wind Jeff up and let him get on a roll. Just bring your track shoes, as he makes his former colleague at SipPhone, Michael Robertson seem like he’s in the slow lane..and that’s a real hard thing to do. Fortunately Yahoo’s steady at the helm, VP (call him Captain) Brad Garlinghouse keeps the ex iDrive first officer on an even keel.

I even commented to Brad how Jeff has really taken to his new role and is demonstrating that in presentations since September when he first joined Yahoo. Obviously Bonfortes has also grown more comfortable, especially since the departure of ex-Dialpad CEO, Craig Walker who is of doing something new in San Francisco.

What’s interesting is each seems to point out a different reason why they feel my perspective is on the money.

Part of this is, as Mark Evans alludes to, the anemic effort by eBay to clearly tell their story about what Skype will be like going forward as an entity. I expect that to change, and rather quickly, as Henry Gomez and Skype leaders were reportedly hovering in London last week, while Gomez was also possibly in Estonia on an educational crusade.

The big question though is who was educating who? Gomez needs to learn that Skype is a Business 2.0, Voice 2.0, Web 2.0 company. eBay is 1.0 and his prior worlds of HBO and I think NYNEX were old school. He’s a smart guy, and will likely catch on, but can the rest of eBay grasp what’s needed fast enough.

Things are happening in warp speed in the Valley, and the Borg never won in Star Trek battles….maybe a skirmish, but not the war.

In the deal with Bell South (which is a trial I hear) 8x8 has demonstrated that they can win a big deal.

They also have their E-911 act down better it would seem. Chairman Bryan Martin told me that “all BellSouth Digital Phone Service customers will have E911 support. BellSouth Digital Phone Service is sold only in areas where E911 connectivity is available. Customers will be able to move their service location if the new location also has E911 support for the service.”

I would say the difference was at the time the deal was done that Vonage didn’t really project a clear picture about how 911 would work. That and the fact that BellSouth didn’t want to work with any small players or the guys fueling the cable industry’s telco plays, Sprint and Level3.

One other thought. Since BellSouth and AT&T are partners in Cingular, don’t rule out a run by AT&T execs to sell in CallVantage via BellSouth in the future.

Mike @ TechDirt reminds us that this is not the first time BellSouth tried the VoIP route. Seems they did have one dance with Vonage a few years back.

P.S. Thanks for the props Mark.