What is Digg?51 Comments
- skarps, on 10/12/2007, -0/+11What to do... Should I stay with the sinking ship till my phone all of a sudden stops working one day, or do I break down and go back to the AT&T monopoly?
- d4n13, on 10/12/2007, -1/+8I'll stick with 'em till the end... hardly use my land line anyway, thats why I went VoIP. Easily the best part of the whole transition was telling ATT / SBC to go suck and egg! I'll resort to smoke signals before I ever give SBC company another dime.
11011011 - monosyth, on 10/12/2007, -1/+7i'm in the same sinking boat...
- HonoredMule, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5I'm not sure exactly what you expect such leadership to learn. They're very successful at what they do, which just happens not to include making the company successful.
- clickwir, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4There are plenty of other options. Broadvoice. Packet8.
Hell, just goto www.dslreports.com and look at all the options. - Egoist, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4Except when you want to cancel your account, and they smack you with a $40 cancellation fee.
They had a good product, but I still feel swindled after getting out. - meboy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3I've had vonage for almost 2 years. I'll stay with them until the end but once the end comes where do I go from here?
- mpanahi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3http://www.sunrocket.com/
- washcapsfan37, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2There are plenty of other good VoIP companies out there that aren't in danger from Verizon. SunRocket is one. Better rates on their plans, too.
- MacintoshSauce, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I have Vonage, and I have been having great call quality with my family and friends in Canada. The thing I like about Vonage the most is the virtual phone number that I can have in my home town, allowing my family and friends to call me like it was a local call. That is awesome IMO. I don't know of any other VOIP providers that offer virtual phone numbers in Canada.
- shark72, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Vonage's big problem is that due to the Verizon lawsuit, the court has ruled that they cannot sign up new customers. This tends to put a crimp in your cash flow.
It's just Verizon's way of asking them: "Can you hear me now... BITCH?"
It's our nation's IP laws -- those same sets of laws that allow record companies to go after teenagers -- that have made Vonage the loser here. - Dayyve, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I'll actually miss that :(
- huntrm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+23 years having this service; for my $20-$22/month, great service, great value. Have been hiccups on QoS, but those largely are gone (now I just need to get Comcast to increase their QoS). A I told the BellSouth rep who wanted me to sign up for local/LD, "Vonage. For $22/month including taxes, it works GREAT!"
I'm not concerned about this, they'll continue service, and grow, merge, or be acquired. 2.2M customers will ensure that happens. - abenage, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Care to elaborate?
- washcapsfan37, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2The rates can easily be beat. SunRocket offers $199/year (~$17/mo) for the same service. And just two weeks ago they had a special for $199 for 2 years. Including all equipment and a free phone.
- ThatsUnpossible, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2What are you talking about? My rate hasn't increased in over 2 years (other than taxes they are required to pass on). I pay $17.98 (after taxes, bottom line) a month for unlimited local calls, 500 minutes of long distance.
- IGotDT, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2However, Cablevision will rape you after the "intro" period.
- ThatsUnpossible, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1It is a buying opportunity in my opinion, if you're willing to take on the risk. There's no guarantee they'll be bought or able to weather this storm if subscribers are scared away.
They do bring in a lot of revenue, but their marketing spending is currently very high, which results in losses for now. Can they sustain profits after marketing subsides, assuming they survive these patent issues? - huntrm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1To add:
Any thoughts on this being a buying opportunity for their stock? 2.2M subscribers x $25.00/month x 12 months = $660M in annual revenues. Market cap is $490M today. The fact that their P/S < 1, makes me wonder - but am not taking into account cash, debt, and their burn rate against the cash. If they restructure the right way, and grow smartly, this might be decent buy. - inactive, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Building your company based on some "other" companies network, is a bad idea. I thought the patent issues were over software that verizon uses? they cant just change it to something else? Or is their more to the story?
- dreicher, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Why do you contend they should be "exponentially cheaper"? Sure, calls that never hit the PSTN (telco network) cost virtually nothing because they stay entirely on an internet backbone, but as soon as you call a landline or wireless phone, Vonage has to pay the piper (the phone company) for connecting the call to their network. This also holds true for any incoming calls you receive.
- phynodedotnet, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5Good, the AOL of VoIP providers tried charging traditional line rates for something that should be exponentially cheaper. Small wonder that isn't working out.
- opes, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2
WOO HOO, WOO HOO HOO!!! - huntrm, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@ThatsUnpossible
Good article on MotleyFool: http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/04/12/vonages-vile-outlook.aspx
Mentions slashing of marketing budget, reduction of overhead, layoffs, etc.
I think if it dips into 2ish range again, maybe 2.4 - 2.6, I'm buying many thousand shares and start my 'hail marys for them being an acquisition target. They should also reverse split 3:1 to get noticed by mutual funds who have restrictions on buying stocks below $5.00. Once all lawsuits are settled, and lets say cash is solid, with path to profitability - this will be a good buy. But as well all know, its getting in before the items I mentioned occur as stock would have inevitably risen at that point. - pennyfan87, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2This is really too bad. I've been using them for the last 2 years in the home and office. The quality is great and the rates can't be beat.
I will miss Vonage. - clickwir, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Vonage is great. I've only had it a few months but it's really helped cut our costs and service has been great. I've recommended it to several people.
- northjersey78, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1They will be bought by one of the big time companies sooner or later.
- TeCuervo, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1K, so the other company pays for the pipe or associated costs to the recipient phone, but he is paying a service and so is the wireless customer with the associated air time. Furthermore, most of the foundation for these pipes were done with tax money when phone companies got help, and still do, from the government.
Vonage may not be the best, hell, I have their wireless router that didn't pass DLynk's quality control and I'm pretty upset about that but this is irrelevant to what they are going through. When a big company wants to take out a smaller one due to fear of competition they get sued and with the help of our extremely screwed up patent system destroy the competition.
Personally I hate the phone as I get calls from work all the time, I will not be renewing it, but this is besides the point.
I cannot say I know what patents Vonage is attacked with but we all know that now-a-days it is close to impossible for a small software company to continue with this mess. Does Verizon own VoIP? - astyanax, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Had Vonage for years, then got fed up with my cable reliability (as well as their stupid dashboard which took forever just to START downloading my voicemails) in my old house. THEN the hell began. I don't think any of their support staff work in the US and boy they are harder than your average Indian tech to understand. Trying to cancel and got the almost AOL-type responses about cancelling my service, that made me sure I'd never switch back. Now they are sending me stuff every month to come back? Stop wasting your money idiots...
Moved to a new place, signed up with Sunrocket, so far so good. $200/yr, good voice quality, I'll take it! - blueorder, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'm in the same boat. I think I'll ride until they go under and then port to another service...maybe Skype...we'll see...
I do love my Vonage though... - DarkPrince11, on 10/12/2007, -0/+134.99 here in NY gets you crystal clear, free long distance and unlimited calls through the USA + Canada...Cablevision rocks..
- washcapsfan37, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2Not everyone has a cell phone. It's much cheaper than a cell phone. Not everyone has coverage at their home (or good reliable coverage).
- bradleyland, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Puh-leeeeez. I happen to like Vonage's feature set, and I'm "tech savvy" for sure. The simul-ring feature alone is a godsend for me.
Since you're quoting $0.02/minute, I'll assume (and probably make an ass out of myself) that you're talking about Skype. I use a1000 minutes a month on my cell phone, and I definitely use my home phone more than my cell phone. I work out of my house. Assuming I'd only use my home phone 1000 minutes a month, I'd be paying $20 for Skype on the pay as you go plan, and not get half the features.
It's all about fit. Your solution may work for you, but it won't work for everybody. So quit insulting people whose needs aren't the same as yours. You just come off sounding like an *****. - Charlotte_Web, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I've been with Vonage for years, and have had almost no complaints. I love their service. I may stick with them to the end, though I probably need to start researching options, here.
My guess is that the service will never be switched off. The customer base is too valuable to lose; that means that another VOIP provider will probably buy out what's left of Vonage on the auction block to pay off the bondholders, and hopefully it'll be a smooth transition. Otherwise, if the bondholders allow the company to flatline by switching off the service completely, then they pretty much get nothing (who would want to buy old phone equipment? Nobody!).
That's what I'm hoping for, anyways. :-D - sbrown123, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1I'm sticking with them. I hate to give them up as I have loved the service. Hopefully this ship will right itself.
- Radian, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1"The rates can't be beat."
Yes, they can be and are -- by Lingo (and perhaps others). I call Germany, Switzerland & the U.K. all the time, and still my monthly bill is $25. Good riddance, Vonage, I won't miss your moronic commercials either. - MrBankole, on 03/03/2008, -0/+0Those of you who are dissatified with Vontage, you can get tremendous savings at 5Linx.net/L329446. All the services and features for both residential and commercial applications. International callin and all that is needed to provide you with the latest technology that will give you a heads up against the field.
Thanks - brklynmark, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1They're going down because there's no money in residential VoIP. VoIP companies make very little money on the difference between your monthly charges vs. expenses incurred providing the service, especially on lines sold at the lowest prices possible.
Vonage's model (huge scale, national advertising, etc.) is the only way a company providing only residential VoIP service could succeed. Tiny profit on lots of customers. But obviously still not viable.
Business providers have a much higher profit margin, because companies are willing to pay more for service, and they'll order for extra, more profitable services (like auto-attendants, dial-by-extension, etc.) Vonage wouldn't even provide service to businesses up until a few years ago. They essentially sold to the least profitable VoIP market, while refusing to sell the markets that will pay real money. - Barleyman, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2try www.gateshare.com
- jads, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2I've never had any problems with Vonage and they've been a lot cheaper than other providers. I've used skype in the past and found Vonage the best of the bunch...
- flamz4000, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Hello VoIP users I'm A Executive Trainer with 5linx, a Globalinx company.The best company in the world. You can check our record with INC 500 magazine for 2006, also you can see us in the news on our main website www.5linx.com As we all know Vonage has been shaken up like a milkshake. It's ok though because alot of customers who didnt know about 5linx before they got with Vonage has switched over to us. We have 8 different products and services which our main service is VoIP and we also have the home video phone which is amazing, because we are bringing lots of familys together. (no excuse for not having a long distance relationship now ) hehehe.. 5linx a Globalinx company is the only company that pays you for being your own customer. If you sign up as a representive. Vonage doesnt I'm sorry...All of the major TOP major companies are with us Wireless, Satallite, Business,etc....I and the people I know that are in this business will never again be with another company that doesn't pay them for using their service. so I f u decide to either join the 5linx team or become a customer of VoIP or other 7 services I and your family and friends will greatly br happy of your new choice. P.S. $199 annual VoIP ........free cell phones(cingular, sprint, T-mobil etc...) $39.99 unlimited business plans VoIP.. Broadband with your major carrier...please go to my website to see all the products and services we have to offer you more for less.thanx.... http://www.5linx.net/L196734
- T3CK, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Dont you people you cellphones thats why i got 2 different ones and never have a problem with my service
Who needs a land line anyway ? - Charlotte_Web, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Well, if you think about it, executives only benefit from a successful company, so it's in management's best interest to create a strong, solid enterprise.
Unfortunately, top management gets a little too greedy for that big payday sometimes and they grow the company too fast. After all, bigger company = bigger paychecks for management, right? That's why you see a lot of merger mania with big companies, because the managers want to get a lot bigger, a lot faster. - dr.unclear, on 10/12/2007, -1/+0Apparently I'm the only one, but Vonage sucked ass when I tried it a few months back. Calls dropped, but the worst part was that the modem would disconnect my phone line randomly. No dial-tone, no incoming calls, nothing! Worse still this was a business line. We promptly (but reluctantly) went back to Qwest. I've had similar experiences with comcast phones, Skype, etc. I was really hopeful that VOIP would be good enough, but in my experience it's just not very stable.
- trnscndr, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1Vonage is a rippoff for people that pretend to be tech savvy. I pay as I go, 2 cents/minute anywhere in the world with crystal clarity. I hope Vonage goes down for the count.
- zionad, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1yeah, when do i jump off the boat?
- silverchrysalis, on 10/12/2007, -10/+9my husband almost got hired on by these people last year. we did a bit or research, decided that they seemed unstable and that we didn't want to live in NJ again anyhow, and turned them down. probably the smartest thing he's done in his career yet. they seemed like such a good concept company a few years ago, but poor top management always hurts ya in the long run.
i wonder when these fat pig CEOs will learn to stop stealing money from their companies and making idiot decisions.., maybe never - phynodedotnet, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1You all don't take it out on me because you got suckered into "VoIP for grandparents" with tin-can-and-string quality tunnel-sounding conversations and no easy possibility of cancelling.
('bout to get dugg down by the remaining Vonage employees.) - dattaway, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1They are going to lay off the thick accent help operators in India?
- Cyber_Akuma, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1Oh my, look at that. This ship appears to be sinking. Here, let me jump off like a rat. Oh, no no, no need to worry, please, continue about your business, no need to panic, im just sure we will manage to stay afloat somehow. See you on dry land if you make it. *SPLASH*
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