We All Owe Vonage A Thanks
Posted: October 10th, 2007 | Author: Garrett Smith | Filed under: VoIP Commentary | 1 Comment »
I have been thinking a lot lately about the torch that Vonage carried for the VoIP industry and how much of what they did that has landed them in so much financial trouble (marketing and advertising) has enabled many a company in the industry to thrive. To the mainstream public, Vonage is VoIP. I can’t tell you how many times I have told John Q. Public where I worked and had to mention Vonage just to give them a frame of reference.
Sure Vonage has not done much lately to drive innovation, and maybe their service is nothing more then voice 1.0 service delivered through over and Internet connection, but they paved the way. I am as guilty as anyone when comes to being critical of Vonage, but I am done bashing them. As the pioneer, the veteran, the old man, they deserve to be held in a better light.
So to Vonage, I say thank you for all that you have done to help bring this industry mainstream and for paving the way for so many of the companies that have come up in your foot steps.
[...] A few weeks ago I wrote about a post entitled, “We All Owe Vonage a Thanks“. In it, I praised the battered pure-play for all that they have done to bring the VoIP industry to the mainstream. I even vowed to stop criticizing them. I did receive some flak, but overall many that I talked to agreed with my take on the situation. [...]