http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/ Engadget Comments for The Engadget Interview: Jeffrey Citron, chairman and CEO of Vonage http://www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/
This must have cost them a fortune.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/
One question I would have asked is if he sees competition from iChat, especially the video chat aspect of things. Sans the phone number iChat really is VOIP.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/
Last summer, I had a job offer to be a Software Developer for Vonage but turned the job down because i didnt fell like traveling to Edison from North Jersey everyday. I also didnt like the idea where I may have to be there in the middle of the night if needed (I know it can happen in any developer position, but since they mentioned it i thought the odds where good that it will happen). I am still very curious about them and am pondering "what if." I def want to know when they do an IPO.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/PC chat solution that has been around for almost 8 years. For the same reason I don't see Skype as a true VOIP service, people want to keep their own number, their own phones and the system they are used to, the success of Vonage is IMHO based on the fact that you unplug one service (POTS) and plug in another, everything from the * services to the dialtone are the same. I don't think we are anywhere close to the majority of people moving to pc based calling.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/
I for one am I huge Vonage fan...I use it at home and have multiple Vonage lines for my business (all using the same T1 line).

It's true that the Vonage brand is very strong and is in a better position than the big telco's. I can't remember how many times I've been ripped off, over charged and shafted by the SBC, AT&T, GTE (Verizon), etc. They take advantage of the fact that they have monopolistic control over the infrastructure.

Some horror stories: Once I had to pay SBC $800 to setup two stupid phone lines in a small office...$800!! They charged me for every little thing they possibly could, and the taxes on each line were just ridiculous. I remember setting up a phone line in a new apartment and paying over $300 bucks just because their union technician had to come out and connect a freakin wire...it took him like 5 minutes. I remember being a teenager and calling friends around L.A. and sometimes running up a phone bill for like $180 bucks...man would I get in trouble. Things like this leave a permanent impression on you. It's no fun to get overcharged and taken advantage of by a big company that has been given many benefits by the public. I'll tell you, I sure don't get a monthly fee from the electric or phone companies for that phone pole that sitting in my backyard, on MY property.

I like Vonage because they let me stick it to those Telco bastards. I like Vonage because they are not afraid of the competition and want to give customers more for their money. I like Vonage because they don't go crying to the government whenever they feel threatened by innovation http://www.engadget.com/entry/1234000530034631/I like Vonage because they decided to lower their monthly rate by 5 bucks per line, and it even applied to existing customers. They actually LOWERED their monthly rate...that was something I had not experienced in a really long time.

If anyone who cares is reading this, I would love Vonage to have a "calling card like" feature, where I can call my voicemail (not toll-free), enter my pin and then be able to connect myself to any other number. This is useful if I am somewhere where I want to make a long-distance call but I don't want to use the person's long-distance service, or if your cell phone (like mine) does not include free long-distance.

Arriba Vonage!

-Carlos]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/
For shame!!!]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/
http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/63372]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/
As far as this interview is concerned, this is one of the more intelligent CEOs I've heard from in quite some time and at some level he has garnered a level of respect from me. He has a realistic vision for the future that is both implementable and profitable. I do hope that they can resolve some of their issues with customer support and end user migration though as that is the tallest barrier to more widespread adoption of vonage.

I was particularly impressed that Vonage partnered with someone that did alarms for VOIP systems. I do hope that they also start working more closely with Brinks and the like because when it comes to my peace of mind for my alarm system, I won't pick up a new alarm provider when I have one that works and works well.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/
I hope they IPO before then.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/
Verdict: As of now Vonage is about as good as the worst cellphone provider. If you can deal with spotty calls and terrible customer service, then you're go to go.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/
Since he makes the point to go after AT&T it would only be fair to set the record straight. Here is a link to the AT&T VoIP commitment from Feb 2004, http://www.att.com/news/2004/02/25-12936, which specifies that "the company expects to have more than 1 million business and consumer users across its portfolio of VoIP services by the end of 2005". AT&T has many products using VoIP today, CallVantage is not the only one it just happens to be the one that continues to be compared favorably over Vonage and their single-product company. Vonage should be worrying more about how to avoid being the next Tivo, bringing an innovative product to market only to legitimize it for others better equipped to offer it. Vonage's best hope for survival could be a deal with a national wireless player because they aren't going to beat the ILECs or CableCos. The cost of not owning a network could be rather high, this article puts the cost of just two markets at $400/month/customer. http://www.xchangemag.com/hotnews/55h1915195017379.html. If you get another interview it would be great to hear how acquiring a $25/month customer for $200 becomes a profitable business, and that doesn't even count the costs for new 911 investments! Can you say "House of Cards"?]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/
Also, #11, I may be misunderstanding your opening paragraph, but to clarify, you do not have to leave your PC on to use vonage.

I love my Vonage,it is phenominal. My only complaint is when I am transfering files from my TiVo to PC, there is a clicking on the other end that only the person I am talking to hears. This could be how I have my system set up here. I live in a basement and have my vonage box set up between 2 wireless routers and that could be affecting my quality of service.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/
Sad part is SBC is sitting on this because I believe they know they will lose another customer… how true this is. I am debating whether to follow litigation in civil or small claims against SBC the difference in price due to the time factor (Principal for the time delay is what I am after, but this would give a valid reason I believe for the litigation).

Regards,

Ted]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/
The driver outside the states is expensive telephone services. That's why Skype can claim 39MM users...surpassing Vonage's base every 5 days. As processors and broadband builds out globally and pervasively. Voice communications will become free. The drivers are not in the US...watch China, India and Brazil...watch Skype.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/
PS. When VONAGE learns what QOS means then it might have a chance, do they understand DOCSIS QOS classes, MPLS tagging, and IP TOS or DSL IP taggin so voice gets QOS, apparently not from the failed head to head tests, they lost PC magazine, Washington Post head to head, UNH and on and on ATT callvantage is hands down the model to beat in VOIP.]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/
I'd rather give Vonage 24.99 a month, than give SBC another dime of my money for the years of frustration, shitty service, and over-priced features.

Waiting for the IPO!]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/

For free Demo Please visit: www.tctecno.com]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:16AMhttp://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/http://www.engadget.com/2005/05/23/the-engadget-interview-jeffrey-citron-chairman-and-ceo-of/

For free Demo Please visit: www.tctecno.com]]>Dec 19th 2005 12:16AM