PX Eliezer
Premium
join:2008-08-09
New Jersey
 ·Callcentric
·Optimum Voice
·callwithus
·voip.ms
| GBU listings: SunRocket and VOIPo
What do folks think about these questions:
1) Why is SunRocket still on the GBU list (»/gbu) even though it is long since out of business?
2) Should VOIPo be on the GBU list (and at the top!) even though it is not yet available to the general public? Likewise, until a carrier has met the challenge of providing service to a fair number of public customers, can that carrier be evaluated fairly?
3) Also for discussion: VOIPo has been awaited for a long time now. Do people get frustrated with dithering? (Consider what happened to the 2008 presidential campaign of Senator Fred Thompson).
Just putting this out there for discussion.... |
|
dipswich
Premium
join:2003-06-27
Raleigh, NC
 ·AT&T U-Verse
·VoicePulse for Bus..
·ViaTalk
 ·RoadRunner Cable
1 edit | said by PX Eliezer  :1) Why is SunRocket still on the GBU list (» /gbu) even though it is long since out of business? It's humorous, and it does send a message about the price and quality of service combination that people are looking for. Or, maybe it's just people giving the other guys the bird. At least nobody can sign up with them, so no harm done.
2) Should VOIPo be on the GBU list (and at the top!) even though it is not yet available to the general public? Ranking beta services devalues /gbu and is a disservice. Service, support, and price are all different during beta making a relevant/fair evaluation impossible. "Awards" are even more questionable for these services due to the skew.
I'm somewhat forgiving of VOIPo's rankings for their not selling to the public. But, they are building up a "fanboy" base rating (and using it as a testimonial on their site). Good idea from their end, but thumbs down to DSLR for aiding and abetting.
I'm more irked by Future Nine for taking public orders despite not providing E911 service. I'm not sure the beta notice that 911 doesn't work quite meets the FCC rules, and the nonlevel playing field has to be a Future Nine advantage.
3) Also for discussion: VOIPo has been awaited for a long time now. Do people get frustrated with dithering? Not me. If it isn't available when making a purchasing decision, then it's their loss, not mine. There are plenty of players out there. |
|
ptrowski
Got Helix?
Premium
join:2005-03-14
Putnam, CT
clubs:
·VOIPo
·Metrocast Communic..
 ·AT&T DSL Service
·ViaTalk
| reply to PX Eliezer
I find it funny that people still update their Sunrocket reviews. They have been dead for over a year now, time to move on....
VOIPo seems to have a good following and people seem happy with it. You will notice though that all of the reviews came in a wave. My guess is that it is part of their impending launch as they make a link to it on their homepage now. Most likely they were asked to do the reviews to help with marketing at launch. Can't say if I owned the company I would not do the same thing.
--
"A religious war is like children fighting over who has the strongest imaginary friend."
Have you been touched by his noodly appendage? »www.venganza.org |
|
PX Eliezer
Premium
join:2008-08-09
New Jersey | reply to PX Eliezer
I want to thank the members (dipswich and ptrowski) who posted the preceding two comments to my original question.
Their posts were both enjoyable and educational. |
|
christcorp
Premium
join:2001-05-21
Cheyenne, WY
·Bresnan Online
·VOIPo
| reply to PX Eliezer
Definitely great responses on the first 2 points. I don't need to respond to that. As far as the 3rd point; frustration is a matter of perspective. One must realize that forums; whether they are voip, home theater, muscle cars, Computers, etc... are usually made up of a significantly SMALL amount of actual users/customers; and they are traditionally more technically minded/do it yourself type people.
The average voip user does not come to voip forums. Traditional forums comprise normally of around 5% of users. When you go to company provided forums; e.g. Packet8, Vonage, etc... where it's JUST their customers, even that is quite low. I.e. Packet8 has more than 200,000 customers, but the last time I checked, they had less than 1000 users registered on their company forum.
So, the point is, forums are not voip provider's customer base. Forums are a valuable source of "EXPERIENCED" users giving feedback. But as far as which direction a company should go, they shouldn't look towards the forums/users as their benchmark. However, the GBU, is a feedback poll BY and FOR the more experienced voip user. Or at the very least, the inexperienced voip user that had enough initiative to find a forum to assist them with a problem or in making an informed decision. The reviews for VoipO in the GBU, are done by BBR Members. These members are Beta Testers who MOST of which are very experienced in Voip Technology. Even though I am one of the beta testers, I do consider many of those reviews and opinions valuable. Because of WHO it is writing it.
VoipO has more than 1000 users of their system; beta and others. (I don't know the exact number). However, if you look at the GBU reviews, it's no where near that many. Now, your other comment if whether they should even be listed because they aren't open to the public yet, is a different topic. But, the information that is currently there, and allowed, is very valuable to those considering service/change of service sometime in the near future. Or, if nothing else, for existing providers to view and use to assist in making their service better. Later... Mike... |
|
dipswich
Premium
join:2003-06-27
Raleigh, NC
·AT&T U-Verse
·VoicePulse for Bus..
·ViaTalk
·RoadRunner Cable
| Mike,
Are VOIPo beta testers restricted by nondisclosure agreements or getting free/discounted service?
Just as DSLR gives "fair warning" for some reviews, as long as each reviewer gives full disclosure to the casual reader, I don't have any problems. I just hope readers understand that development resources move to other projects after a launch (responsiveness will probably go down) and value is artificially high because it's likely subsidized.
The more I think about it as a write, the more I think DSLR should add the "Fair Warning" to all beta reviews and not be giving awards. The clock for awards should be starting at launch. |
|
Brian in MD
Premium
join:2003-05-10
Maryland, US
·VOIPo
1 edit | I'm not going to argue one way or the other, but I will say that I *think* at this point, anyone seriously interested in VOIPo from this site can contact Tim and get involved immediately. As for nondisclosure, everyone has been given full permission to give honest reviews and opinions; pretty much everything we know that is being offered has been shared in Tim's posts throughout this site.
ETA: As far as free service, some may still be, but everyone who wants to keep their account alive has been given cut-off dates, and I think most of those who have reviewed here have paid. Of course, in the interest of full disclosure, I don't work for, or have any financial connection to the company, so I don't know this for sure. |
|
druber
join:2000-04-11
Marlborough, MA
·VOIPo
| reply to PX Eliezer
A couple of points: the "wave" of reviews was because they would not show up on GBU until a certain number were posted. My review was based on my honest feelings about the service (to date) as is (to my knowledge) the others, so referring to a "fanboy base" is unfair. |
|
usa2k
Please PRAY for Rebekah
Premium,MVM
join:2003-01-26
Canton, MI
clubs:
·VOIPo
·WOW Internet and C..
·Broadvox Direct
|  reply to dipswich
Re: GBU listings: SunRocket and VOIPo
Non-disclosure had been lifted recently, at least to talk about the service, and our experiences. That may account for a wave of reviews.
Yes we were offered a discounted yearly rate. Early adopters may have the joy of cheaper pricing than the "teaser page" they have up at VOIPo.com right now. I cannot be totally sure since I am a lowly beta tester.
Those who are impatient (I don't recall anybody actually declaring that) I can sympathize with you. I admit I am looking forward to new blood over there. I am looking forward to the proof of scalability which I have full confidence in.
There is still room for improvement but their vPanel web interface is functional and clean. They have been sticking with a Grandstream 286 single phone port TA. I only see the ability to have one primary line per account, and additional virtual numbers including toll free, and . . .
GRRR - sorry I am doing a review! I want to stay on topic, but it seemed questions begged answers. I'll stop now. 
--
Jim, VoIP since 12/2002, VOIPo 2/7/2007
FAH-Tool ... Whales ... VOIPo Forum ... VOIPo Review |
|
PX Eliezer
Premium
join:2008-08-09
New Jersey |  Thanks to everyone for all of these interesting responses to my first post.
I've sure learned alot. |
|
usa2k
Please PRAY for Rebekah
Premium,MVM
join:2003-01-26
Canton, MI
clubs:
·VOIPo
·WOW Internet and C..
·Broadvox Direct
| said by PX Eliezer :Thanks to everyone for all of these interesting responses to my first post. I've sure learned alot. Thanks for joining DSLReports  |
|
justin
Australian
join:1999-05-28
Brooklyn, NY
Host:
IPv6
Business Connectiv..
Home/Office setup ..
Console/Handheld g..
Console Tech
| reply to PX Eliezer
Re: GBU listings: SunRocket and VOIPo
I've marked sunrocket as a dead provider. The next gbu will no longer include it.
The short answer as to why it has sat there forever is that the ISP directory is poorly maintained (by the ISPs and by the community). Probably partly because it is clunky and hard to use. |
|
usa2k
Please PRAY for Rebekah
Premium,MVM
join:2003-01-26
Canton, MI
clubs:
·VOIPo
·WOW Internet and C..
·Broadvox Direct
| Re: GBU listings: VOIPo
 Cool! Now this thread is all about VOIPo
|
|
no_one
@QWEST.NET
| reply to justin
Re: GBU listings: SunRocket and VOIPo
said by justin :I've marked sunrocket as a dead provider. The next gbu will no longer include it. The short answer as to why it has sat there forever is that the ISP directory is poorly maintained (by the ISPs and by the community). Probably partly because it is clunky and hard to use. No it can not be. Farewell Sunrocket we hardly knew you . |
|
benc
Premium
join:2007-06-17
Glen Carbon, IL
·Charter Pipeline
·Future Nine Corpor..
·Callcentric
·AT&T Midwest
| reply to dipswich
said by dipswich :I'm more irked by Future Nine for taking public orders despite not providing E911 service. I'm not sure the beta notice that 911 doesn't work quite meets the FCC rules, and the nonlevel playing field has to be a Future Nine advantage. I can understand that to a point, and it's something I've wondered about myself.
However, Future 9 does provide something that I think is lacking in other providers, and it's the fact that there is no 911, and thus no 911 fee.
I have a POTS line, therefore I don't need 911 through VOIP. If you have multiple VOIP providers (like many members here), you probably don't need 911 on all of the lines. |
|
benc
Premium
join:2007-06-17
Glen Carbon, IL
·Charter Pipeline
·Future Nine Corpor..
·Callcentric
·AT&T Midwest
| reply to PX Eliezer
I just looked at the GBU, and I don't see SunRocket on there. It's a good thing too.
However, I noticed that VOIPo is listed at the top. I don't think it should be listed at all, since they don't take public orders. If I go to the VOIPo site I just see some page that says nothing. I don't even know what the pricing is like. And there's no sign up page. |
|
christcorp
Premium
join:2001-05-21
Cheyenne, WY | benc; if you go to voipo.com, there is a teaser page there with some info. There's even an overview link that says the pricing, features, etc... later... mike.... |
|
PX Eliezer
Premium
join:2008-08-09
New Jersey
·Callcentric
·Optimum Voice
·callwithus
·voip.ms
| reply to benc
said by benc :I just looked at the GBU, and I don't see SunRocket on there. It's a good thing too. However, I noticed that VOIPo is listed at the top. I don't think it should be listed at all, since they don't take public orders. I agree on both points.
IMHO, VOIPo is certainly entitled to take as much time as they need to prepare for launch. That's entirely their business. But when they get to the top of the GBU list, when they publicly announce COMING SOON! COMING SOON! and then nothing happens, it becomes our business too. And VOIPo risks the danger of "anticipation fatigue".
That's why folks got irked at Fred Thompson's presidential run earlier this year. And that's why President Lincoln had to fire General McClellan.
Outfits like CallCentric, CallWithUs, and Future-Nine manage to provide public service with small staffs. And although I am not a huge fan of Future-Nine, I do admire their owner for doing what what those Nike commercials said: “Just Do It”. |
|
VOIPoTim
VOIPo.com
Premium,VIP
join:2006-06-06
Houston, TX
3 edits | said by PX Eliezer I agree on both points.
IMHO, VOIPo is certainly entitled to take as much time as they need to prepare for launch. That's entirely their business. But when they get to the top of the GBU list, when they publicly announce COMING SOON! COMING SOON! and then nothing happens, it becomes our business too. And VOIPo risks the danger of "anticipation fatigue".
That's why folks got irked at Fred Thompson's presidential run earlier this year. And that's why President Lincoln had to fire General McClellan.
Outfits like CallCentric, CallWithUs, and Future-Nine manage to provide public service with small staffs. And although I am not a huge fan of Future-Nine, I do admire their owner for doing what what those Nike commercials said: “Just Do It”.
One thing to keep in mind is that we have already have a relatively large customer base (we host over 1.2 million websites and have about 55K active resellers). We have to plan accordingly and know that if we open things up to the public full force, we'll definitely have tens of thousands of orders the first week or so from that existing customer base. This isn't a huge problem from a technical standpoint at all. It is somewhat of a challenge logistically in terms of staffing, training enough new staff, equipment inventory, etc.
For that reason, we're phasing the launch in. We're done with development and are in launch mode. It's just best to phase it in primarily for the reason I just mentioned.
We've been accepting orders from anyone who contacted us directly at sales@voipo.com for the last week or so. If anyone is interested in this, just view pricing info in the links at VOIPo.com and e-mail us. We'll send you info to proceed with the order.
Here's what's currently happening....
We've been converting beta accounts to paid accounts and have opened things up to VIP HostGator customers and friends/family of employees, etc. We're about to announce launch to the VIP Launch Group from voipo.com and start accepting their signups. Then we'll continue to phase things in.
During this time, we're working out any problems that come up with processes and procedures. We're also working on documentation and simplifying anything that we're seeing a lot of questions on. This is really the kind of stuff where we have to be live before it'll come up, but we obviously don't want normal sales volumes coming through while we're working through them. There are also a lot of misc things to cleanup that are being discovered. It's basically a soft launch without promoting.
So the bottom line is that we are in launch mode, but it's being phased in. |
|
dipswich
Premium
join:2003-06-27
Raleigh, NC
·AT&T U-Verse
·VoicePulse for Bus..
·ViaTalk
·RoadRunner Cable
| reply to druber
said by druber :My review was based on my honest feelings about the service (to date) as is (to my knowledge) the others, so referring to a "fanboy base" is unfair. I'm not saying any VOIPo reviews are intentionally pumped up; I'm pointing out that there is an inherent bias by the nature of the beta service with more focused service, subsidized pricing, and personal involvement. A base of early reviews is undoubtedly going to be higher than the public mean.
said by benc :However, Future 9 does provide something that I think is lacking in other providers, and it's the fact that there is no 911, and thus no 911 fee. I intentionally withheld comment on the wisdom of the FCC E911/VoIP rule. But, it's there nonetheless. |
|
