Vonage
 | |
| Type | Public |
|---|---|
| Traded as | NYSE: VG |
| Industry | Communications services |
| Founded |
Edison, New Jersey, United States (January 2001) |
| Headquarters | Holmdel Township, New Jersey, United States |
| Key people |
Marc P. Lefar; CEO David T. Pearson; CFO Louis Mamakos; CTO |
| Products | Phone over Internet (VOIP) adapter and service subscription |
| Revenue |
 US$885 million (2010)[1] |
| Net income |
US$47 million (2010)[1] |
| Employees | 1,600 worldwide (06/2008) |
| Website | www.vonage.com |
Vonage /ˈvɑːnɪdʒ/ is a publicly held commercial voice over IP (VoIP) network and SIP company that provides telephone service via a broadband connection. The company's name is a play on their motto "Voice-Over-Net-AGE".[citation needed] The company previously used the trademark "The Broadband Phone Company",[2] then later changed it to "Sounds Good".[3] Currently, it is using the trademark "Crazy Generous".
Founded in Edison, New Jersey, they are now located in Holmdel Township, New Jersey.[4] The company first offered subscription service in the United States, then Canada in 2004 and the United Kingdom in 2005. As of July 2011, Vonage claims approximately 2.4 million subscriber lines,[5] in conjunction with their services provided through mobile applications.
History
Early: 1999-2000
Jeff Pulver, VoIP proponent and owner of the VON conferences, incubated the then-called Min-X.com in Melville, New York between December 1999 and December 2000. Based on his experience at Cantor Fitzgerald, Pulver developed a market in which IP Telephony minutes and capacity could be traded in spot and futures contracts. By summer 2000, Min-X.com employed six technologists, former bond- or stock traders.[citation needed]
Jeffrey Citron, former CEO and majority shareholder at Datek Online, was the first major investor in Min-X/Vonage. In October 2000, Citron made an initial investment of $1 million.[6]
In December 2000, Citron and Carlos Bhola, an investment banker, coined the business's new name, borrowing from Pulver's "VON" acronym for "Voice on the Net", and "age," meaning time, to form "Vonage.”[citation needed] In January 2001, Vonage incorporated and moved to Edison, New Jersey.[7]
Initial public offering
In operation since 2001, Vonage went public on May 24, 2006 at a price of $17.00 per share, and dropped 23.5% to close at $13.00 the next day.[8]
In the period before the initial public offering (IPO), Vonage solicited its existing customer base with an offer to buy shares of the IPO.[9] Usually only large institutional investors such as banks are able to buy shares of an IPO.[10] The price fell 12.7% in one day to close at $14.85 on the New York Stock Exchange, the worst trading day for any IPO in 2006 up to that point.
As a result, "by the time customers learned that they had gotten shares, Vonage's share price had fallen" and they "were required to pay the higher $17 per share IPO price, and suffered losses when they later sold the shares."[11]
The IPO raised $531 million for the company, but Vonage's post-IPO handling of individual pre-IPO investors resulted in a class-action lawsuit.[12] The IPO and its immediate aftermath also earned Vonage a Business 2.0 Magazine award as 14th of 101 Dumbest Moments in Business for 2006.[13]
As of 2009, Vonage announced that an agreement had been reached to settle with IPO investors. The settlement included a release and dismissal of all stockholder claims against Vonage and its individual directors and officers who were named as defendants. As a result, the company did not incur additional litigation settlement costs other than nominal administrative fees and expenses.[14]
The firms underwriting the IPO, Citigroup, UBS, and Deutsche Bank, were fined and ordered to reimburse customers for "failure to adequately supervise communications" with investors.[14][15] NYSE regulators went so far as to investigate possible short-selling.[16]
According to Reuters, "Citigroup was fined $175,000 and ordered to pay up to $250,000 in restitution to 284 potentially eligible customers. UBS was fined $150,000and ordered to pay up to $118,000 to 126 potential customers. Deutsche Bank was fined $100,000 and ordered to pay up to $52,000 to 59 potential customers."[11]
In the second quarter of 2010, with a change in management and improved sales, the company’s stock price increased,[17] and on June 15, 2010, Vonage rose 17.06 percent, $0.36 to $2.47, the "Biggest Percentage Price Gainer" of stocks on the NYSE.[18][19] In 2011, Vonage announced record high net income of $22 million, among other positive financial reports.[20]
Restructuring efforts
In 2006, in preparation for Vonage's IPO, Michael Snyder, former president of ADT Security Services replaced Vonage co-founder Jeffrey A. Citron as CEO.[21][22] In 2007, in a restructuring effort to reduce ongoing net losses in the face of double-digit stock price slips and patent infringement issues, Snyder resigned, and Citron returned as Interim CEO.[23] The company announced plans for 10% (180) layoffs, as it secured $215 million in financing.[24]
As part of its restructuring effort in 2010, Vonage paid off $41 million of its debt at par, negotiated the release of more than $40 million in cash from vendors and announced a comprehensive refinancing. This resulted in a $200 million, pre-payable term loan with interest rates at 9.75%. Vonage planned to get better terms by paying down debt ahead of schedule, and by achieving sustained financial performance. Between March and June 2011, Vonage prepaid $70 million, reducing the balance to $130 million, the year-end 2011 target.[25]
Patent infringement
On June 19, 2006, Verizon filed a lawsuit charging that Vonage infringed on five of Verizon's patents related to its VoIP service.[26] The patents describe technology for completing phone calls between VoIP users and people using phones on the traditional public switched network, authenticating VoIP callers, validating VoIP callers' accounts, fraud protection, providing enhanced features, using Wi-Fi handsets with VoIP services, and monitoring VoIP caller usage.
In 2007, Vonage launched a viral marketing campaign and website freetocompete.com, which garnered press coverage about Vonage, its campaign, the lawsuits, and issues of competition with established telecom corporations.[27][28][29][30]
On March 8, 2007 a jury found Vonage guilty of infringing three patents held by Verizon, and not guilty of infringing two other patents. The jury ordered Vonage to pay US$58 million, and a royalty rate of 5.5% of every sale to a Vonage customer, back to Verizon. Subsequent to this jury award, there were a series of appeals and intermediate stays on payment. Vonage was punitively ordered by the court to stop signing up new customers;[31] this was reversed on appeal three weeks later.[32] On November 19, 2007 Vonage agreed to pay ~$120 million in damages[33] to Verizon.
In other patent lawsuits, by December 2007, Vonage was ordered to pay $80 million to Sprint Nextel[34] and $39 million to AT&T Inc.[35] Another lawsuit with Nortel resulted in no monetary damages.[36]
Customer service settlement
In November 2009, Vonage agreed to an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance (AVC) with 32 states.[37] The settlement followed an investigation into complaints about the marketing of Vonage services, including confusion about availability and cost, along with advertisements involving "free" services, money back guarantees and trial periods. The consumer protection agreement also addressed complaints that some consumers were prevented from cancelling their Vonage service. In the settlement, Vonage agreed to pay the seven investigating states $3 million for costs, issue refunds to complainants dating back to January 2004, and change several business practices in regards to advertising and customer retention.
Service
Products
Vonage offers a variety of calling plans - domestic, international and small business plans - with more than 25 features, including voicemail retrievable by VOIP/web/email, 411 calling, caller ID, call waiting, do not disturb, call forwarding (including in case of broadband outage), and others.[38]
In 2009, Vonage introduced its most popular plan, Vonage World calling plan, with "unlimited international calling to more than 60 countries" for a flat monthly rate.[39][40] Vonage began offering smartphone applications in October 2009. The Vonage Mobile (later Classic) app provided international calling via Wi-Fi and cellular networks, and Vonage promoted the app as offering "50% savings" over competitive rates. The free app worked on devices running Android, BlackBerry, and iOS (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch).[41][42] A month later, the Vonage World Mobile plan was introduced, with Vonage World unlimited calling features for a fixed monthly charge, and included a discount to home service users.[39][43] Superseded by Vonage Mobile (2012)).
Introduced in August 2010, the free Vonage Mobile application for Facebook provided "free one-touch mobile-to-mobile calls to Facebook friends who also have the application" for iPhone/iPad, iPod touch and Android devices, operating over Wi-Fi (free) and 3G/4G networks (uses data minutes).[44][45] Superseded by Vonage Mobile (2012).
In April 2011, Vonage introduced World Premium Unlimited plan, expanding on its popular World calling plan from 60 to 80 countries, including unlimited calling to mobiles in 42 countries.[46]
Vonage announced Vonage Extensions in July 2011, allowing customers to extend Vonage service to an "extension" phone line, mobile or landline, included with standard service. A second "extension" is available for a monthly fee.[47] In 2011, Vonage entered the mobile VOIP market with a free Vonage Extensions mobile app for iPhone and Android devices.[48] Soon afterwards, Vonage released a free Time to Call mobile app, offering 15-minute calls to more than 190 countries starting at a fixed fee per call, for iOS devices.[49] Superseded by Vonage Mobile (2012).
In February 2012, Vonage launched the Vonage Mobile free iPhone/Android app that allows talk and text worldwide for free with anyone else using the app.[50] When calling those without the app, users can add prepaid calling credits in fixed increments with their existing iTunes/Android Market account. Vonage promoted the app as offering rates "on average 70 percent less than major mobile carriers and 30 percent less than Skype." The Vonage Mobile app superseded the Time to Call app, the Vonage Mobile app for Facebook and Vonage Mobile Classic.
Requirements
Vonage customers must have a broadband Internet connection, such as cable Internet service or DSL, through an Internet service provider (ISP). To initiate subscription a customer must provide a billing and shipping address in the country of service. Vonage supplies an analog telephone adapter which connects a customer supplied standard analog telephone to the Internet and the Vonage service.[51]
Residents of the U.S., Canada, and the UK may subscribe to Vonage by credit card from their respective country, but the Vonage adapter can be connected to the Internet anywhere.
Usage is generally referred to as "unlimited", though Vonage has different national "fair use" policies limiting Vonage-to-phone calls to a few thousand minutes per month in the UK,[52] Canada,[53] and U.S.[54]
Telephone number availability
Subscribers may choose a number in the country of the service they subscribe to for their primary line, in an area code of their choice. Subscribers can obtain additional "virtual numbers" for a monthly fee. Vonage also offers virtual numbers in Mexico, Canada and Europe. While the company supports porting a U.S. telephone number via the FCC's local number portability (LNP), not every phone number is available in every area code. Additionally, customers can transfer an existing number to Vonage, which can take up to 7 to 10 business days from the time the customer completes the Number Transfer Authorization (NTA).[55]
Emergency calls
Vonage states that it was the first to offer 911 service on a VoIP platform in 2003.[56] For 911 location services to work, subscribers must activate the 911 calling feature by registering their full address with the company. Customers are responsible for maintaining their 911 location information at all times.[57]
If a customer dials 911 before the 911 verification is completed, the call will usually be routed to a national 911 call center where basic information must be given (name, location, nature of emergency, etc.), after which the call is transferred to a local public service answering point, like a local Police Department.[58][59]
Service cancellation
- See section Customer Service settlement
To cancel service, Vonage requires that customers call a toll-free number, as service cancellation is not available on-line. Customer complaints about difficulties with the cancellation process were noted in 2006[60] and subsequently, and were addressed in the 2009 voluntary settlement with 32 U.S. states.
Quality of service and equipment compatibility
VoIP service relies upon consistent broadband-ISP uptime and VoIP-equipment compatibility with the ISP's modem. Although VoIP was initially optimized for voice, some fax equipment can be operated over VoIP,[61][62][63] but compatibility of monitored alarm systems and other devices is less certain.[64] Vonage offers "specially commissioned" Fax Line service.[65] Vonage recommends customers keep a basic traditional landline dedicated to their home alarm system and use Vonage for the rest of their calling needs.[66]
Vonage implements Voice over IP sending audio via RTP and signaling via SIP.[67]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Vonage Holdings Corp. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2010 Results". The Wall Street Journal. 15 February 2011. Retrieved 9 May 2011.
- ↑ "USPTO Latest Status Info" U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval, January 13, 2004.
- ↑ "Trademark Electronic Search System (TESS)" U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Trademark Applications and Registrations Retrieval, April 8, 2010.
- ↑ Colella, Joanne (2005-05-12). "Vonage moves corporate headquarters". Vonage.com. Archived from the original on 2005-05-12.
- ↑ Vonage Investor Relations FAQs. Vonage.com.
- ↑ "Is Vonage Sinking Or Coming Up for Air?; Stock's Dive at Debut Is Among the Deepest Seen in Recent Years". New York Times. June 3, 2006.
- ↑ Vittore, Vince (November 17, 2003) Fantastic Voyage. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ↑ Vonage Investor Relations FAQs. Vonage.com
- ↑ Investor Relations Stock Quote. Vonage.com
- ↑ "Initial Public Offerings." Investorguide.com
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 "Citi, UBS, Deutsche Bank fined over Vonage IPO". Reuters.com. September 22, 2009.
- ↑ Reardon, Marguerite (June 4, 2006) "Investors sue Vonage over IPO". CNET.com.
- ↑ Horowitz,A.; Jacobson, D.; McNichol, T.;, Thomas, O. (March 7, 2007) "101 Dumbest Moments in Business #14: Lose all your money at the low, low rate of 2 cents per minute". CNN.com, Business 2.0. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Vonage.com (June 17, 2009) Vonage Holdings Corp. Announces Agreement in Principle to Settle IPO
- ↑ Shwiff, Kathy (September 24, 2009). Citi, UBS, Deutsche Fined Over Vonage IPO Wall Street Journal.
- ↑ Reardon, Marguerite (June 9, 2009). "Short Selling Implicated in poor performing Vonage IPO". CNET.com. Retrieved 2010-03-12.
- ↑ "Vonage Holdings Corp. Reports Second Quarter 2010 Results". Vonage.com. Press release. August 4, 2010.
- ↑ "Vonage Holdings, Energy Recovery: Biggest Price Gainers (VG, ERII)". Wall Street Journal. June 15, 2010. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
- ↑ "NYSE Biggest Percentage Gainers (full list). WSJ.com. June 15, 2010. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
- ↑ "Vonage Holdings Corp. Reports Second Quarter 2011 Results". Vonage.com. Press release. August 3, 2011.
- ↑ Citron could not preside over the public stock offering, because he was "barred from association with any broker or dealer" of stocks by SEC Administrative Proceeding File No. 3-11031, In the Matter of Jeffrey A. Citron, Respondent. in 2003.
- ↑ Reardon, Marguerite (June 30, 2006). "Vonage Shuffles Management". CNET.com.
- ↑ Weiss, Todd (April 12, 2007). Vonage CEO resigns, Company Moves to Cut Costs. ComputerWorld.com.
- ↑ Gardner, W. David (April 12, 2007). Vonage Prepares To Cut Workforce 10%. Information Week.
- ↑ "Vonage Holdings CEO Discusses Q2 2011 Results - Earnings Call Transcript". SeekingAlpha.com. August 3, 2011. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
- ↑ Reardon, Marguerite (June 19, 2006). "Verizon sues Vonage for VoIP patent infringement". CNET News. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ↑ Mohr, Jakki J.; Sengupta, Sanjit; Slater, Stanley F. (2009). Marketing of High-Technology Products and Innovations (3 ed.). Prentice-Hall. p. 393. ISBN 978-0-13-604996-8. Retrieved October 9, 2012.
- ↑ "Vonage throws oranges at Verizon". telecoms.com. April 27, 2007.
- ↑ "Vonage Shakes Its Finger at Verizon" BusinessWeek. April 25, 2007.
- ↑ "Vonage, the WSJ, and the case of the missing ad copy". CNNMoney. May 3, 2007.
- ↑ Barakat, Matthew (AP) (April 7, 2007). "Ruling bans Vonage from signing up new customers". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.com. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
- ↑ Kharif, Olga (April 25, 2007). "Vonage: Away from the Edge, for Now". Bloomberg Businessweek. Retrieved May 16, 2010.
- ↑ Thomson, Iain (November 19, 2007). "Vonage owes $120m after court failure". VNUnet.com.
- ↑ Bangeman, Eric (October 8, 2007). "Vonage, Sprint settle patent dustup for $80 million". Ars Technica. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ↑ Eddy, Nathan (December 26, 2007). "Vonage, AT&T Agree On Patent Lawsuit Settlement". ChannelWeb.com. Retrieved 2010-03-13.
- ↑ Gershberg, M. (NY) & Khandelwal, P. (Bangalore) (December 31, 2007). "Vonage, Nortel settle patent dispute". Reuters. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
- ↑ "Attorney General Corbett announces $3 million multi-state settlement with Vonage; consumers eligible for refunds". Press release. Pennsylvania Attorney General. November 16, 2009.
- ↑ "Vonage Standard Calling Features for VoIP Phone Service Plans". Vonage.com
- ↑ 39.0 39.1 Woyke, Elizabeth (December 31, 2009). "Vonage's Second Calling". Forbes.com. January 18, 2010.
- ↑ "Vonage Announces Unlimited Flat Rate Calling Around the World". Press release. Vonage.com, August 20, 2009.
- ↑ Wortham, Jenna (October 5, 2009). "Vonage releases calling apps for iPhone and Blackberry". Bits, NYTimes.com.
- ↑ "Vonage Goes Mobile: First of New Calling Applications Now Available". Press release. Vonage.com
- ↑ "Vonage World Mobile Brings Holiday Cheer". Press release. Vonage.com, December 22, 2009.
- ↑ Furchgott, Roy (August 5, 2010). "Vonage App calls Facebook Friends Free". Gadgetwise, NYTimes.com.
- ↑ "Vonage Gives Facebook Users a Voice". Press release. Vonage.com, August 4, 2010.
- ↑ "Vonage Launches New Plan With Unlimited Calling to Mobile Phones in More Than 40 Countries". Press release. Vonage.com
- ↑ "Vonage Extensions" Vonage.com
- ↑ "Vonage Adds Free Mobile Extensions". Press release. Vonage.com.
- ↑ "Vonage Announces Global Launch of Pay-Per-Call International App for iPhone with Direct Payment Through iTunes". Press release. Vonage.com
- ↑ "Vonage Launches New Mobile App Providing Free Calling and Texting to Other App Users Around the World". Press release. Vonage.com
- ↑ "What do I need to get service with Vonage?" Vonage.com
- ↑ "UK Fair Use Policy". Vonage.co.uk.
- ↑ "Fair usage policy". Vonage.ca.
- ↑ "Reasonable use policy". Vonage.com.
- ↑ Number Transfer – FAQs Vonage.com
- ↑ "Vonage Timeline". Vonage.com
- ↑ FCC Consumer Advisory: VoIP and 911 Federal Communications Commission
- ↑ "Vonage 9-1-1 dialing". Vonage.com, Features. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ↑ "Traditional 911 and Vonage 911 Dialing". Vonage.com Support.
- ↑ Young, Shawn and Yuan, Li (May 18, 2006) Vonage Faces User Complaints As IPO Looms Wall Street Journal.
- ↑ Faxing Issues and Other Devices. VoIPMechanic.com. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ↑ Hanes, David; Salgueiro, Gonzalo (2008). Fax, Modem, and Text for IP Telephony. Cisco Press. p. 130. ISBN 978-1-58705-269-9.
- ↑ Olejniczak, Stephen P. VoIP Deployment For Dummies. p. 170.
- ↑ Jones, Paul E.(Ed.); Salgueiro, Gonzalo(Ed.) et al. (November 17, 2009) SIP Forum - Fax Over IP Task Group Problem Statement. Internet Engineering Task Force IETF.org SIP Forum. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ↑ Vonage Fax Line provides the convenience of a dedicated fax number. Vonage.com
- ↑ Using an alarm system and Vonage. Vonage.com
- ↑ Vonalink (October 11, 2006). "Vonage Protocols". Vonage. Retrieved November 26, 2013.
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