Photos: Vonage's V-Phone
press event
Vonage, the Internet phone company that stumbled out of the gates in its initial public offering last month, hosted a press event at the top of Rockefeller Center in New York City to kick off its new "phone on a stick" VoIP product, the V-Phone.
V-Phone
The V-Phone comes with a 2.5mm stereo earpiece microphone, which is also compatible with many cell phone headsets. It costs $40 and will be sold in more than 11,000 retail locations, Vonage said. Customers must also pay a $9 activation fee, plus the cost of one of Vonage's monthly service packages. Residential customers can pay $14.99 for 500 minutes or $24.99 for unlimited U.S. calling. And business customers can pay $35 per month for unlimited calls.
CEO Mike Snyder
Vonage CEO Mike Snyder was on hand at the launch of the V-phone, a USB flash drive loaded with IP calling software. Snyder, who presided over the company's recent IPO, said the new product, designed for use by medium-to-large businesses, helps Vonage fill out its product portfolio.
Citron
Citron said that the V-phone will be marketed as a business phone replacement. He also said the V-phone will allow large companies to bring cost-effective mobility and IP voice capability to their work force.