Exactly a year ago, I predicted the demise of Ooma… pretty much equating them to one of the horsemen of the apocolypse. Dean challenged me on my prediction, we made a bet, Alec agreed to be the judge, and now the day of reckoning has come. Dean’s claiming victory (nice graphic, by the way):I’m going to ask the judge for a ruling on it. Not because I think I won, because they’re still in “business”, but because I am going to claim that Ooma is hardly worth a steak. At best, it’s worth a hot dog from a vendor cart… and even then it’s a stretch.
My evidence?
- ValleyWag’s article claiming that Ooma is falling apart
- The continuing questions about the nonsensical business model
- No press releases during the first half of 2008
- Weak distribution… Best Buy selling the box in LA only is hardly a channel. Just for fun, I’m tempted to log on to Amazon to purchase an Ooma box and a Pooper Scooper on the same day, just so that whenever anyone looks at Ooma on the web, they’ll have the right product recommendation next to it. You do it too. It’ll be our equivalent of typing miserable failure into Google.
- Even Om is unconvinced (and as a testament to his writing prowess, he thrusts it home with a single comma: “Ooma is not dead, yet.”)
In short, your honor, if you believe Ooma’s performance is steak worthy, I’ll pony it up. I would simply ask the court to consider the facts, and to consider that a more appropriate remedy would include parts of a cow that simply can’t be eaten alone. In conclusion, if you do pass judgement that a steak is in order, I will comply without delay, but would like to point out that Dean will be the only person profting from Ooma’s performance, including their customers, their employees… but most importantly, their investors.
July 25th, 2008 at 8:06 am
Hey Thomas, there were two press releases in 2008 – you linked to the wrong section.
6th of March
ooma Expands Management Team
http://www.ooma.com/company/pressreleasedetails.php?id=030608_01
24th of April
ooma Debuts New Retail and Service Bundles
http://www.ooma.com/company/pressreleasedetails.php?id=040908_01
As for did I win I dont know I’ll let Alec be the judge
Cheers,
Dean Collins
http://www.Cognation.net
July 25th, 2008 at 9:37 am
Pay up Tom. Perception vs. Reality comparisons stink.
However, Alec could declare the “steak” be provided by one of those ultra high end restaurants that provide tiny portions for crazy high prices. Thus Dean is provided the perception or essence of a steak rather than the reality of a meal.
July 25th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Ok, ok, ok. I admit, Ooma is still in business, and that was the bet.
Dean – double or nothing?
August 2nd, 2008 at 4:43 pm
Heard from Ooma’s “former” head of web development that the entire web development team was laid off the end of July 2008. So does anyone really think they are still in business, in every sense of the word?
August 5th, 2008 at 12:43 pm
Oh Mike, I might buy YOU the steak!
September 23rd, 2008 at 8:02 pm
From what I understand the web team was replaced with an external agency who did much better work. There have been some mishires and upgrades that needed to be handled along the way. I know a couple of people there that are superstars, they do have an intensely high talent bar.