Net-Phone Provider SunRocket Lays Off Staffers
Fellow VoIP Provider Vonage Still Awaiting Ruling on Appeal in Verizon Case
By Todd Spangler -- Multichannel News, 7/3/2007 10:51:00 AM
Internet-phone provider SunRocket June 29 laid off about 30 employees, roughly one-fourth of its work force, to cut costs in the face of competitive pressure from cable providers, according to the Washington Post.
SunRocket representatives did not respond to requests for comment. The company, based in Vienna, Va., has about 200,000 customers for its voice-over-Internet-protocol service.
Employees laid off included chief technology officer Mark Fedor and chief information officer Robert Kramer, according to a report in the Washington Business Journal.
Privately held SunRocket, founded in 2004, said it has received $100 million in venture capital to date from investors including BlueRun Ventures, Mayfield Fund and Anthem Capital Management. The company had 2006 revenues of $156 million, according to information-services provider Thomson Gale.
Separately, Vonage -- the largest independent VoIP provider, with more than 2 million subscribers -- is awaiting a ruling on an appeal it filed after losing a patent-infringement case against Verizon Communications. In April, Vonage CEO Michael Snyder resigned and the company said it would lay off 180 employees, or 10% of its work force.
