Interview With Ooma Execs Andrew Frame and Ashton Kutcher

by Michael Arrington on July 18, 2007

The long awaited “Vonage Killer” Ooma has launched into private beta. The product allows consumers to get “free phone service for life” after purchasing special hardware that you plug normal phones into. We have a much longer article up on TechCrunch describing the service in detail.
The Ooma management team, which is very deep, includes actor Ashton Kutcher as the Creative Director. I interviewed Ashton and CEO Andrew Frame yesterday to hear more about the service. Hear the twenty minute podcast below.
Update: we’re having some technical issues with the podcast..will be fixed shortly. Use this link until then.

Comments

Blain Reinkensmeyer - July 18th, 2007 at 9:13 pm UTC

Very interesting podcast, they didn’t say this in the interview but they better provide some sort of “free trial” gig for new users. I know a ton of people who switched to Vonage than switched back because the clarity and such stunk, and more than likely they will not be up for paying $400 to try out even the “Vonage killer” without a 30-day money back gaurantee.

Also, they talk about building the network and it getting better as it grows as more people join in, well how do you build a network if the base isn’t 100% quality to begin with? I am skeptical until proven otherwise, in the meantime I will dream about seeing Cameron Diaz in the new movie…

alex - July 19th, 2007 at 1:07 am UTC

a really great interview once again. i will be interested to see how this product develops and to evaluate how social networks can be both a messenger of information, but also the actual facilitator of the technology.

Michael, if you want to send one of those free units my way I would sure love to test that bad boy out.

rick - July 19th, 2007 at 6:09 am UTC

Ashton Kutcher? Are you kidding? I’d be more confident in a company that has AIDS as a CEO.

Michael Steverson - July 19th, 2007 at 8:10 am UTC

Mike:
As one who came from the VoIP industry, I have to agree with Blain. I believe that Ooma will need to find someway to get past the $400 “sticker shock” for the unit. Sure, free calls is great. But to get it, I (we) have to shell out $400 for the box first.
Giving the adaptor boxes away was almost something we HAD to do to compete with Vonage.
If they could subsidize it, or make it available as a pay over time setup, they may find the folks beating a path to their door.

Michael

Shannon - August 13th, 2007 at 5:32 pm UTC

This whole podcast was marketing B.S. Why would I pay $399 when I pay $5.00 a month to my phone provider for 1000 min anywhere in the US or Canada? I get the feeling that Arrington is trying to scratch his buddie’s backs.

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