Put A Fork In It--VON Is Gone

With this post from Carl Ford, the long time VON Conference leader and evangelist, I think it is fait acompli that VON is not happening.

Here are some other indicators:

1) There isn't anyone left to run things. Jason, Jeff and Scott have reportedly through the whisper mill moved on.

2) Companies that were getting paid for services prior to Spring VON have not been paid. Who will do the work?

3) Communications with speakers and exhibitors for upcoming VON events have not been contacted with any details.

4) No one has even issued a holding statement.

What this means in my book.

1) Jeff and others are taking the high road, saying nothing. That's smart and likely comes from some wise legal counsel.

2) The owners of the assets are hunkering down, and feeling that they got out without losing too much more after their investment.

3) The current asset owners are likely looking to sell the VON name, but candidly, VON was the collection of people who made it up. In reality someone can put the VON name on another Voice event but it won't be VON. It will be nothing more than a licensed name.

After a more than 10 year association with VON, seeing Carl's one line post brought sadness to my eye, and a lump in my stomach.

This is not at all though indicative of the VoIP industry, just an example of anti-greed at work on a variety of levels.

To Carl, Jeff, Scott, Jason and all who were a part of it...Thanks for the memories.

Update: It looks like iLocus has the same feelings about VON.

Comments

[Allen Voivod]

Hi Andy,

On behalf of the folks at Iperia, who have been mainstays at VON, I can't say I'd be too terribly surprised if VON were going away. Attendance at Spring VON '07 was low enough that Iperia decided not to exhibit at Spring '08. And Fall VON '07 attendance was significantly less than the previous year.

And hindsight's 20/20 - Jeff Pulver's keynote at Fall VON '07 was all about social media. He seems to be moving on, as Jon Arnold also noted.

Thanks for the great post.

Best,
Allen Voivod
www.iperia.com/blog