December 20, 2005

By Staff

Vonage Holdings Corp, the largest VoIP service provider in the US, said yesterday it had raised $250m in private funding.

The round is expected to be Vonage's final before it either goes public or is bought. Total funding in the company now stands at $658m.

"This latest round of funding validates Vonage's leadership in the broadband telephony market," said Vonage chief executive Jeffrey Citron, in a statement.

December 19, 2005

By Johanne Torres

It has been a busy 2005 for Vonage Holdings Corporation. The company has announced everything from WiFi phones to partnerships for E911 access. The VoIP-based calling service provider has even been rumored to be filing for an initial public offering (IPO).

This Monday, New Jersey-based Vonage announced that it raised $250 million in convertible debt funding with a group of investors led by affiliates of Bain Capital, with strong participation from financial institutions and existing investors including New Enterprise Associates (NEA) and Meritech Capital Partners. The latest round of financing brings total investment in the company to $658 million.

December 19, 2005

By Doug Mohney

Vonage (www.vonage.com) has raised an additional $250 million in private funding from previous and new investors, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The convertible-debt issue brings the total amount of private investment up to a monstrous $658 million in cash and is likely to be the company's final round before it files an initial public offering (IPO). The convertible notes can be converted into stock if the company goes public. The investment round was lead by Bain Capital and included existing investors New Enterprise Associates, Meritech Capital Partners. Senior management and 16 new investors were also involved, reportedly including hedge funds.

December 19, 2005

By Staff

Vonage Marketing and UTStarcom Inc. have released the F1000, a portable Wi-Fi handset made by UTStarcom and configured with Vonage's VoIP phone service.

The device works with any open access Wi-Fi hotspot and costs $79.99 after a $50 instant rebate. Vonage Marketing is a subsidiary of Vonage Holdings Corp.

The F1000 Wi-Fi handset comes with Vonage's standard call features: three-way calling, call waiting, repeat dial on busy, call forwarding to user assigned number, call hold/resume, voice mail and more. Users will be able to configure and save Wi-Fi profiles for ease of connectivity.

December 19, 2005

By Staff



Five lucky readers can with the gift bag from Go-Go nightclub’s launch party. Products include Clairol Natural Instincts Shine Happy treatment, the book Look and Feel Fabulous Forever, by Oz Garcia, Restore Spa treatments, a Lounge Light USA candle, a Vonage Wi-Fi phone and Crest Whitestrips.

December 19, 2005

By Staff

Vonage Holdings received $250 million in convertible debt funding Monday, led by Bain Capital, bringing the VoIP provider’s total funding to $658 million.

Also participating in the funding were existing investors New Enterprise Associates, Meritech Capital Partners, and senior management, with a total of 16 new investors.

Vonage plans to use the money to further build its network around the United States, as well as deploy enhanced 911 services to provide emergency-calling capability to customers.

December 19, 2005

By Martin C. Daks

Vonage Holdings has raised $250 million through a convertible debt offering. The financing was led by affiliates of Bain Capital and existing investors, including New Enterprise Associates and Meritech Capital Partners, along with Vonage senior management.

It brings the groups’ total debt and equity stake in Vonage to $658 million. Vonage will use the money to complete its internet telephony network across the U.S. and deploy enhanced 911 emergency-call services.

December 19, 2005

By Staff

Vonage announced last Tuesday that it will soon offer a mobile phone that allows subscribers to use the company's VoIP network whenever they're in a Wi-Fi network.

The potential of this development is easy to see. Rather than use a cell phone, Vonage subscribers could enjoy unlimited calling on a portable device as long as they are connected wirelessly to the Internet. Vonage offers unlimited calling for about $25 per month, significantly less than mobile phones companies charge for their unlimited calling plans. With the proliferation of free wireless networks in the US, this could be a major challenge to "traditional" mobile phone providers.

December 18, 2005

By Staff

Vonage Holdings Corp., which sells Internet-based phone services, will announce that it has raised an additional $250 million in private funding from previous and new investors, bringing the total raised by the closely held start-up to $658 million, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday.

The convertible-debt issue, set to be unveiled Monday, is likely to be Vonage's final round of private financing before it files for an initial public offering, according to people familiar with its plans, the financial newspaper reported.

The Holmdel, New Jersey-based company has more than 1 million customers and is the nation's largest provider of phone service that uses a regular telephone to send calls via Internet.