"Woo hooooo, woo-hoo-hoo. Woo hoooo, woo-hoo-hoo."
You know the ad: that happy, spastic tune that plays while delighted actors portraying Vonage
Today, we find out that Verizon
It's far too early to comment on any of the intellectual property claims in the case, but the takeaway for beleaguered Vonage investors is the same. This is bad news. Not only will this be another big drain on a company that's already burning a quarter of a billion dollars a year, but it also highlights what should be Vonage investors' biggest concern: a nonexistent moat.
VoIP technology is all over the place. Even if Vonage ends up free and clear of Verizon's patents, it still may not have a product that can compete with heavyweights like Verizon, AT&T
Vonage only looks like a player because it spends so much on those "woo hoo" ads, and sticks a banner on just about every Internet page this side of my dog's blog. It can continue to spend its way to top-line growth, but only if it can raise more dough -- and how likely will that be?
The Street has punished Vonage shares mercilessly. (They've dropped from $17 a stub to less than $10 in mere weeks.) I believe it's only a matter of time before the big telecoms and cable providers squash Vonage entirely. The only real question: How long until the stock is valued accordingly?
For related Foolishness:
- Dude, I tried to warn you.
- And so did this Fool.
- Bill Mann says selling something worthless for 2.6 billion bucks takes some moxie.
eBay is a Motley Fool Stock Advisor pick, while AT&T was a former selection. Call on David and Tom Gardner for more superior stock ideas with a free 30-day guest pass.
Seth Jayson will be starting an office pool on the Vonage deathwatch. At the time of publication, he had no positions in any company mentioned here. View his stock holdings and Fool profile here. Fool rules are here.