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01/05/2005: "The "too much fun" club"

So I got a "call this guy when you can" email from the sales department today. Followed by "he refuses to talk to us, only wants to talk to you." Hmm. So I called him back, at 7pm his time. He answered. Its always good to know that you've got a fellow geek on the other side of the call. :-)

Turns out this fellow (and his company) are a well-funded firm (I'm not saying where) who are attempting to use a product built by my former employer, and aren't meeting with much success. Long-time readers of this site will understand just what I think of the company's first-generation product.

Anyway, I answered a few questions that he couldn't get out of the manufacturer. Things that anyone who is going to install a "Vivato Basestation" would need to know. The customer is fed-up by the run-around he's getting.

I found myself in the unique position of nearly defending a company that I loathe. I made some suggestions that I honestly hope will assist them. They would rather return the Vivato product and buy something we recommend.

Also of interest, Don "I wish I was in the mafia" Stalter continues to raise the price on products that he can't sell. I suppose that this is the "HP Way", or perhaps he just gave in to the pressure from the formerly-of-HP contingent (including our old friend, Bob Conley) inside V-land. Vivato now (apparently) wants nearly $17,000 for one of its first-generation products.

Vivato reads this blog, several times per day. They may even have something writing the results down. I think they hoped to sue me once. They blocked my ability to send email inside the company (but failed to do so in any intelligent manner.) Stalter had people in the IT department search all of the email that was stored in the Exchange server, looking for anything they could use against me. When the search came up with nothing, (Quoth the (former) CFO, "Is this all you've got?") it was repeated.

Speaking of the (former) CFO, Raj is long-gone, (back in October) but still listed on the website. Its likely that Don and his cronies are out madly searching for anyone to invest, and not having a CFO (never mind having washed out the entire crew (save Brad Kolb) Don "hand-picked" within six months of his appointment as CEO, should send a warning flare for any potential investor.

I, and several of my fellow ex-employees await the approaching day when the doors are closed.