Internet-voice provider SunRocket -- which billed itself as “the no-gotcha phone company” -- ceased operations after laying off almost 200 employees at its primary call center in Missouri, according to published reports.
The demise of SunRocket -- which, at one point, counted more than 200,000 customers and had raised $100 million in private funding -- was first reported by The New York Times.
SunRocket’s shutdown was confirmed by Martin Pinchinson, a spokesman for Sherwood Partners, the Palo Alto, Calif.-based financial-consulting company handling SunRocket's liquidation, AP reported.
Bell Industries, which provided call-center services for SunRocket, laid off all 197 employees at its in Springfield, Mo., call center Monday, the Springfield News-Leader reported.
SunRocket's customer-service line (800-786-0132) Tuesday provided only a brief recording: "We are no longer taking customer-service or sales calls. Goodbye."
On June 29, the privately held company reportedly laid off about one-fourth of its work force to cut costs in the face of competitive pressure from cable providers.
SunRocket, founded in 2004, had received around $100 million in venture capital from investors including BlueRun Ventures, Mayfield Fund and Anthem Capital Management. The company generated $156 million in revenues last year, according to information-services provider Thomson Gale.
