By Sharla Sikes

VoIP provider SunRocket appears to have shut its doors. Though the company’s web site still appears active, a recording at the company’s phone line states “We are no longer taking customer service or sales calls.”

SunRocket, which had 200,000 subscribers in April, fired an unknown number of executives and staff members on June 29, and laid off another 30 employees in early July, the Washington Business Jourla reports.Those layoffs included Chief Technology Office Mark Fedor and Chief Information Officer Robert Kramer. CFO David Samuels resigned July 2 and left the company July 13. Executives and public relations officials could not be reached, the Washington Post says.

SunRocket gave no warning or explanation for the cancellation of its services.

Some customers reported dropped calls or poor service on July 16. Rival VoIP provider ViaTalk issued a statement offering to buy out the contracts of SunRocket customers. 

Sonya Jefferson, then director of routing and carrier services for SunRocket sent out this memo:

Unfortunately this email contains very bad news. We have just been informed that any and all last ditch efforts to keep operations running as well as a potential sale of the company have not gone through and that SunRocket will cease operations at COB today. As such, today is my last day and everyone else you may have worked with at SunRocket. … Regarding outstanding and future invoices: Sherwood Partners out of Palo Alto will be handling the close down of all invoices, current and outstanding.

SunRocket’s demise raises doubt whether independent VoIP providers can survive in the face of stiff competition from broadband providers. Vonage has been locked in patent infringement suits with Verizon www.verizon.com.

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