I posted the following message just now on Twitter:
Writing a SpinVox industry opinion post: Send me your Tweet-opinion on SpinVox and I’ll publish it
I wanted to see how many people following me — many of whom are in the mobile industry — actually care about the continuing SpinVox saga.
Here are there responses I got in the order in which they came in.
s_constantine: I still don’t understand why people still use voicemail in today’s day and age. It’s cheaper, and faster, to simply send a text.
yiannopoulos: The BBC’s revelations are confirming what people in the industry have been suspecting for ages. Still shocking to watch it unfold.
nokiamobiletalk: Wow its kind off sad that they’re listening to people’s messages, from my exp. Machines are always clumsy for this type of stuff 🙂
anonymous: An obsession with the misunderstood notion of privacy has tarnished the reputation of Spinvox. But whose responsibility is it to define what data is yours and what isn’t? The Government via Data P. Act? Does this need reiterating to help understand?
anonymous: re SpinVox – I am amazed this is news and think the BBC shoudl stop beating them up on a perceived point of editorial integrity. Of course whether SpinVox has handled it well is a different matter
anonymous: Whilst the tone of voice in JW’s response post was good i actually thought it was the wrong strategy shouldn’t debate the BBC. Don’t get into a mud fight with a pig, you’ll both get dirty and the pig will enjoy it… kind a thing
anonymous: SpinVox can survive this but they need to refrain from debating Rory at the BBC, be open, and share a view of the bigger picture of the company. They’re an innovative, respected British success story with business relationships and employees across the globe. I’d be willing to bet that if they opened their doors and invited a few bloggers to see the work they do, meet the people that do it and witness the security of processes in place it would give everyone the reassurance they need so the story can move on.
mattymoran: Spinvox story reminds me so much of the film ShootingFish – trailer here http://bit.ly/pxAm6 #spinvox (via @nickbelluk)
daverage: Tell you what though, if google voice had never appeared, spin vox hardly be known. I only found it looking for a uk alternative!
whatleydude (of SpinVox): Actually quite bored of this now… This isn’t ‘them’ vs ‘us’. It’s just a case of getting the facts *straight*. Will be blogging shortly.
kiphakes: Well I just wanted to say i’m 100% @whatleydude and @spinvox , not that my opinion counts for much but just wanted to state my thoughts!
jonmulholland: re. @ruskin147’s latest post. Don’t get into a mud fight with a pig, You’ll both get dirty and the pig will enjoy it!
daverage: @Ew4n OMG, just read the bbc article. SpinVox are boned. All they had to do was be honest, even if it sucked. Now they look like con men
My own view is gravitating toward Whatleydude’s — it’s getting a litttttle bit boring now. I think SpinVox should stop hiding behind James and open up and start talking as a company.
SpinVox: Quick industry opinion via Twitter: http://ping.fm/keVvB
RT @ew4n: SpinVox: Quick industry opinion via Twitter: http://ping.fm/keVvB
"SpinVox should stop hiding behind @Whatleydude and open up and start talking as a company." http://is.gd/1SCOh
RT @yiannopoulos: “SpinVox should stop hiding behind @Whatleydude and open up and start talking as a company.” http://is.gd/1SCOh – WORD!
SpinVox: Quick industry opinion via Twitter: http://ping.fm/keVvB
RT @ew4n: SpinVox: Quick industry opinion via Twitter: http://ping.fm/keVvB
"SpinVox should stop hiding behind @Whatleydude and open up and start talking as a company." http://is.gd/1SCOh
RT @yiannopoulos: “SpinVox should stop hiding behind @Whatleydude and open up and start talking as a company.” http://is.gd/1SCOh – WORD!
This is a bit of a storm in a tea cup from my perspective.. I've always respected JW, and to some extent SpinVox (I can appreciate if nothing else the work they would have done to get even the carrier intergration sorted out)… For me the real issue is that SpinVox sounds like it's in real financial trouble.. Further investment – good money after bad? Or call it quits? Aquistion target for someone to come in and buy the carrier relations on the cheap?
I think James has been a bit of a dickhead and really handled this very badly.
Goes to show social media blog approach to company comms is valuable in talking with customers but NOT for corporate crisis management. The spinvox blog was a mistake yesterday. The notion that it could somehow refute the claims in the manner it was written is a lesson well learnt. It has added fuel to the fire which was dwindling, it now looks like a firestorm..
The UK press, the Beeb included, just loves to put down good businesses (and most everything else they can). Spinvox has a good idea and if they had been open about their secret sauce then none of this would have come to light as there would have been no story.
Personally I never got the proposition but some people love it and the business has legs (albeit very expensive legs) but that is for the Board and shareholders to decide upon and no business of Rory C Jones.
I also wonder if this will open up a can of worms re. privacy data. There is all kinds of personal data shared between operators for billing and roaming purposes, not to mention routing of SMS messages.
Expect RFP to commission a study soon!
The predicament the company finds itself in is hardly Mr W's fault, the company needs to drop all the smoke and mirrors crap and connect with real people to restore its tarnished image before it's too late.
1. Spinvox are handling this badly by trying to take the high road. Whatley’s latest tweet of ‘please spell my name right’ looks petualant at best.
2. People who work in voice tech know it’s IMPOSSIBLE to transcribe audio recorded at 8hz ( telephone quality ) automatically. Microsoft Vista samples at 48khz and the results are patchy, even with 30 minutes of tuning to a SINGLE VOICE. Spinvox claiming they CAN do it automatically makes them look like they dont know what is actually possible, and are either deluded or lying.
3. Spinvox had/has the potential to be a UK success story if they dont fuck it up. It looks like they are fucking it up.
They are the points as I see it. Not sure what to make of it all.
I am interested to see how other players in this space such as PhoneTag respond to this drama and if they come out and clear their names…So far there has been no announcement so I am thinking there might be some truth to the whole story.
Well, at least spinvox is using call centers for security. On the other hand, look at youmail for example, they're using work at home employees. Pretty much anyone can sign up for the job as a transcriber.
Links:
Youmail does some deal with quick tate:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_…
Quicktate looking for employees:
http://www.varietyworkathome.com/transcription-…
http://www.blogcatalog.com/blog/the-work-from-h…
this is bizarre, twitter account for PR director of Spinvox North America is suspended??
http://www.pr-inside.com/spinvox-announces-600-…
http://twitter.com/coneydog
The problem is that now every word from Spinvox is regarded as … a spin! Absolutely destroyed credibility. I just wonder why investors (besides Meyers who's actually not an investor in financial terms) or clients keep silent? No word of support and encouragement yet!