Rich, to take issue with the comments that Andy Abramson made in his blog with regard to Jeff Pulver and his passion being the reason pulver.com events are THE premiere events in the VoIP space is one thing, but you picked that ball up and ran much too far with it...and in absolutely the wrong direction! No, instead of tempering AAs comments you chose to instead use them as an excuse to launch a reckless diatribe against a man who has worked tirelessly to birth and nurture an industry from which you no doubt draw substantial financial and professional benefit.

Wrong, foolishand just plain mean.

Perhaps you are feeling the heat as a result of pulver.coms triumph at this years CES, or perhaps it is not heat you are feeling but envy. Thats would certainly make sense, and it would explain the petty defensive posture you took in your blog slagging of Jeff Pulver and his companies. Or perhaps Andy Abramsons comments on the inevitable consolidation or death of the many small players in the VoIP space rang a bell with you, and thus you are concerned that Pulvers extraordinary momentum might result in your own conferences falling further off the pace. Whatever the answer is, Rich, I would think that instead of working to diminish Jeff Pulvers success, a better strategy would be to focus your efforts on emulating it.

I have to say that from a conspiracy theorists viewpoint the Education arguments you present are somewhat compelling, however having attended a number of Jeff Pulvers VON Conferences I also have to say that those arguments hold little water. Taking into account the sheer size of the VON Conferences, as well as the wide scope and high caliber of the attendees (not to mention the speakers!), it is impossible to believe that Pulver could have gained his high position in the IP Communications industry and that his VON conferences could have achieved their sterling reputation if the sheer value of the VON experience was not beyond question.



And I hardly think that someone in your position -- someone who has directly benefited from nepotism (TMC, since it was founded by my father, Nadji Tehrani, in 1972) -- has any business pointing the cronyism stick at ANYONE, let alone a man who defines self-made the way Jeff Pulver does.

I am quite an avid blog reader (and not just in the Telecom space) and I realize that as a forum it is rife with unmeasured criticisms, loose expressions of frustration without resolution, and yes whining. Despite that, though, I have to say that your direct sniping at Pulver.com, your primary VoIP event competitor, has left a very bad taste in my mouth. I meancmon! Comparing Jeff Pulver to Ken Lay? For that comment alone you should go on the record with a very public apology.

Perhaps, Rich, time will prove that the VoIP conference space IS only big enough for one player. And if that does turn out to be the case you can rest assured that I will opt for Pulvers passion over your low-blow carping without hesitation. And I wont be alone.

Michael, thanks for the response. It is much appreciated. I didnt find your e-mail address "on the net" so it is of course difficult for me to know if this is a real person with a valid opinion or someone sent to do damage control. Assuming it is the former, I will respectfully reply.

First point. Everything that Jeff does to grow the industry helps me and the Internet Telephony brand. Everything I do and have done such as printing Internet Telephony magazines at a loss during the post-bubble years in order to evangelize the market, helps Jeff. The industry would be smaller without Jeff in it. Agreed and more importantly I thank him quietly to myself on occasion. Look at that, I just thanked him online. At no point has anyone in my organization disputed Jeffs value to the industry.

I am very happy that the Pulver event at CES was a success. I knew it would be which is why I agreed to sponsor it in the early summer of last year. Please see my VoIP Summit Blog Entry about this event. http://voip-blog.tmcnet.com/blog/rich-tehrani/voip/consumer-voip-summit.html. Please also see the full page ad in the December issue of Internet Telephony promoting this summit.

We have no loss of momentum in our events. We grow faster now than we did in 2000. Attendance is at record levels.

Regarding your nepotism comment, it is absolutely true. Sometimes us kids can learn a thing or two from the older generation. Interesting use of words. VON experience. Sounds a bit like Pulver.com marketing-speak to me. Cmon tell us who you really are. What is this experience? A concert? Please help me understand so I can have one of these experiences at TMC events as well. Is it something in the punch?

There was never any intention to compare Jeff to Ken Lay but instead to point out that passion is not always good.

The industry is big enough for lots of players and if there was room for only one, a singular event would have made it through the burst bubble. Two did and two are growing stronger than ever.

I notice you conveniently sidestepped the companies owned by Jeff participating in the events. You are an eloquent writer. Please share your opinions on this and any conflict of interest arising from this issue.

Perhaps you simply dont know about these companies and their ownership. Would a list in my blog help so you can investigate for yourself?

Let's invite others in the industry to chime in on this one.

Please advise.

Rich, thank you for your quick rebuttal to my comment. My words here will be short as I have no interest in upping the stakes (as is clearly your intent from the manner in which you wrapped up your response). I do, though, welcome a continued exchange via email (finding me on the net is more than easy, via kayyemkay@yahoo.com, the email address I provided to register my comments).

As stated in my original submission, I was inspired to write because I was bothered that you took a comment from Andy Abramsons blog and used it as the launching pad for an attack on Jeff Pulver. My intent was not to defend Jeff Pulver and his companies and events per se, but simply to vent my frustration at your blog entry which I saw as narrow and unfair and reeking of self-interest. I will admit to being a fan of Pulver a significant part of the VON experience to which I refer is his remarkable ability to make conference attendees feel personally singled out and welcomed but I would think that should he consider damage control to be necessary he would have absolutely no trouble performing it himself.

I want to further expound on my use of the term VON Experience as I meant it to stretch beyond the educational interests and opportunities to which you referred (and CERTAINLY beyond great parties, cool concerts, and free eats-n-drinks). When I reflect on the VONs I have attended what immediately comes to mind are the interactions I have had with other people in attendance, both in formal settings and yes informal ones. As a direct result of my attending VON conferences I have been able to meet key people across the width and breadth of the VoIP industry, and the resulting networking opportunities have been invaluable. THAT, to me, is the major defining factor of the VON experience.

Before signing off again I do want to say a hearty Thanks! for the two compliments you paid me in your response, one intended the other perhaps not so: (1) You are an eloquent writer., and (2) VON experience. Sounds a bit like Pulver.com marketing-speak to me. My interest in the IP Communications industry is rooted in marketing, and I am working to build my experience (and my client list!) within it. As such, I am hardly innocent of self-interest here as Jeff Pulvers VON Conferences have proven to be quite a fertile ground for my own business interests.