I suppose I should file this under the "Sucker born every minute" category.

According to the Ooma PR folks, people really want their stuff. As a result, they're now starting to take orders. You can either call them and order now, with a September ship date, or you can leave your contact information and they'll let you know when they're shipping.

Even putting aside the whole issue where they use other people's phone line to terminate calls, the box becomes an expensive doorstop when Ooma goes under. Unless Ooma can figure out a recurring revenue stream, I expect they will end up in the deadpool fairly quickly. At least my PhoneGnome box is a Linksys SPA3000 that has some resale value on eBay.

Press release from Ooma after the break.

ooma Opens Up Pre-Sales

ooma Responds to Overwhelming Interest in BETA Program

PALO ALTO, Calif.-(BUSINESS WIRE)-Today, ooma Inc. announced the opening of pre-sales for the ooma Hub™ and ooma Scout™ in advance of the company's consumer release, planned for September 2007. In an effort to satisfy overwhelming consumer demand generated from the White Rabbit BETA program, ooma is accepting orders, through telephone-based sales channels, from consumers interested in being the first to purchase and receive an ooma system. ooma is now accepting pre-sales orders via phone at 866-452-6662. Pre-sale order instructions are available at www.ooma.com

The pre-sale enables consumers to purchase an ooma system now, for first priority fulfillment next month when the company opens up sales from the ooma Web site (http://www.ooma.com).

Pre-sale ooma systems come with the same introductory pricing of $399 for each ooma Hub™. ooma Scout™ devices are $39 per unit. The ooma system pricing includes unlimited domestic long-distance calling, the ooma Instant Second Line™ and the ooma Broadband Answering Machine™ all with no additional monthly fees. In 2008, when the introductory pricing period expires, the ooma Hub™ device will carry a suggested retail price of $599.

Responding to Consumer Demand

The decision to open pre-sales for ooma systems came as a result of ooma CEO Andrew Frame's desire to respond to consumer enthusiasm and demand. "Since announcing our White Rabbit BETA program, we have been contacted by tens of thousands of consumers who are passionately interested in experiencing ooma," said Frame. "We are energized by the consumer interest in ooma, and we are thrilled to begin taking pre-sale orders to ensure we stay on pace with the level of interest in the market."

The ooma Experience

An ooma system in your home includes the ooma Hub™ device attached to your broadband connection and your primary phone, and an ooma Scout™ device for each additional active phone extension you use in your house. For example, if customers use three active phone extensions with current landline phone service, ooma recommends one ooma Hub™ device, and two additional ooma Scout™ devices.

Each system comes with a suite of innovative features including:

* ooma Dial Tone™ - a unique, refreshing dial tone that signifies unlimited domestic calling and low-cost international calling
* Instant Second Line™ - provides consumers with two line functionality from a single phone number
* Broadband Answering Machine™ - combines the power of voicemail with the ease-of-use of a traditional answering machine, and is accessible from anywhere including online through the ooma Lounge

About ooma

Founded in 2005, ooma is a company dedicated to delivering consumer owned voice communications. The ooma system uses a new technology that transforms telecom services from being service-oriented to device-oriented. The company has numerous patents pending and is currently in an invitation-only BETA program referred to as the White Rabbit initiative. ooma (www.ooma.com) is privately held and headquartered in Palo Alto, California.

Details and restrictions on the ooma product and unlimited U.S. domestic calling will be available at the time that the product becomes generally available to consumers. ooma reserves the right to change or modify its offering including limiting the unlimited U.S. domestic calling to an initial set of customers.

Forward-Looking Statements

This announcement contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Actual results may differ significantly from management's expectations. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, risks related to competition, management of growth, new products, services and technologies, potential fluctuations in operating results, international expansion, outcomes of legal proceedings and claims, fulfillment center optimization, seasonality, commercial agreements, acquisitions and strategic transactions, foreign exchange rates, system interruption, significant amount of indebtedness, inventory, government regulation and taxation, payments and fraud.

Unlimited calling within the US with no monthly fees is subject to all of the terms and conditions in the ooma license and user agreement and shall apply to purchasers during the white rabbit and promotional period. Purchasers during the promotional period will have this no monthly charge service for at least three years.

ooma, the ooma logo, the ooma Hub, ooma Scout, Instant Second Line, the sound of the ooma dial tone and Broadband Answering Machine are trademarks of ooma Inc. All other names are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of their respective owners.