Did TechCrunch do their homework?

Not that I saw, and I’m wondering if this is becoming their new standard for how they report their stories.

A couple of weeks ago, TechCruch wrote up a new communications startup called “Teleku“, and I think they blew it at several levels. Teleku is a great idea, and I’m always rooting for the little guy (go Chris!), but no one is served with half stories like this one.  Even Chris. For those of you not in the know, Teleku is a service that takes phone applications written in Twiml or PhoneML (do we need another standard? No, we do not.) and then compiles them into VoiceXML.  Most enterprises use VxML, there are many hosted provider options (Voxeo, et. al), so there’s an established base of “consumers” for Teleku’s service.  The business case depends on pain that might exist because of porting issues between the various technology choices.

So – what wasn’t addressed in that post?

1. Twilio is shooting the lights out in terms of buzz, attention and coolness. Rightly so. But, of all the other options facing developers these days, why pair Twilio and Teleku? Why not Tropo? Why not CloudVox? Why not Angel? Why not….  you get the point. I’ll tell you why: what matters in the TechCrunch word is sizzle, not steak.  Twilio owns the sizzle, so who cares who’s the steak? (My customers do.)
2. Is there really a problem being solved here? Twilio’s steak is that they have clearly identified that the bulk of voice enabled applications has nothing to do with voice: make the voice part as easy as possible, period.  My experience in modern voice development is that the minority of my work belongs to Tropo. If Teleku is solving problems, they aren’t solving my biggest problem.  How about establishing there’s a market need?
3. So, you can take on Twilio with one guy and two months worth of work? Really? No, really? Ok – Jeff and Evan, you stay. Everyone else go home. Danielle – keep Light and Electric in mind. You’re too good at your job to stay unemployed for long. If I can’t hire you – go to Orlando. The Voxeo staff is top-notch.
4. Cash flow positive? IPO baby, IPO. How desperate do you have to be before you set that financial analysis that low? My son’s lemonade stand is cash flow positive… and taking on Coca Cola.

Ok – so I’m sort of picking on the TechCrunch staff, which at some level isn’t fair. But let’s face it, the Law of Strawberry Jam is in full effect here. The more you spread it, the thinner it gets.   This is a great great great example of thin reporting. Which brings me to…

A few nights ago, I had the pleasure of sitting across from Om Malik at a group dinner, and he asked me why were we doing the Voyces blog.  You gotta love that guy, and as Alec Saunders said to me – the secret of his success is that he’s the best skeptic he’s ever met.  Om says “Why are you doing this? What’s the point?” Om, this is why:

1. It’s not reasonable to expect that a general audience site like TechCrunch really understands the ins and outs of every industry. For next generation communications applications,  I’m giving them a D.
2. Is there a place where topics like these are covered in detail? Om, your staff is as close as it gets, but my customers need more detail than what you typically provide. Voyces is a place where that sort of analysis can happen.
3. Like every other “voyce”, my customers depend on me for lots of stuff, but most of all they depend on my honest insight and analysis. They can get that here.

That’s why. Chris – good luck to you. You are a kindred spirit and I wish you the best at every level.  Jason – not picking on you – but step your game up with telecom.  Om – I’m never going to be a reporter. I’m just a guy writing about what he sees. That said, I want you to like what I do. And Danielle, you’ve got my number. Jonathan’s number is in the book.