"It's aimed at a wide audience. Initially we thought it was going to be aimed at the 18 to 24 consumer market, and we've seen it expand out to literally anyone who wants a second number who wants some privacy and wants to control who and how they can call them." How does it all work, from a consumer's perspective? "You sign up on the Internet for a new number. You give us your private number. You can change that private number anytime you want, you pick an area code and you get a new number. That number works with the phone that you've assigned it to and you can make and receive calls from that number."
To dial out from your Vumber…you call into it first. Wener says by the end of the year, the company will offer international numbers as well. The value? Wener says he is using it in test mode now…
"I'm from South Africa originally and I have two South African numbers. One in Cape Town and one in Johannesburg and my family can call a local number there and call an reach me on my New Jersey cell phone here."
Pricing has not yet been set. The Vumber domestic service costs about five dollars a month. You don't have to sign a contract…and the company is offering a 30 day free trial. Bloomberg Boot Camp, I'm Fred Fishkin.