In the ongoing pyramid-scheme fiasco surrounding Zer01 Mobile, the “VoIP carrier” has announced that it has cut all ties with Global Verge and Buzzirk Mobile – two of Zer01’s shady affiliates that had so far been distributing Zer01’s services through its “associate” program. Both Global Verge and Buzzirk Mobile are run by executives that have been involved in pyramid schemes, a fact that has drawn Zer01 much criticism of late and casts doubt on whether Zer01 Mobile ever intended to make good on their promise of unlimited voice and data service for $70 per month. Zer01 cites a breach of contract in kicking both companies to the curb.
Zer01’s decision to distance itself from known pyramid scheme peddlers Global Verge and Buzzirk Mobile is at least a step in the right direction. But, it doesn’t absolve Zer01 from their continued lack of communication and opaque business plans.
Zer01 Mobile announced earlier this year that it would provide unlimited wireless services for $70 per month, using a patented VoIP technology to route calls through national GSM networks allegedly partnered with Zero1. The service was supposed to go live on July 1. To date, Zer01 has not offered anything close to a reliable explanation for the launch delay. Neither their “patented” technology nor their carrier partnerships can be confirmed. And, there’s still the matter of the thousands of Zer01 “associates” that have signed up as Zer01 resellers, payed their initiation fee and continue to pay their monthly “support” fees for a service that is still vaporware (at best).
This is Zer01 Mobile CEO Ben Piilani at CTIA Wireless 2009:
According to Zer01:
“We hope that our actions and statements put many concerns to rest. We believe that statements made publicly about the nature of our relationship with certain entities and the legitimacy of our mobile products by certain third parties are erroneous and untrue and are not based upon sufficient knowledge of the facts involved. Currently, our counsel is in the process of preparing a response to these false and misleading statements.”
The announcement continues by saying that:
“Our company reserves all its legal rights and remedies that may arise from any and all erroneous and untrue statements made by third parties. We consider the reputation and integrity of Zer01 Mobile to be of utmost importance to our future success and we intend to vigilantly defend it.”
Now, we’re no mobile CEOs here, but Zer01 Mobile might want to spend more time getting its alleged wireless service launched rather than spending resources fighting all the bad press that they brought on themselves.
Full press release after the break.
News From Zer01 Communications, Inc.
Zer01 Mobile Dissolves Business Partnership With Buzzirk Mobile
– Due To Breach Of Contract, MVNE Zer01 Mobile Cuts All Ties With Buzzirk Mobile For Distribution Services –
For immediate release: 8/13/09
For more information: Ron Dresner
ron.dresner@zer01mobile.com
860.523.7500
(Las Vegas, NV) – Zer01 Mobile, the new mobile virtual network enabler offering unlimited voice, data and Web services nationwide for one, low monthly fee, announced today that it has severed its business relationship with Buzzirk Mobile for distribution services based upon breach of contract. The agreement for distribution services was originally announced in May 2009. However, due to violations of the agreement made by Buzzirk Mobile, Zer01 Mobile has concluded as of today its relationship with Buzzirk Mobile.
“The Zer01 Mobile team wishes Buzzirk Mobile the best of luck for all future endeavors. However, Zer01 Mobile has decided to formally sever our business relationship due to the breach of contract by Buzzirk Mobile,” explained Lance Dascotte, COO, Zer01 Mobile.
Creating interconnect agreements throughout North America and abroad, Zer01 Mobile is the first mobile service to offer a truly unlimited voice, data and Internet plan that is priced affordably with taxes and fees included. Zer01 Mobile’s international plan also reaches out to the most popular calling countries around the world and is also economically priced. The company has licensed patent pending proprietary VMC technology that allows each smart phone user to make voice calls or transmit data by sending voice communications through a VoIP system.
During the three-month business relationship between Zer01 Mobile and Buzzirk Mobile, questions by the general public and journalists were raised about the business agreement and Buzzirk Mobile’s ability as a distributor. “Overall, there were a number of news articles and blogs that misreported a lot of the facts about each company and its services,” commented Ron Dresner, Zer01 Mobile spokesperson. First, Zer01 Mobile and Buzzirk Mobile are two very separate and distinct companies, only joined by this now dissolved agreement. Previous reports erred in applying facts about the questionable background of Buzzirk Mobile executives to Zer01 Mobile team members; Second, industry ‘insiders’ commented about the new Zer01 Mobile service stating their doubts about the credibility of the service because no details about the interconnect agreements were released. From the start, Zer01 Mobile stated that it needed to protect and honor the confidentiality of its business partners and could not release this information. It has invited any and all industry ‘insiders’ to visit with Zer01 Mobile at any of the upcoming industry conferences and use a Zer01 Mobile phone; Third, Zer01 Mobile has never promoted or mentioned facts regarding its service that were misleading. News reports specifically quoted Buzzirk Mobile sales associates sources as to communication speed rates and frequencies; and fourth, questions about Zer01 Mobile’s patent pending technology in the news are totally unfounded and motivated by marketplace competitors. Any visit to the patent office will prove Zer01 Mobile’s VMC technology registration.”
“We hope that our actions and statements put many concerns to rest. We believe that statements made publicly about the nature of our relationship with certain entities and the legitimacy of our mobile products by certain third parties are erroneous and untrue and are not based upon sufficient knowledge of the facts involved. Currently, our counsel is in the process of preparing a response to these false and misleading statements. Our company reserves all its legal rights and remedies that may arise from any and all erroneous and untrue statements made by third parties. We consider the reputation and integrity of Zer01 Mobile to be of utmost importance to our future success and we intend to vigilantly defend it,” concluded Dascotte.
Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, Zer01 Communications is owned and operated by the Unified Technologies Group, Inc., a global technology services and consulting company headquartered in Wilmington, DE. Zer01 Communications recently premiered the new Zer01 Mobile service at the CTIA Wireless 2009 Conference. For more information about Zer01 Communications, visit www.Zer01mobile.com.