I had emailed Lisa Bickford of Teleblend, one of the recommended service providers from Sunrocket’s “good bye” email. Here is the extract of her email:

Hello Mihir.  As an ex-SunRocket user I assume that you know the circumstances of SunRocket closing their doors and abandoning their customers.

The answers to your questions are:

1)      How can Teleblend  use the customer base of Sunrocket? I know you negotiated something with Sherwood, but what *exactly* did Teleblend inherit from Sunrocket? I will appreciate specific details about this.
The Assignee for the SunRocket assets has entered into deals with several VOIP providers, of which Teleblend is one, to offer service to the abandoned SunRocket customers.   Teleblend is a new brand name offered by USA Telephone (www.savewithusa.com ).  We created the new brand name to ensure that customers would understand that the VOIP product is offered as a separate product and to ensure differentiation from both the other companies vieing for the abandoned SunRocket customers and from our USA Telephone customer base.  We also want to ensure that Teleblend is profitable and able to sustain itself on a stand-alone basis over the long term with its own assets, costs, and management team.

2)      Teleblend had suggested that Sunrocket users must signup before July-22 with Teleblend if they want to ensure a smooth number transition. However, there are no details about the company posted on the website? How do you expect us to signup without any information about this Company?
We suggest that abandoned SunRocket customers sign up with us before July 22 because we cannot ensure ongoing service on the existing SunRocket network after July 22.  Our reports indicate that significant portions of the SunRocket network may be shut down on or after July 23 as a result of non-payment by SunRocket.    We will be posting details of the Teleblend entity on our website and our management team as soon as we’ve completed the more pressing issues of keeping customer phones working, establishing voicemail systems for displaced customers, and ensuring that customers calls, emails, and online requests are answered as quickly as possible.  We, like everyone, have limited resources and we are using them to provide excellent customer service rather than to toot our own horns.  We believe the proof will be in the quality of service we can provide during this difficult transition.   I can tell you that thousands of customers have understood this and signed up and are receiving the benefit of our product offer.

3)      If I decide to go with another provider, say Viatalk – will Teleblend hold  the Sunrocket numbers to allow for portability to this career?
Teleblend will not support any old SunRocket phone numbers that have not signed up with us.  People who do not sign up with us will have to rely on whichever vendor they sign up with to determine if their number can be ported from SunRocket.  We cannot be responsible for assisting other vendors with porting old SunRocket numbers.

4)      Are there any numbers available on the financial strength of teleblend? How much funds, debts, assets, etc do this company have? These numbers will help users like me to make an informed descision whether to go with teleblend or not.
Teleblend is a private company and, as such,  financial information will not be made public.   Rest assured that the owners of Teleblend are using their own money to support this venture, not public stock, and therefore we have a vested interest in the ongoing success and profitability of this venture.     We are here to provide service at reasonable cost and work with our customers to ensure uninterrupted service.

5)      How many servers and hardware infrastructure does Teleblend own? How many subscribers can the company have before the service quality will begin going downhill?
We own significant network infrastructure all across the US among the USA Telephone companies.  We are a privately held company and as such we are not willing to disclose either our inventory or our specific network connection points.   We currently serve more than 200,000 customers across the US and we have the capability of adding as many more as we need to as long as the business we are taking on is profitable and sustainable.

I will be happy to post your answers on my blog if you agree, or keep them private if you want. I just want some specific answers so that I can make an informed descision.
Please feel free to post these answers to your blog.  I expect you will see further information on our website today or Monday as we continue to work to serve our new Teleblend customers.  Please check our website regularly for additional information.

BTW, I do not know, had never heard of, and am no relation to Lisa Hook, former CEO of SunRocket.  My past employment can be found here: www.nationwide.net and here www.inreach.com.  I am still associated with both companies.

Lisa