SpinVox smear campaign and secret dossier?

In another twist to the SpinVox tale reports are coming out that SpinVox is talking to lawyers, aids, police and the armed forces about an apparent smear campaign.

The ins and outs of the case are muddy, but the Guardian is reporting that a dossier has been circulated about the failing of SpinVox to shareholders. All of this comes after an eventful week where the BBC named and shamed the company’s technology.

The point is that SpinVox has claimed that its technology is superior and has amazing voice detection. But in reality call centres run in Egypt and less know parts of the universe actually transcribe messages when the technology doesn’t work.

So basically the essence of “what you see is what you get” has been replaced with “what you think you get is not what you are getting at all” plus – your smutty affair sex text is being heard and transcribed by some unknown person in a dodgy call centre – who might be laughing at your horsey goofy flirting tactics.. Worse still, vital company knowledge could be made available to third parties before it should.

Of course this is the worst case scenario but what is happening to SpinVox is like unravelling and onion and the tears flow whether you have goggles on or not.

The three strands to the issues with SpinVox are:
1. The company uses call centres as its technology isn’t strong enough
2. The company invited journalists to show off technology –but technology failed once more
3. SpinVox claims there is a smear campaign against it.

But the strands also have several different threads
1. There is a lot of backlash against the management and unprofessional tactics

2. There are a lot of employees relishing in the payback of hitting back at SpinVox after unfair dismissal

3. What has happened to all the SpinVox cash?

4. The only reason you ask employees to trade in pay for shares if you think that you can float a business – with all the hassle – SV is in no position to be floated.

5. SpinVox has won several very high end global awards for its technology; which apparently doesn’t exist.

6. There is a complete separate universe between the company and the reality that fighting journalists and calls for “smear campaign” just simply shoot the messenger and this doesn’t work.

Well SpinGate is certainly an interesting tale. I think that SpinVox is reacting and not judging. It is not inspecting its own performance and blaming others, such as the press for its own issues, is suicide.

Personally, I think it would be sad if SpinVox crumbled and died but it has started to dig a hole for itself that will be tough to turn around and criticism needs to be taken on the chin. SpinVox’s actions currently replicate one of a spoilt six year old that didn’t get invited to the party.

Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/blog/2009/aug/10/spinvox-dossier
Image: http://www.engr.wisc.edu/wiscengr/february04/espionage.shtml