VoIP Provider ViaTalk has been removed from the Better Business Bureau for a high volume of complaints. Brendan Brader CEO of ViaTalk claims, "The expulsion was due to the influx of customers after SunRocket went belly up." From a post on dslreports forums Brader states, "We've been working with the Better Business bureau since the beginning of ViaTalk, but our membership was revoked recently due to the number of complaints placed against us during the fallout after the demise of Sunrocket. All of the complaints were easily resolved, and we kept in close contact with our contact at the BBB to track and respond to the complaints as they came in. Unfortunately, we're told that the BBB Membership standards include a limitation of the actual volume of complaints over a given time regardless of our proof of resolution. It's a tough penalty, considering the situation and the efforts we made to keep things on the up and up.

Brader insists that the company stayed in close contact with the BBB and tried to resolve customer complaints, but complaint volume, regardless of resolution, resulted in expulsion. The BBB says the expulsion was a result of "unanswered or unresolved complaints, and/or excessive and high volume complaints."

ViaTalk Founders Contribute $20,000 more to the US FIRST Robotics Team at Shenendehowa High School

HostRocket and ViaTalk are pleased to announce their sponsorship of the US FIRST Robotics team at Shenendehowa High School with a $20,000 cash donation and commitment to donate hundreds of hours as mentors and volunteers. Since 2004, the Tech Valley companies have contributed $100,000 in cash to the student organization known as ‘Team 20: The Rocketeers’.

Many HostRocket and ViaTalk employees have devoted a significant amount of time serving as mentors for the program throughout all four seasons. Company founders Brendan Brader and John Reyes are especially involved in the program. The two participated in the program as students at Shenendehowa High School and remain involved as mentors.

“We are very fortunate to have succeeded with our companies, so giving back to our community is important, if not first and foremost,” said Brendan Brader, CEO. “The US FIRST Robotics team provides students with hands on technology opportunities that they wouldn’t normally be exposed to in the classroom.”

Team 20, The Rocketeers, was created in 1992 as a part of the initial launch of the US FIRST program (www.usfirst.org). FIRST, the acronym for "For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology" was a robotics engineering competition founded by Dean Kaman in order to encourage teenagers in the U.S. to become more actively interested in the fields of science and technology.

“The Rocketeers is a great way for students to channel creative talent in a productive manner,” added John Reyes, CTO. “We are enthused to play a role in giving kids exposure to this national competition.”

The 2007 FIRST Robotic competition begins on January 5. The Rocketeers team will assemble for a live webcast where FIRST announces this year’s challenge. The team will meet nightly and on weekends in preparation for the contest developing strategy and robot design. The contest will take place in the end of February.