VoodooVox Cashes In on Calls

Creator of audio 'banner ad' network dials in $8.1 million for expansion as it awaits the dawn of advertising-supported mobile phone calls.
by Ken Schachter

VoodooVox, whose system for inserting audio advertising into phone calls could become the foundation for free cellular service, has landed $8.1 million in capital from a stable of blue-chip venture capitalists, the company said on Tuesday. The series D round was led by Softbank Capital with participation from prior investors Apax Partners, Village Ventures, and Steamboat Ventures, Disney's venture capital arm. As technology giants such as Apple, Google, and Microsoft extend their franchises to mobile devices, voice has become a new flashpoint in the battle for audiences and profit. And the battle is clearly on: Apple has raised its flag on the mobile map with its new iPhone. Google has launched an experimental free telephone search service and is expected to roll out its own "Gphone" or a specification that would allow others to create one. In March, Microsoft, whose mobile operating system already resides on some phones, acquired voice search provider TellMe Networks in a deal estimated at $800 million.

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