I looked at the requirements for customers to get the Vonage IPO, and it requires a minimum of 100 shares to purchase through a few specifed brokers, by personal check or wire transfer only. Since I cannot get a bank account right now, I'll have to pass it up.
I just got this message from Vonage:
> Dear Valued Vonage Customer,
> As you may know, Vonage has filed a registration statement with the
> Securities and Exchange
> Commission (SEC) related to its proposed initial public offering (IPO)
> of common stock. Because much of our success is attributable to our
> customers, we have asked the underwriters of the IPO to reserve shares
> of common stock for sale to certain Vonage customers at the IPO price
> in a Directed Share Program.
> You may be eligible to participate in the Directed Share Program if you
> meet certain eligibility
> requirements, including having been a Vonage customer from December 15,
> 2005 through February 1, 2006. You do not need to continue to be a
> Vonage customer in order to participate. Further information about the
> terms and conditions of the Directed Share Program, including the
> eligibility requirements and the process for participating in the
> program, are available in our registration statement and at the
> following website:
>
[TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: Thank you for looking into this for us. I got the very same offer in my email Monday afternoon, but had not yet investigated it. I wish there had been a less expensive offer; I might have purchsed one or two shares as a novelty. PAT]
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> Thank you,
> Vonage
> [TELECOM Digest Editor's Note: So is anyone going to purchase any
> Vonage stock. I wonder if a half-century from now -- say around 2056
> or so -- the stock will have obtained the reputation of AT&T stock
> with the cartoon (1930's) of the old lady sitting placidly in her
> rocking chair on the porch telling everyone how the dividends are
> paid on a timely basis and take good care of her needs in her old age. > PAT]