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Colorado vNet Closes Again, Probably for Good
Russound CEO Charlie Porritt with Russound owner Maureen Baldwin, celebrating the acquisition of Colorado vNet in October 2009.
The home automation, multiroom audio and lighting control company announced today that “it is winding down operations and will discontinue the Colorado vNet product line.”
Founded in 2002 by Bill Beierwaltes, Colorado vNet started life as a lighting control system, and then expanded into multiroom audio and whole-house control. The company, based in Loveland, Colo., closed its doors in mid-2009. In October of that year, certain assets were acquired by Russound, a leader in multiroom audio systems.
Russound CEO Charlie Porritt says vNet will “cease shipping products come March [2011] and keep a group of employees at Colorado vNet to focus on R&D.”
He declined to say how many of the Loveland team would remain at the company.
Petro Shimonishi, VP of sales and marketing for Colorado vNet, recently took on the additional role of VP marketing for Russound and may continue in that role.
Russound Opts Against Selling vNet
Did Russound try to sell Colorado vNet before ceasing operations? Not really, Porritt tells CE Pro: “We really see value in the intellectual property.”
Rep suggests "there must be a deeper, darker story here," but we don't think there's anything sinister about the (second) collapse of home automation vendor. [Read]
Porritt hints that Russound may incorporate some of the Ethernet-based communications into its own, notoriously analog multiroom audio systems.
“We need to move away from the old analog mix and move to digital,” he says.
vNet holds several patents for distributed control systems, user interfaces and more. (Click here for links to Colorado vNet patents)
While it seems evident that Russound will adopt some of vNet’s audio technology, it appears less likely that the company will add home automation to the Russound line.
Shimonishi says, “Whole-house control and automation will be a key growth factor for the industry;” however, she stops short of suggesting that it would be a key growth factor for Russound.
“Russound as a brand is very well known for multiroom audio,” she says.
Colorado vNet: A Look Back
 | Colorado vNet Closes Again Russound tried to rescue the home automation/multiroom audio vendor after its "abrupt closure," but couldn't make it viable. Russound to Acquire Colorado vNet Terms of transaction are undisclosed. Colorado vNet brand name will remain intact. 3 Reasons Russound’s Colorado vNet Acquisition is Smart Assuming Russound got a good deal on the shuttered manufacturer, access to Colorado vNet's 950 dealers alone makes it a risk worth taking. Schneider/Square D Eyes Colorado vNet Dealers Clipsal lighting control products employ similar wiring topologies as vNet lighting controls. Who Would Buy Colorado vNet? Colorado vNet has closed shop. Would Nortek, Legrand, AMX, Somfy, Schneider be interested? Colorado vNet 'Cautiously Optimistic', Launches 'Bring vNet Back' Campaign Since shutting down, Colorado vNet has received "several commitments to invest" and could have a resolution by the end of the month. Colorado vNet Approaches Shut-Down Provider of lighting controls, audio and video systems and home automation is "in the process of discontinuing operations;" CEO still has hope. Discuss: Colorado vNet Dealer Support | |
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Article Topics
News · Audio · Distributed Audio · Home Automation and Control · Control Systems · Lighting · Colorado Vnet · Russound ·About the Author
15 Comments (displayed in order by date/time)
Colorado vNet started life as a lighting control system, and then expanded into multiroom audio and whole-house control.
And there it was, the left turn on the well marked road to oblivion.
@ In and Out Burger,
I wouldn’t say that. We did several projects with them. The product worked well. When the doors closed the first time it sucked. When they opened back up we sat back and watched to see what would happen. However you want to read into this - and even if Russound never admits to it - what happened today was GOOD BUSINESS for them. They clearly never hit that break even point where it could survive on its own.
I’m more than a bit perplexed by this announcement.
The sales, marketing & product development seemed to get back on track with Petro running that part of the business. They did hire a really good rep in our territory who called on us and we got regular updates as to development of new products and tools for the dealers. The regional sales manager was good but stretched way too thin for the amount of territory he had to cover, but the rep filled in. We got back on the bandwagon and did some jobs with them and have more specified in.
We have several more jobs spec’d in for 2011 and now I am working to switch my jobs over to another solution. Looks like my only other viable option is Control4 but there are 18 dealers in my market and my homeowners are gonna price shop.
Our business with vNet would have expanded in 2011, and we were excited. IMHO, the announcement should have been for the other brand.
@Dave - Just curious, and if you don’t mind my poking - who was the “good rep” in your territory? I think they deserve some mention - good reps are hard to find!
Not again. I guess I am lucky I signed up with c4 the last exit.
Many kudos to Petro here (disclaimer: she’s a personal friend). I think she is almost single-handedly responsible for turning around vNet, and a big reason why you’re not seeing a lot of dealers and reps trash-talking the company. (She and her team, of course).
One rep told me yesterday, “She did a beautiful job this morning in announcing the bad news to the reps in a conference call. She gave us the facts and was commendably direct, and yet you could tell she was truly sad and was having a hard time delivering the news that was going to change so many lives.”
@anonymous: Balaton Marketing
Vnet was a great company and had a great product. It’s as simple as that.
I hope Russound does something with what they now own.
@ lance: You and I have very different definitions of lucky. ; )
@ Whitevan Lifestyle
The beauty of this business is we get to pick what we want to do. We (business owners) get to control our own destiny. It doesn’t matter if the label says Crestron, AMX, Control4, RTI, Universal Remote or Colorado vNET - it matters how good the programmer is behind the box. All of these products have their strengths and weaknesses. It is up to us as integrators (if that is what you truly are) to learn, to test, to sell and to execute and deliver what our clients wishes are. All too often in this business people are so quick to call the stuff the other guy put in “crap”. Take care of your clients and they will take care of you. I will say again - Colorado vNET was a great company. Petro was just starting to breathe life back into a company with potential. They had a uniquie look at the market place and I think given time and funds they could have made a great run. The problem started back 3 years ago in Denver. vNET showed an almost done iPhone/iTouch app. It was never brought to market. The other key that I was hoping to see was DRIVERS. They didn’t play well with others. A company like Russound (I assume) knew that - as every control system out there can talk to their CAV6.6, etc. That being said - we can all talk till we are blue in the face speculating as to what could have been done. We have lost many great companies this year - some that had been around for ALOT longer. This will not be the last company to go. If you only install product that you would put in your house and that your wife or s/o can operate you should do just fine. Happy New Year to all. Lets all have a prosperous 2011!
Notice the little ; )
I was playing.
Amen on the fact that we have lost some very good companies this year and the year prior.
Most notable are Pioneer, B&K, Pronto & Vnet. Its the way the cookie crumbles I guess.
It doesn’t get easier. I’m still crying over Fujitsu.
@Whitevan Lifestyle
True that. I was a Pioneer and B&K dealer. I am not crying over Fujistu anymore. There will always be something fun and new…
Yes but quality wise I must say “so far, not so good”.
Lets hope next week at CES proves different. Should be an interesting year.
Ps. I’m hoping ATI will be showing some new B&K stuff with proposed ship dates.
If you have any wired Colorado vNet Lighting you would like to get unload, please give me a chance to bid on it. Rob AT Logan.com
I have dimming mod rough in’s pulled from a clients house if anyone needs them.
Info AT ATLAVS.com