The following sites and services have been mentioned by Clark over the years and each one has its own special place in our hearts. May they all rest in peace...
SpiralFrog.com - Died March 2009
This site offered free ad-supported music downloads from major label partners like Universal and EMI. Since launching in 2006, SpiralFrog is rumored to have burned through more than $40 million in capital. In addition, some say the service's pro-digital rights management (DRM) stance -- an unpopular restriction in an age when people want to take their music across platforms -- also helped seal its fate.
MyRichUncle.com - Died February 2009
The student loan website analyzed factors like GPA, desired field of study and the school you were planning on attending to make merit-based loans to students will little or no credit history. Goodbye, Uncle!
ZOOTS - Died April 2008
This high-volume dry cleaner failed after finding out just how difficult it is to crack a mom-and-pop industry. Among the features ZOOTS offered was 24-hour service, easy online scheduling and pick up and delivery. The company is being disassembled piecemeal, so you may still see select locations with the ZOOTS name.
Eos Airlines - Died April 27, 2008
The collapse of this all-business class carrier with service between New York's JFK and London Stansted Airport came as a surprise. "[It is] particularly regrettable since we have achieved so much, including having a term sheet in hand for additional financing," the airline revealed before drawing a last breath. Eos' ad tagline was "Uncrowded. Uncompromising. Unairline." Well, they sure got that last word right!
Skybus Airlines - Died April 5, 2008
Modeled after Europe's highly successful Ryanair, Skybus initially launched in May 2007 with one-way fares starting at $10. Skybus would ultimately serve 17 U.S. destinations before the high price of jet fuel and the slowing economy clipped the airline's wings.
SunRocket Internet Phone Service - Died July 2007
Clark was a big fan of SunRocket, a company that offered some of the best deals out there on Voice-Over-Internet Phone service. Maybe it was too good a deal--they went belly-up without warning in July 2007.
Automatic vending machines - Died November 2003
Clark first saw these machines in Europe and Asia, and since then they have been unveiled in Washington, D.C. Items in these huge vending machines that are built into a wall are much cheaper than in regular convenience stores because there is no need for labor. But apparently it didn't work in the States.
MGC.com - Died April 16, 2002
Mpower, the local telephone service provider formerly known as MGC, has now hit the skids. Clark and Kimberly took advantage of this plan, but they've had to find new service in recent weeks.
MyFreeCar.com - Date of death unknown
One of several car wrapping sites that has gone under. These companies pay you up to $400 a month just to drive around with advertising on your car. This car wrapping site appeared to have bitten the dust, but apparently it has been purchased by another car advertising company, freemedia.com. Others that have gone by the wayside are "UDrive4Cash" and "carwrap.com."
e-Voice - Died August 2001
This free voice mail service alerted members to new voice mail messages with an e-mail message. Once at your e-mail provider, you could view your voicemail messages online. When introduced, eVoice services were free. But as more people became addicted (Ahem, Clark's E.P. Christa), the company started charging $1.95 a month and was charging up to $7 a month before it went bust.
AllAdvantage.com - Died Feb. 1, 2001
This was a free Internet service that actually paid customers who agreed to view advertising as they searched the Web. Users, like Clark, received $12.50 a month. What a great idea it was.
Freeway - Died February 2001
This once-famed long distance service offered up to two free hours of long distance calling a month for listening to ads. Customers had to listen to brief ads for two free minutes of calls. It went under after new visitors and non-members were asked to make some type of purchase before gaining access to the free long distance service. Bah-bye!
Virgin Connect Me - Died Nov. 15, 2000
This easy-to-use Internet device offered free Internet access and e-mail service for one year. Clark's wife, Lane, Kimberly and Teresa (both staffers) all took advantage of the free device, which the first 10,000 qualifying applicants received. They all had to send the device back, however, when the company announced Virgin Connect Me was dead. |
