Vonage went public today. I care little about how the stock does, but the offering brings back some terrific memories.

I remember the fall 1995 Internet World Trade Show in Boston at the World Trade Center and seeing VOIP discussed for the first time by a small Israeli exhibitor by the name of VocalTec.

Fast forward a year later and I am returning on an airplane from spring Internet World 1996 in San Jose and this guy Jeff Pulver sits next to me. He had been at Internet World. Before long he starts to tell me about what is going to happen with VOIP. I sit in wonderment and think: "This is an interesting fellow."

About a year later I try to buy Jeff's Web site Pulver.com -- we reach a deal, but smartly Jeff decides to go it alone. A few months later Jeff calls me to ask advice about starting a new trade show to be called VON -- the rest is history.

In fact I just found a good post by one Mark Evans from 2005 which tells the Pulver story better than I can. After you read this you will see why Jeff is Mr. VOIP worldwide.

I am pleased to have been around at the creation of the VOIP concept. I never met the SKYPE creators, but I sure am glad to have met Jeff Pulver.