Over and Out for EQO

As the mobile VoIP field narrows rapidly, startup EQO is on the verge of closing its doors, according to Canadian tech-news outlet Techvibes. Acknowledging the layoffs of 23 of its 35 employees just a couple of weeks ago, EQO CEO Bill Tam blamed the tough economy and claimed that the downsizing “lets us operate at near profitability and support our customers and partners until the smoke clears.”

Apparently that’s not going to happen: EQO has removed the management team page from the “About Us” section of its Web site and is reportedly history as of the end of November. The Vancouver-based company, which was offering a free VoIP service for mobile devices and an IM platform that let users chat with friends on AIM, Google Talk, ICQ, Jabber, MSN, and Yahoo, had received $13 million in funding from investors including GrowthWorks, BDC Capital and Ventures West.

EQO’s shutdown adds to the discouraging prospects for mobile VoIP plays as startups ─ including Fring, Jangl, and TalkPlus ─ are all reportedly barely treading water.