Another free blogging service is calling it a day. Vox, a child of the Six Apart company, announced on the Team Vox blog that “Vox has been a fun place to explore, create and connect with your friends. But Vox is closing its doors on September 30, 2010.“

 With this curt little announcement, Vox immediately ceased accepting new user registrations.  Existing Vox account holders can continue to sign in and manage their account and view posts from their “neighborhood”, but as of September 15^th, Vox users will no longer be able to create new posts or upload new photos or videos.

The people behind Vox have clearly attempted to identify potential new homes for the bloggers. The Vox people have even added tools that allow the bloggers to more easily export their data to content management systems like wordpress, which can be used with most web host. Vox does point out that most users will experience various technical shortcomings, depending on the specific application they are using.

As of September 30^th, the service will cease. As can be expected, there are many unhappy users complaining of the short notice given. Some users were complaining that they had only recently joined Vox after other micro blogging sites have modified their user policies, or closed their doors. Reading through the comments it would be hard to miss the community that has grown around longtime users of Vox.

One user, e2c summarized what others were saying:

“I think management doesn't "get" the whole idea behind Vox. Or maybe the people who were responsible for developing Vox are no longer with Six Apart? I was a beta tester, like many others who are replying here. I LOVE the communities we created here.

To see them - us! - deep-sixed without any real reason in support of this decision is just... wrong. Appalling. Offensive. Are you aware that people here helped cover funeral expenses for a member's family? That many of us were friends with members who have died - were, in at least one case, their primary support during their final illness?

I realize that it's no fun bringing the axe down, but I think all of us "little guys" are getting cut off with no reason at all. What if this site had moved to a subscription model? (A reasonably-priced one.) Is that possible NOW? Is it something Six Apart would consider doing? I just feel heartsick and angry over this. And all the answers so far are just empty words, empty promises.” end quote

Sometimes free may not always be the cheapest model