Telution was one of those independent software companies born of the boon years between 1996 and 2000 (1998 to be exact) that one really wanted to see make it. And it almost did. But early last month it was acquired by CSG for $22 million with a potential for $8 million more.

Telution didn't so much fail as the industry it was born to support failed all around it, although some would say the company was too fixated on the Tier 1 market. Still, many may consider its acquisition by a large vendor a success. After all, that seemed to be the goal of many of the software start-ups from that era. There was a considerable “get bought or go public tryin'” mentality as company founders typically strived to get their millions, sometimes billions, before their houses of PowerPoint cards collapsed. Whether Telution CEO Kent Steffen was different and really wanted to win as an independent based on sound technology or whether he just let too many suitor ships pass by before taking CSG's offer is now a moot point. CSG obviously sees value in the company and in its leadership, and $22 million is nothing to be sneeze at. But to those of us in the cheap seats, it feels like watching the new television show “Deal or No Deal,” where you root for the contestant to strike it rich even as you watch all the big numbers get taken off the board.