11/29/2006
NeuStar acquires mobile IM provider Followap for $139 million in cash
Global communications services provider NeuStar has acquired Followap, an Israeli provider of mobile instant messaging (IM) products, for approximately $139 million in cash. NeuStar projects Followap revenue to exceed $25 million in 2007 and to more than double in 2008.
Followap is a provider of communications solutions for network operators, delivering interoperability between operators and Internet portals in five different functional areas: instant messaging, presence, multimedia gateways, inter-carrier messaging hubs, and services for handset clients. Followap is working with Europe's leading mobile operators, such as Vodafone, Turkcell, 3 Group (Hutchison), Wind and Mobinil.
The Followap acquisition expands NeuStar's platform for growth, especially in mobile, IP and international markets. “By enabling IM, NeuStar will build on Followap's strengths to deliver essential infrastructure services in Europe and Asia," said Jeff Ganek, NeuStar's Chairman and CEO.
According to Pete Nuthall, Mobile & Wireless Industry Analyst of Frost & Sullivan Europe, "Mobile IM is the next major global messaging revenue opportunity, as it represents both the functional evolution of SMS and has an existing 1 billion plus global SMS user base into which it will grow. Followap is a world leader in mobile IM applications, presence, and inter- carrier messaging. NeuStar's unique capabilities include deciphering and interpreting billions of connections initiated by thousands of service providers each day in a neutral and efficient manner. Combining the two is a significant win for the industry."
Followap was founded in 1999 by Dotan Volach, Followap's CEO, Ben Volach, Followap's Vice President, Products and Strategy and Tommy Volsen, the Vice President, Marketing and Business Development of the company. Followap is a privately held company headquartered in the UK, with offices in Europe, US, Asia, and research and development center in Haifa, Israel.
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09/07/2006
Multimedia solutions provider Mobixell raised $8 million in funding round led by Intel Capital
Israeli provider of mobile multimedia value added services (VAS) solutions, Mobixell Networks, has received $8 million investment funding led by Intel Capital with the participation of its existing key shareholders including Apax, TempoPark Fund, and CTI Capital. The new investment will facilitate, among other activities, the company's newly launched V-Mark solution, enabling mobile operators to create and manage sharing communities.
"Intel Capital's investment in Mobixell reflects our commitment to making multimedia content available and optimized for mobile device users world-wide," said Sriram Viswanathan, Vice President and Managing Director, Intel Capital. "The Mobixell multimedia adaptation solution, powered by Intel-architecture based servers, will help meet the rapidly growing demand for rich media content."
Mobixell develops and markets network-based multimedia technologies and business solutions for mobile network operators, service providers and content aggregators. With over 70 commercial deployments around the world, Mobixell's customers include Vodafone, Swisscom Mobile and Telefonica Moviles.
"In a developing mobile world, Mobixell's solutions provide operators with access to exciting new revenue streams from multimedia, advertising and content sharing. We see ourselves as partners to Mobile Operators, evolving our products to accommodate the new trends of the mobile data market," said Amir Aharoni, founder and CEO of Mobixell Networks.
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