Fonix

Fonix provides a mobile payments and mobile messaging platform and is based in London. Its services are used by the media, entertainment, telecoms, enterprise and commerce sectors[1] and Fonix has connections to all of the UK mobile networks. When consumers make payments, they are charged to their mobile phone bill. This service can be used for ticketing, content, cash deposits and donations.[1]

Fonix
Type of businessPLC
Founded2006 (2006)
HeadquartersLondon, UK
Area servedWorldwide
Founder(s)Will Neale, Rob Weisz
Key peopleRob Weisz (CEO), Rupert Horner (CFO), Edward Spurrier (Chairman), Will Neale (Non-Executive Director), Lucy Sharman-Mundy (Non-Executive Director)
URLfonix.com
Current statusActive

The company was founded in 2006[2] and it has partnerships with Vodafone (of which it is a platinum partner),[3] EE Limited, Telefónica UK Limited and Hutchison 3G. Fonix's clients include ITV (TV network), Global, BT, Bauer and BBC Children in Need and more.

The current CEO is Rob Weisz.[4]

How it works

Fonix's service works by charging digital payments to the mobile phone bill, either via Carrier Billing or SMS Billing.[5] Fonix also offers messaging solutions.[6]

Carrier billing

APIs are used to charge users to their phone bills through desktop, mobile or apps.[7]

Fonix's Carrier Billing services can be used for ticketing (e.g. parking tickets and cinema tickets), content (e.g. paying for film or magazines) and cash deposits.[1]

SMS billing

Fonix's API charges customers to their phone bills via SMS.[8] This means that customers can purchase services or make charitable donations and are charged by sending the text message.[9][10]

The service is most commonly used for digital purchases, such as content, donations, voting, competitions and polls.[11]

Messaging

Fonix's messaging services have the capability to send and receive SMS online, via an API or via SMPP. RCS messaging can be used to send richer message content.[12]

History

Fonix was originally named Orca Digital[13] and was founded in 2006 in Chiswick, London. Orca Digital focused upon mobile telephony and providing interactive services to the media and entertainment sectors.[14]

In 2014, Orca Digital relaunched as Fonix Mobile under CEO Rob Weisz. At this point, the business became focused upon mobile operator payments and mobile messaging services to a range of sectors including media, charity, telecoms, enterprise, gaming and entertainment.[15]

Since 2014, Fonix has secured contracts with Channel 5,[16] Sport Relief,[17] Children in Need[18] and tastecard.[19]

In 2015 and 2016, Fonix was listed in the Sunday Times Hiscox Tech Track, ranking 34th and 28th respectively.[1] In 2015 and 2016, Fonix ranked 50th and 37th in the Deloitte Fast 50 respectively.[20][21] In 2015 and 2016, Fonix ranked 363rd and 238th respectively in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500.[22][23] In 2016 and 2017, Fonix won the Moma Award for the Not for Profit/Charity Mobile Strategy/Campaign of the year. This was to recognise their use of SMS for collecting gift aid for the 2015 Children in Need Campaign.[24]

Fonix went public at the London Stock exchange (AIM) in October 2020. The company has successfully raised £45m with a market capitalisation on admission of £90m.[25]

References
  1. Skeldon, Paul. "Fonix and Impulsepay fly the flag for carrier billing in Tech Track 100". Telemedia Online. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  2. n/a. "Tech Track 100". Fast Track. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  3. n/a. "Accredited Partners". Vodafone. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  4. "Fonix: Tech Track 100". Fast Track. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  5. PYMNTS. "Fonix To Handle BuyGameCredit Purchases On Xbox Live, PlayStation". PYMNTS. Retrieved January 30, 2017.
  6. Skeldon, Paul. "Mr". World Telemedia. World Telemedia. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  7. n/a. "Fonix: Tech Track 100". Fast Track. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  8. Alert Logic Product Marketing Team. "Fonix Mobile - Mobile and billing system security in Amazon Web Services (aws)". Alert Logic. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  9. Skeldon, Paul. "BBC Children in Need breaks all time text to donate record with Fonix". Telemedia Online. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  10. Skeldon, Paul. "Heart Radio embraces mobile listeners whose heart voice shortcodes - volume increase dramatically". Telemedia Online. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  11. Liggero, Rebecca. "Rob Weisz on introducing mobile payments in the online gambling industry". Calvin Ayre. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  12. Giles, Hannah. "Fonix joins Google's RCS Messaging Early Access Program". Fonix Mobile. Retrieved January 23, 2019.
  13. Orca Digital
  14. n/a. "Orca Digital launches VoiPay – a new premium web telephony platform". My News Desk. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  15. n/a. "Tech Track 100". Fast Track. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  16. n/a. "Channel 5 Select Fonix For Two Year Agreement For All Mobile Interactive Services". aime. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  17. n/a. "Sport Relief Legal". Sport Relief. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  18. "ViewRanger keeps The One Show Rickshaw Challenge riders on track". Cambridge Network. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  19. "Awards Preview – Most Effective Mobile Payment Solution". Mobile Marketing. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  20. Skeldon, Paul. "Fonix ranks 50th in the 2015 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 2015 after two years of trading". Telemedia Online. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  21. "Fast 50 Winners 2016". Deloitte. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  22. "2015 Technology Fast 500TM Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) Ranking" (PDF). Deloitte. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  23. "Fast 500 WInners". Deloitte. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  24. "Momas 2016". Momas. Retrieved January 27, 2017.
  25. "London Stock Exchange welcomes Fonix Mobile Plc to AIM - Welcome Story At London Stock Exchange | London Stock Exchange". www.londonstockexchange.com. Retrieved October 21, 2020.
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