Zamano

Zamano plc was an Internet and mobile technology company based in Dublin.[1][2] The company decided in February 2017 to bring their premium rate SMS business lines to a close by the end of 2017.[3] In September 2017 it was reported that the company, following a management buy-out, is considering investing in oil and gas exploration companies.[4]

Zamano plc
TypePublic
IndustryMobile Technology, Online Communications
Founded2000 (2000)
Defunct2018
HeadquartersIreland
Number of locations
Ireland (Dublin)
Key people
Ross Conlon, CEO John Rocket – Chairman
Number of employees
25+
Websitewww.zamano.com

Business structure

The IPO coincided with further acquisitions for the company including Red Circle Technologies.[5][6]

Products

Zamano offers products for mobile messaging, mobile payments and mobile advertising. It also acts as a direct operator connection in Ireland and the UK. Zamano is the largest purchaser of mobile internet advertising inventory in Ireland. Everneo is the division of Zamano that offers the following products: Mobile and cloud video, video clubs, Mobile games, Apps, entertainment portals, Ringtones, wallpapers, Screensavers, SMS services, and IVR lines.

History

In 2011 Zamano announced investment in a new entity called Newsworthie. This entity was focused on providing a solution for companies to use their online content to increase their revenues and a solution for companies seeking to promote their products in a contextualised manner.[7] However, investment in Newsworthie was ended in October 2011 with outgoing CEO John O'Shea announcing that "As our investment capacity is limited, we intend focusing it entirely on opportunities related to our mobile expertise, and have suspended further investment in Newsworthie."[8]

CEO John O'Shea departed the company in November 2011 and was replaced by interim CEO Pat Landy in a temporary role.[9] In April 2015, Zamano, signed a deal with Three mobile to allow the company’s technology to be used as a conduit by e-commerce providers.[10]

Awards/nominations

Zamano appeared in the Deloitte Technology Fast 50 from 2006–9.[11][12][13][14] This followed from coming 2nd in the Rising Star Category in 2005.[15]

Deloitte Technology Fast 50

  • 2006 5th
  • 2007 2nd
  • 2008 2nd
  • 2009 9th

In 2004, Zamano won the award for Best Wireless Content at the O2 DMI Awards.

Zamano was also nominated for an Annual Global Mobile Award, in the Best Mobile Internet Application category for its TxT Manager.[16]

Service launches

In 2001, Zamano provided the application for Europe's first live 3G network,based on the Isle of Man.

In 2011, TCM announced a partnership with Zamano to power SMS alerts on breakingnews.ie. This was followed by an agreement with Setanta Sports to provide mobile video of every Premier League goal scored within minutes of it happening.

In 2011, Zamano announced a new structure with the company divided into Zamano Solutions, Everneo, and Newsworthie.

In November 2013, Zamano launched Message Hero, an online business SMS service available to customers in Ireland and the UK [17]

Controversy

In February 2010, Zamano was fined £35,000 by PhonePayPlus for breaching its terms and conditions in relation to unsolicited reverse-charge premium rate SMS messages.

In May 2009, Red Circle were also fined £15,000 by PhonePayPlus in relation to unsolicited reverse-charge premium rate SMS messages.

In March 2012, Zamano was fined a further £50,000 by PhonePayPlus for breaching its terms and conditions in relation to unsolicited reverse-charge premium rate SMS messages.

Between May 2012 and September 2013 Zamano received 587 complaints from consumers in relation to a competition service, "Play2Win". Consumers stated that they had received unsolicited, reverse-billed text messages and that they had not engaged with the service, or acknowledged engaging with the service but stated that they believed it was free. A Phonepayplus tribunal found that Zamano breached the Fairness and Misleading aspects of its code. Given repeated breaches of the code by Zamano, the tribunal imposed an increased fine of £40,000[18]

Charity

The company has also been linked to a number of charity services launching the Childline HelpText Service in 2006.[19]

The company worked with the Jack and Jill Foundation, supporting the charity's text appeal in 2011.

Acquisitions and new business

In 2002 Zamano partnered with RTÉ Interactive to launch a wireless SMS-based game called Showdown.[20] Earlier that year the group had already released a number of games on the O2 mobile network.[21]

Later in 2002 Zamano acquired Avoca's interactive SMS business. This gave the company a stronger presence in the UK market as it provided 10 premium rate SMS short codes covering four UK mobile networks.[22][23]

In 2007, Zamano completed the acquisitions of Red Circle Technologies[24][25] and Eirborne[26] followed up by a video-messaging partnership with social networking site Bebo.

In 2011, Everneo launched some social media initiatives with its partner WWE. By August they were reporting over 10,000 fans on the Facebook page launched earlier that year.

See also

References
  1. "Zamano starts trading on London's AIM". The Irish Times. 10 October 2006.
  2. "Zamano is first 2007 listing on IEX". RTÉ News.
  3. "Zamano experiences major fall-off in revenue and profits". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 12 October 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  4. "Zamano may resurface as oil firm". 28 September 2017. Retrieved 12 October 2017.
  5. O'Hora, Ailish (25 September 2006). "Zamano takes aim for float". The Irish Independent.
  6. Kennedy, Emma (27 February 2007). "Zamano makes debut on IEX". The Irish Independent.
  7. "Restructured Zamono hopeful of stronger Q4". IBTimes UK. Archived from the original on 29 April 2012.
  8. "Zamano's losses slashed in H1". Silicon Republic. Archived from the original on 1 December 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2011.
  9. "Zamano chief to step down". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 26 October 2011. Retrieved 6 January 2012.
  10. "Zamano signs deal with Three mobile to become 'billing partner'". The Irish Times. Archived from the original on 17 December 2015. Retrieved 5 June 2018.
  11. "ZAMANO RANKED 5TH IN DELOITTE TECHNOLOGY FAST 50". Fast Pitch Networking. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015.
  12. "Fast 50 Award Winners 2007". Deloitte. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013.
  13. "Fast 50 Award Winners 2008". Deloitte. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013.
  14. "Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Award Winners 2009". Deloitte. Archived from the original on 19 October 2013.
  15. "Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Award Winners 2008". Zamano.
  16. "Zamano's TxT nominated for industry award". Breakingnews.ie.
  17. "Zamano launches Message Hero mobile marketing service". Digitaltimes.ie. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2015.
  18. "Zamano Solutions Ltd. 09739 Track 2". Archived from the original on 29 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
  19. "Childline HelpText service launched by Zamano". Mobile Industry Review. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  20. "Zamano launches new SMS game in conjunction with RTÉ". Breakingnews.ie.
  21. "Zamano inks new deal with RTÉ". ENN.ie. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012.
  22. "Avoca's interactive SMS business acquired by zamano". Business Library. 2002.
  23. "Zamano scoops up UK SMS business". ENN.ie. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 7 October 2011.
  24. "Zamano rings up another takeover". Goliath.
  25. "Zamano expands markets with Red Circle buy-out". Breakingnews.ie.
  26. "Zamano takes flight with Eirborne". ENN.ie. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012.
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