OzEmail

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OzEmail was a major Internet service provider (ISP) in Australia, until it was acquired by the iiNet ISP on February 28th, 2005.

[edit] History

In the early 1980s, Sean Howard was the editor of the Australian Personal Computer magazine and was running a small electronic mail service called Microtex. In 1992, he sold his share of Computer Publications to ACP and concentrated on Microtex which he renamed OzEmail. At this time, OzEmail (based in St Leonards, NSW) had only 8 staff members and were creating a system to integrate Lotus Software cc:mail, MicrosoftMail and Novell MHS Mail systems. The initial network consisted of 16 POPs around Australia.

On 28th May 1996, OzEmail became the first Australian tech stock ever to list on the NASDAQ. With the trading symbol OZEMY, over AUD$50 million in investment capital was raised. Two years later, OzEmail listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX) with the symbol OZM.

Through 1997 and 1998, OzEmail grew at a great rate by acquisitions and aggressive growth while competing with some 850 ISPs. On 14th December 1998, WorldCom (later MCI) launched a takeover bid. It was completed on 24th February 1999 when they became 100% owners of OzEmail, removing OzEmail from the NASDAQ and ASX. OzEmail continued its previous strategy of acquiring other companies. The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP, Shadow Treasurer and former Minister for the Environment and Water Resources was then chairman of OzEmail.

Perth based ISP iiNet purchased the assets of OzEmail on 28th February 2005 and started trading under the new name iiNet (OzEmail) Pty Ltd.^[1] The OzEmail brand name is now no longer available, all customers will now get iiNet usernames.

[edit] References

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[edit] External links

• OzEmail's history page.