| Industry | Telecommunications Internet Computer software |
|---|---|
| Fate | Acquired |
| Successor | NeuStar, Inc. |
| Founded | 1999 |
| Headquarters | Haifa, Isreal |
| Products | Mobile Instant Messaging Interconnect Platform Presence Platform |
| Employees | 180 (2006) |
Followap in 1999, was a leading provider of Presence and Instant Messaging solutions to the telecommunications industry. By the time it was acquired in 2006, it had over 17 mobile operators many of them tier-ones, serving a combined user base of over 200 million subscribers. Followap’s products enabled operators to establish advanced, interoperable presence-enhanced services, which were key for next-generation networks. Followap was active in industry standardization efforts in forums including OMA, IETF, 3GPP and the GSM Association.
Followap made history in 2000 by launching the first commercial mobile instant messaging service in partnership with Eircell, Ireland's largest operator. Other key customers of Followap included the Vodafone Group, Hutchison 3G Group, BT Group, Turkcell, Telecom Italia, Wind and Mobinil.
Investors included Sequoia Capital and Carmel Ventures. The company was acquired by NeuStar for $139M in November 2006.[1]