ItsOn

ItsOn
Private
Industry Telecommunications
Founded 2008
Headquarters Redwood City, California, United States
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
 Greg Raleigh, Chairman and CEO. Thierry Chassaing, Senior VP of Product & Engineering Charles Giancarlo, Founder
Website www.itsoninc.com

ItsOn is an American telecommunications company based in Redwood City, California that develops cloud-based solutions for enhancing the performance of mobile networks. ItsOn’s software platform gives mobile network operators the ability to offer granular and flexible, user-customizable services. Users may select and change mobile voice, text, and data services, as well as manage devices, plan sharing and permissions, directly from smart devices at any time.

ItsOn launched a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) service, Zact Mobile, in 2013.[1] Zact Mobile has received the National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval for its family-oriented features and pricing.[2]

Technology platform

ItsOn was the first company to develop and commercialize a Network Function Virtualization (NFV) platform that replaces the traditional hardware-based 3GPP policy control plane. ItsOn’s cloud-based solution enables mobile operators to create and sell new services and provides users the ability to purchase mobile services in real-time directly from their smart devices.[3]

The ItsOn technology platform overlays existing infrastructure and extends service policy control to the edge of the network.[4] The platform works with existing billing systems and networks. The overlay consists of a service controller, a service design center, and device clients.[5][6][7]

Services

ItsOn’s “Smart Services” enable mobile operators to respond to mobile users’ changing needs. Rather than choose from a limited selection of predefined plans, mobile users can buy exact amounts of each type of service desired.[8] Data may be purchased by quantity (for all uses) or for specific applications (such as Facebook).[9] Service plans may be shared between devices and family members as determined by the account owner. Service plans may be changed as devices and user habits change. Child curfews may be defined and applied to both mobile and Wi-Fi networks.[10] Users are notified as they approach current usage limits.[11]

ItsOn’s Smart Services allow operators to introduce self-service capabilities that reduce the need for expensive and time-consuming telephone and in-store support. Users may add devices to their plans, monitor and purchase desired types and quantities of service, and control the use of specific applications via the ItsOn client application.

ItsOn’s Smart Services enable advertisers and businesses with rewards programs to provide sponsored services.[12] Operators can offer “MVNO-in-a-box” solutions that allow value-added resellers to package devices with services.[13] The ItsOn client application also serves as a vehicle for upselling premium services such as international roaming.

The ItsOn Smart Services platform may be employed by mobile device OEMs, device OS developers, and M2M developers (as well as mobile network operators and MVNOs) to create, test, and deliver new features and services. The platform can be used to conduct initial consumer research, test consumer value propositions, fine-tune user experiences, create new offers (via the ItsOn Service Design Center), develop customer care solutions, and provide detailed analytics.[14]

Company history

ItsOn was founded by Greg Raleigh and Charlie Giancarlo in 2008. ItsOn received just over $3 million in seed and venture round funding from 2009 to 2011, and $15.5 million in Series B funding (led by Andreessen Horowitz) in 2012.[15][16]

ItsOn announced its Zact Mobile service in May 2013.[17] The company announced an agreement with Best Buy Mobile in November 2013 to make Zact Mobile available in more than 400 stores throughout the United States.[18] Zact currently offers handsets made by LG, Samsung, and ZTE.[19][20] In December 2013, Zact introduced a “kid-friendly” smartphone that is pre-loaded with Disney apps and content, and that parents can remotely control using either another Zact phone or a smartphone running Zact Control.[21]

On December 10, 2015, ItsOn announced its $12.5m raised in funding from Verizon Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz and Tenaya Capital.[22]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Lee, Nicole (May 13, 2013). "Zact, the 'smart mobile provider,' brings true wireless plan flexibility in June". Engadget (AOL, Inc.). Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Seal of Approval Winner: Zact Mobile by ItsOn". National Parenting Center. Bennett. Fall 2013. Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  3. ↑ Kim, Ryan (October 30, 2012). "With $15M from Andreessen Horowitz, ItsOn wants to arm operators with options". GIGAOM (GIGAOM, Inc.). Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  4. ↑ Primack, Dan (October 30, 2012). "The Future of Mobile Service Plans?". CNN Money (Cable News Network). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  5. ↑ US patent 8583781
  6. ↑ US patent 8441989
  7. ↑ US patent 8355337
  8. ↑ Vance, Jeff (January 7, 2013). "10 Mobile Startups to Watch". Network World (IDG). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  9. ↑ Milian, Mark (October 30, 2012). "Coming to a Mobile Plan Near You: Pay Just for E-Mail or Facebook". Bloomberg (Bloomberg LP). Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  10. ↑ Bennett, Brian (May 13, 2013). "Zact Touts Lower Phone Bills". CNET (CBS Interactive). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  11. ↑ McCracken, Harry (May 13, 2013). "Zact: Build Your Own Wireless Plan, Down to the Last Detail". Time (Time Inc.). Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  12. ↑ Fried, Ina (October 30, 2012). "Andreessen-Backed Start-Up ItsOn Raises $15 Million to Help Make Mobile Service More Flexible". All Things Digital (Dow Jones & Co.). Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  13. ↑ Kolodny, Lora (November 1, 2012). "Marc Andreessen: ‘The Dot-Com Bust Was Basically A Mistake’". Wall Street Journal (Dow Jones & Company). Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  14. ↑ Cutler, Kim-Mai (October 30, 2012). "Are Flexible Mobile Data Plans Finally Here? Andreessen Horowitz Leads $15.5M Round In ItsOn". TechCrunch (AOL, Inc.). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  15. ↑ Carew, Sinead (October 30, 2012). "Andreessen Horowitz leads $15.5 million funding of ItsOn mobile firm". Reuters (Thomson Reuters). Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  16. ↑ Delevett, Peter (October 30, 2012). "Former Cisco Exec Charlie Giancarlo Takes Startup ItsOn out of Stealth Mode". San Jose Mercury News (Media News Group). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  17. ↑ Kharif, Olga (May 16, 2013). "Innovator: Greg Raleigh's Zact, Pay-as-You-Go Custom Wireless". BusinessWeek (Bloomberg). Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  18. ↑ Kolodny, Olga (November 4, 2013). "Zact Mobile Goes from Launch to Best Buy in Four Months". Wall Street Journal (Dow Jones & Co.). Retrieved December 3, 2013.
  19. ↑ Limer, Eric (May 13, 2013). "Zact: This is How Every Wireless Plan Should Work". Gizmodo (Gawker Media). Retrieved December 5, 2013.
  20. ↑ "Easy Steps to Get Started: Choose Your Phones". Zact company website. Retrieved 5 December 2013.
  21. ↑ Goldstein, Phil (December 6, 2013). "Sprint MVNO Zact Partners with Disney for Customized Content". FierceWireless (FierceMarkets). Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  22. ↑ Lunden, Ingrid. "ItsOn Raises $12.5M From Verizon, A16Z, More To Help Carriers Sell Tailored Data Services". TechCrunch. Retrieved 2015-12-10.

External links

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