Sinch (company)

Sinch, formerly CLX Communications, is a telecommunications and cloud communications platform as a service (PaaS) company. Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, Sinch also has offices in over 60 cities worldwide, including Atlanta, London, Madrid, Singapore and Sydney.

Sinch

Formerly	CLX Communications
Traded as	XSTO: SINCH
Industry	Cloud communications
Headquarters	Stockholm , Sweden

History

CLX Communications

 

CLX Communications logo

CLX Communications, better known as CLX, was founded in 2008 by Johan Hedberg, Robert Gerstmann, Kristian Männik, Henrik Sandell, Björn Zethraeus and Kjell Arvidsson,^[1][2][3] as a telecommunications and cloud communications platform as a service (PaaS) company.^[4] CLX acquired numerous companies in the industry between 2009 and 2018.^[5]

In 2014, CLX acquired Voltari's mobile messaging business in the US and Canada.^[6]

After announcing its intention to proceed with an initial public offering (IPO) in September 2015,^[7][8][9] CLX completed the IPO of its shares and began trading on Nasdaq Stockholm in October 2015,^[10] with the introduction price set at SEK 59.^[11] The company is listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, on the Mid Cap list under the Technology sector.^[12]

In 2016 CLX acquired Mblox for US$117 million.^{[4][13][14][15]} At the time, Mblox was one of the largest messaging service providers in the world, delivering 7 billion messages in 2015.^[16]

In 2017, CLX acquired German provider Xura Secure Communications GmbH in February 2017,^{[citation needed]} and UK-based Dialogue in May 2017.^[17][18]

Also in 2017, CLX entered into a strategic partnership with Google "to provide the next generation of messaging services to brand marketers using Rich Communications Services (RCS) standard embedded directly into consumers' native messaging apps".^[19] Part of Google's Early Access Program (EAP), CLX will enable enterprises to build with RCS^[20] and be one of the first companies to offer an upgraded messaging experience.

In March 2018, CLX entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Danish company Unwire Communication ApS^[21] for DKK 148 million.^[22] Upon completion, CLX will become the largest CPaaS provider in the Nordic region.^[23] The following month, they announced that they had acquired Seattle-based company Vehicle for US$8 million.^[24][25]

Symsoft

 

Symsoft logo

Symsoft was founded in Stockholm in 1989, to supply charging and messaging services to mobile operators.^{[citation needed]} The company was initially founded as a consultancy company but shifted focus in the late 1990s to sell products.^{[citation needed]} Formerly listed on Nasdaq Stockholm, it provided mobile communications in the areas of Real-Time BSS, SMS and other messaging services, with SS7 security for mobile network operators (MNOs), mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) and mobile virtual network enablers (MVNEs).^{[citation needed]}

The first deployment of the Symsoft SMS real-time charging was with TeliaMobile, now Telia Company, in Sweden in 1999.^{[citation needed]} Building on the Telia case and other early projects relating to mobile messaging and real-time charging Symsoft launched the Symsoft Service Delivery Platform (formerly known as the Nobill platform).^{[citation needed]}

In 2009, CLX acquired Symsoft, which then formed the Operator Division of CLX Communications. The division offered software and services to customers in the areas of IoT platforms, real-time BSS, VAS, fraud prevention solutions^[buzzword] for revenue retention and full-service solutions^[buzzword] for virtual operators.

As of 2016, Symsoft had experience in upgrading and replacing legacy systems in the areas of BSS, Value Added Services and Security. The company serves mobile operators, MVNOs and MVNEs such as America Móvil, Virgin Mobile,^[26] Polkomtel, Saudi Telecom, Simfonics^[27] Telefónica, Telia Company, Unify Mobile^[28] and 3 in 30+ countries.

Mblox

 

Mblox logo

Mblox Inc. was a global company that provided a Carrier-grade SaaS-based mobile messaging platform^[buzzword] to enterprises, including global one-way and two-way SMS, MMS, push notifications, ring-tones, shortcodes and virtual mobile numbers. Mblox Ltd. was founded in 1999, by Andrew Bud in London, England. In 2003, MBlox, Ltd. was acquired by a newly restructured and capitalized Mobilesys, Inc.^[29] Founded by David Coelho, the company assumed the name MBlox, Inc. at Andrew Bud's insistence and operated dual headquarters in Mountainview, California, and London, England. This transaction was spearheaded by Q-Advisors, a boutique investment bank founded by Michael Quinn in 2001 and located in Denver, Colorado. The CEO of mBlox, Inc. was William "Chip" Hoffman, who architected and executed the transaction with the help of Gary Cuccio (Chairman), and Jay Emmet (COO). The new company - Mblox Inc. – became the world leader in SMS technology use and carrier clearing and billing, growing from $1.75 million in 2002 to over $2 billion in pro forma revenue by April 2004 (19 months). This growth was primarily organic with geographic expansion into over 30 countries, including London, San Francisco, Atlanta, Stockholm, Paris, Munich, Madrid, Singapore, Manila, and Sydney.

In 2003, the company acquired carrier-grade message delivery capabilities through the purchase of an SMSC from Comverse.^[30] After stepping down in mid-2004, William "Chip" Hoffman handed the reins to then-Chairman Gary Cuccio, former Senior Executive with Pacific Telesis, and COO of the wildly successful^{[citation needed]} Omnipoint Wireless. Cuccio added the CEO role to his chairmanship.

From 2005 to 2006, the company opened offices in Singapore and Australia.^[31] The year 2009 was marked by the opening of the Milan office, Italy.^[32]

• 2010: Acquired Mashmobile (Sweden)
• 2011: Added direct Latin America two-way messaging services
• 2012: Added push and rich-push messaging capability
• 2013: Opened offices in Brazil and South Africa
• 2014: Acquired Zoove and CardBoardFish; increasing reach and product offerings ^[33]
• 2015: Mblox acquired 4INFO SMS Services^[34]
• 2016: Sold Zoove^[35]
• 2016: Mblox was acquired by CLX Communications AB (Publ)^[36][37]

In December 2017, the parent company CLX Communications retired the Mblox and CardBoardFish brands.^[38]

Public criticism and fines

Starting in 2006, with the release of the globally successful "Crazy Frog" ring-tone, MBlox became a target for regulators. Since phone bills from some carriers attribute charges to the company doing the billing, rather than to the business that actually sold and provided the service, Mblox had been accused in Internet forums of enabling a process called cramming,^[39][40] or automatically signing mobile customers up for unsolicited services and billing them accordingly.^[41] As of 2008, the company had been fined 22 times for cramming-related offences, totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.^[42] Since Mblox had never had any involvement, direct or indirect, in creating or promoting such services, its responsibility was to try to prevent its customers abusing the SMS-based billing services it provided them. Following the sudden spate of problems in 2008–09, in 2010 the UK regulator Phonepay Plus commended Mblox for "a significant investment in new technology, personnel and resources to aid compliance and prevent further harm occurring to consumers from services operating over its platform."^[43] In the UK, Mblox had not been cited in any case since December 2011, at which time the regulator described its actions as "exemplary".^[44] On March 19, 2013, Mblox sold its PSMS business to OpenMarket as it chose to focus exclusively on Enterprise to Consumer mobile messaging. This brought an end to its involvement in mobile payments^[45]

Sinch

Sinch was initially founded in May 2014^[46] by Andreas Bernström in Stockholm and San Francisco. Originally the technology behind Rebtel, Sinch was spun-out with $12 million in funding, focusing on the mobile first, app developer market. Sinch launched its Voice and Instant Messaging^[47] products in May 2014, and quickly launched their SMS API^[48] product at the end of 2014.

In 2016, CLX also acquired Sinch for a total consideration of SEK 138.9 million on a debt-free basis.^[49]

Brand Unification

In February 2019, it was announced that CLX had "launched a new corporate brand and visual identity"^[50] to unify all its business units under the same name. After acquiring Sinch in 2016, they have now leveraged the brand name to encompass the entire company to "more accurately and immediately [depict] its current offerings and mission".^[51]

Sinch effectively has inherited the history of CLX Communications and is considered a different brand to the one launched in 2014.

CLX completed an initial public offering (IPO) and were listed on Nasdaq Stockholm in October 2015.^[52] Since February 2019, the company can be found on the Mid Cap list under the Technology sector^[53] under the ticker 'SINCH'.^[54][55]

In February 2021, Sinch acquired Inteliquent, an interconnection provider for voice communications, for $1.14 billion.^[56]

Competitors

Competitors are 8x8, LINK Mobility, Twilio, Infobip, and BICS (TeleSign).

Controversy

In May of 2022, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) of the United States of America sent a cease and desist letter to the Inteliquent divison of Sinch for hosting illegal robocall campaigns. ^[57] In the cease and desist letter, the FTC cited robocalls from Social Security Administration imposters, AT&T/DirecTV imposters, Utility disconnection/rebate/rate reduction scams, Auto warranty robocalls, and Credit card interest rate reduction robocalls. ^[58]

Awards

CEO and Founder Andreas was announced as one of The 9 Most Innovative People in VoIP in 2014.^[59]

See also

• Cloud communications
• GSMA
• Short Messaging Service
• Telecommunications

References

1. "CLX söker nytt skyltfönster". Dagens industri. 2015-09-07. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
2. "Glöm WhatsApp - sms-bolag gör succé och går mot börsen". Breakit (in Swedish). Retrieved 2018-04-27.
3. "Svenska techbolaget CLX intar USA – köper bolag för en miljard". Breakit (in Swedish). Retrieved 2018-06-08.
4. Alpha, Digging For (2018-05-24). "SMS Is Not Yet Dead, And CLX Communications Will Benefit From Increasing Enterprise Demand". Seeking Alpha. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
5. "Glöm WhatsApp - sms-bolag gör succé och går mot börsen". Breakit (in Swedish). Retrieved 2019-03-13.
6. "CLX Networks acquires Voltari's messaging business in NA". www.telecompaper.com. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
7. "Swedish tech company CLX to enter the stock exchange - Swedish Startup Space" (in Swedish). Retrieved 2018-04-27.
8. "Lindahl advises CLX Communications and shareholders in connection with the listing on Nasdaq Stockholm | Lindahl". www.lindahl.se. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
9. "CLX Communications lyfter i börspremiären". Affärsvärlden (in Swedish). Retrieved 2018-06-08.
10. Nasdaq (2015-10-08), CLX Communications Listing Ceremony on Nasdaq Stockholm, retrieved 2018-04-27
11. "Final Offer Price for CLX Communications' Initial Public Offering Set at SEK 59 Per Share – Trading on Nasdaq Stockholm Commences Today". www.businesswire.com. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
12. "Nordic Mid Cap - Listed Companies - Nasdaq". www.nasdaqomxnordic.com. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
13. "CLX Acquires mBlox for $117M Cash". The Wall Street Journal. 2016-07-12. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
14. "Svenskt mobilbolag köper amerikanska konkurrent för en miljard". IT24 (in Swedish). Retrieved 2018-04-27.
15. "CLX Communications offers to acquire Sinch". webrtc.digest. 2016-12-09. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
16. "Mission complete: CLX Communications fully acquires Mblox". Retrieved 2018-06-08.
17. "Dialogue snapped up for £32m by Swedish group". Insider Media Ltd. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
18. "Svenskt SMS-företag köper konkurrent för 370 miljoner". digital.di.se. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
19. "CLX Communications and Waterfall to Modernize Mobile Messaging via Google Early Access Program to RCS Business Messaging | Malaysia Global Business Forum". www.malaysiaglobalbusinessforum.com. March 2017. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
20. "Mobile messaging gets rich as Google opens up its Early Access Program to RCS business messaging | Telemedia Online". Telemedia Online. 2017-02-24. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
21. CNBC (2018-03-22). "CLX acquires Unwire, strengthening its platform and customer base in the Nordic region". CNBC. Retrieved 2018-04-27.
22. "CLX Communications sending an acquisitive message". www.capacitymedia.com. 3 May 2018. Retrieved 2018-06-08.
23. "CLX Communications AB (publ) strengthens its Nordic position by acquiring Unwire, a Danish cloud communications provider - NASDAQ.com". NASDAQ.com. Retrieved 2018-03-23.
24. "CLX förvärvar Vehicle". Realtid (in Swedish). Retrieved 2018-04-16.
25. "CLX förvärvar amerikanskt bolag". Affärsvärlden (in Swedish). Retrieved 2018-06-08.
26. Symsoft, Friendi deploy Nobill MVNO platform in Jordan
27. "Symsoft, Simfonics partner on M2M services". www.telecompaper.com. 10 May 2011.
28. "Unify Mobile has selected Symsoft to provide an SMS delivery solution". News Powered by Cision. 24 June 2010. Retrieved 23 June 2022.
29. "Mobilesys Secures $8M". Wall-Street-Journal. 24 June 2003.
30. "Comverse Powering UK SMS Marketing Provider". Cellular News. 3 June 2020.
31. Murphy, David. "mBlox Opens Singapore Office". Mobile Marketing Magazine.
32. "mBlox Opens New Office in Italy in Response to Market Potential". WirelessDevNet.com.
33. "Mblox Acquires CardBoardFish and Zoove". Reuters. 13 June 2023.^{[dead link]}
34. "Mblox Acquires 4INFO's SMS Services". BusinessWire. 27 May 2015.
35. "Virtual Hold Technology Acquires Zoove to Revolutionize How Customers Connect With Brands". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved 2016-03-31.
36. "CLX acquires Mblox, strengthening its position as one of the global leaders in enterprise cloud communications - CLX Communications AB (publ)". cws.huginonline.com. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
37. "It's Official! CLX Completes Acquisition of Mblox - CLX". CLX. 2016-07-12. Retrieved 2017-03-10.
38. "CLX Retiring MBlox Brand, Looks to Drive Enterprise Messaging with CPaaS Offer". www.virtualofficeresource.com. Retrieved 2017-12-20.
39. The Alphaville Herald: The Great SMS Cramming Game
40. Gordon's Notes: Crammed: Mblox $9.99 a month
41. New York Times: To Stop Cellphone Cramming, Don't Let It Start
42. Mirror: Mblox fined again over premium rate phonelines
43. PhonepayPlus Consent Orders 13 May 2010
44. PhonepayPlus Adjudication against Wild ACE Marketing Limited 8 December 2011 21 December 2012 at the Wayback Machine
45. "MBlox Sells PSMS Business to OpenMarket | Mobile Marketing Magazine".
46. "Rebtel Spins Out Sinch, With $12M In Funding, To Offer Communications Tools To Developers". TechCrunch. 14 May 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
47. Schick, Shane (27 May 2014). "In-app messaging: Why more developers will want voice and SMS in their apps". FierceDeveloper. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
48. "Sinch Goes Global With SMS API For Developers". TechCrunch. 17 December 2014. Retrieved 13 January 2015.
49. "CLX Communications offers to acquire Sinch". webrtc.digest. 2016-12-09. Retrieved 2018-04-16.
50. "CLX rebrands as Sinch | Mobile Marketing Magazine". mobilemarketingmagazine.com. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
51. "Making Business Messaging a Sinch". Insight for the Connected Enterprise. 2019-02-14. Retrieved 2019-02-20.
52. Nasdaq (2015-10-08), CLX Communications Listing Ceremony on Nasdaq Stockholm, retrieved 2019-03-13
53. "Nordic Mid Cap - Listed Companies - Nasdaq". www.nasdaqomxnordic.com. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
54. Farmbrough, Heather. "It's A Sinch: How A Swedish Cloud Platform Is Probably Sending You Text Messages Today". Forbes. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
55. "CLX Communications AB (publ): CLX Communications unifies its business under a shared identity and rebrands as Sinch, 13 Feb 2019 07:00 | Shares Magazine". www.sharesmagazine.co.uk. Retrieved 2019-03-13.
56. "Sinch acquires Inteliquent for $1.14B to take on Twilio in the US". TechCrunch. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
57. "Warning Letter to Inteliquent, Inc". FTC.gov. 10 May 2022.
58. Reference document (PDF). United States Federal Trade Commission.
59. "The 9 Most Innovative People in VoIP in 2014". GetVoIP. Retrieved 13 January 2015.