Fonix
{{Short description |London-based mobile payments and messaging provider}}
{{For|the roller coaster|Fønix (roller coaster)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox dot-com company
| name = Fonix Mobile Plc
| former_name = Orca Digital
| logo = Fonix-logo-2022.png
| company_type = Public company
| traded_as = {{lse |FNX }}
| industry = Payment service
| foundation = {{Start date and age |2006}}
| founder = Will Neale, Rob Weisz
| location_city = London
| location_country = United Kingdom
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = Rob Weisz (CEO), Michael Foulkes (CFO), Edward Spurrier (Chairman), Will Neale (Non-Executive Director), Carmel Warren (Non-Executive Director){{cite web|title=Fonix: Tech Track 100|url=http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/company_profile/fonix-mobile/|website=Fast Track|accessdate=27 January 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202161041/http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/company_profile/fonix-mobile/|url-status=dead}}
| num_employees =
| url = {{URL|http://fonix.com/}}
| current_status = Active
}}
Fonix is a British payment company that provides a mobile payments and a mobile messaging platform. The company is headquartered in London.
Its services are used by the media, entertainment, telecoms, enterprise and commerce sectors{{cite web|last1=Skeldon|first1=Paul|title=Fonix and Impulsepay fly the flag for carrier billing in Tech Track 100|url=http://www.telemediaonline.co.uk/fonix-impulsepay-fly-flag-carrier-billing-real-world/|website=Telemedia Online|date=September 13, 2016 |accessdate=26 January 2017}} and Fonix has connections to all of the UK mobile networks. When consumers make payments, they are charged to their mobile phone bill. This service can be used for ticketing, content, cash deposits and donations.
The company was founded in 2006 and it has partnerships with Vodafone (of which it is a platinum partner), EE Limited, Telefónica UK Limited and Hutchison 3G.{{cite web|last1=n/a|title=Accredited Partners|url=https://b2benablers.vodafone.co.uk/partners/accredited-partners|website=Vodafone|accessdate=26 January 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202123654/https://b2benablers.vodafone.co.uk/partners/accredited-partners|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last1=n/a|title=Tech Track 100|url=http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/company_profile/fonix-mobile/|website=Fast Track|accessdate=26 January 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202161041/http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/company_profile/fonix-mobile/|url-status=dead}} Fonix's clients include ITV (TV network), Global, TNT Sports, Bauer and BBC Children in Need, Comic Relief and more.
History
Fonix was originally named Orca Digital and was founded in 2006 in Chiswick, London. Orca Digital focused upon mobile telephony and providing interactive services to the media and entertainment sectors.{{cite web|last1=n/a|title=Orca Digital launches VoiPay – a new premium web telephony platform|url=http://www.mynewsdesk.com/uk/pressreleases/orca-digital-launches-voipay-a-new-premium-web-telephony-platform-694693|website=My News Desk|accessdate=27 January 2017}}
In 2014, Orca Digital relaunched as Fonix Mobile under CEO Rob Weisz. At this point, the business became focused upon mobile operator payments and mobile messaging services to a range of sectors including media, charity, telecoms, enterprise, gaming and entertainment.{{cite web|last1=n/a|title=Tech Track 100|url=http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/company_profile/fonix-mobile/|website=Fast Track|accessdate=27 January 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202161041/http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/company_profile/fonix-mobile/|url-status=dead}}
Since 2014, Fonix has secured contracts with Channel 5,{{cite web|last1=n/a|title=Channel 5 Select Fonix For Two Year Agreement For All Mobile Interactive Services|url=http://aimelink.org/channel-5-select-fonix-for-two-year-agreement-for-all-mobile-interactive-services/|website=aime|date=September 2014 |accessdate=27 January 2017}} Sport Relief,{{cite web|last1=n/a|title=Sport Relief Legal|url=http://www.sportrelief.com/legal.|website=Sport Relief|accessdate=27 January 2017}} Children in Need,{{cite web|title=ViewRanger keeps The One Show Rickshaw Challenge riders on track|url=http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/viewranger-keeps-the-one-show-rickshaw-challenge-riders-on-t8203/|website=Cambridge Network|accessdate=27 January 2017}} Unicef (Soccer Aid),{{Cite web |title=Soccer Aid |url=https://www.fonix.com/case-studies/soccer-aid/ |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=Fonix |language=en-GB}} TNT Sport, ITV,{{Cite web |title=ITV |url=https://www.fonix.com/case-studies/itv/ |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=Fonix |language=en-GB}} Stand Up To Cancer,{{Cite web |title=Stand Up To Cancer |url=https://www.fonix.com/case-studies/stand-up-to-cancer/ |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=Fonix |language=en-GB}} Ruth Strauss and many more.
In 2015 and 2016, Fonix was listed in the Sunday Times Hiscox Tech Track, ranking 34th and 28th respectively. In 2015 and 2016, Fonix ranked 50th and 37th in the Deloitte Fast 50 respectively.{{cite web|last1=Skeldon|first1=Paul|title=Fonix ranks 50th in the 2015 Deloitte Technology Fast 50 2015 after two years of trading|url=http://www.telemediaonline.co.uk/fonix-ranks-50th-in-the-2015-deloitte-technology-fast-50-2015-after-two-years-of-trading/|website=Telemedia Online|date=November 27, 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}{{cite web|title=Fast 50 Winners 2016|url=http://www.fast50.co.uk/2016-winners/2016-winners.aspx|website=Deloitte|accessdate=27 January 2017}} In 2015 and 2016, Fonix ranked 363rd and 238th respectively in the Deloitte Technology Fast 500.{{cite web|title=2015 Technology Fast 500TM Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) Ranking|url=https://www2.deloitte.com/content/dam/Deloitte/global/Documents/Technology-Media-Telecommunications/gx-deloitte-tmt-emea-fast500-2015-rankings.pdf|website=Deloitte|accessdate=27 January 2017}}{{cite web|title=Fast 500 Winners|url=https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/technology-media-and-telecommunications/articles/fast500-winners.html|website=Deloitte|accessdate=27 January 2017}} In 2016 and 2017, Fonix won the [http://www.momas.co.uk/ Moma Award] for the Not for Profit/Charity Mobile Strategy/Campaign of the year. This was to recognise their use of SMS for collecting gift aid for the 2015 Children in Need Campaign.{{cite web|title=Momas 2016|url=http://www.momas.co.uk/momas/momas-2016#22952|website=Momas|date=October 27, 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}
Fonix went public at the London Stock exchange (AIM) in October 2020. The company successfully raised £45m with a market capitalisation on admission of £90m, growing to £240m by August 2024.{{Cite web|title=London Stock Exchange welcomes Fonix Mobile Plc to AIM - Welcome Story At London Stock Exchange {{!}} London Stock Exchange|url=https://www.londonstockexchange.com/discover/news-and-insights/london-stock-exchange-welcomes-fonix-mobile-plc-aim|access-date=2020-10-21|website=www.londonstockexchange.com}}
Process
Fonix's service works by charging digital payments to the mobile phone bill, either via Carrier Billing or SMS Billing.{{cite web|last1=PYMNTS|title=Fonix To Handle BuyGameCredit Purchases On Xbox Live, PlayStation|url=http://www.pymnts.com/news/payment-methods/2016/fonix-buygamecredit-xbox-playstation-purchases/|website=PYMNTS|date=September 2, 2016 |accessdate=30 January 2017}} Fonix also offers messaging solutions.{{cite news |last1=Skeldon |first1=Paul |title=Mr |url=https://www.telemediaonline.co.uk/85969-2/ |accessdate=23 January 2019 |agency=World Telemedia |publisher=World Telemedia}}
= Carrier billing =
APIs are used to charge users to their phone bills through desktop, mobile or apps.{{cite web|last1=n/a|title=Fonix: Tech Track 100|url=http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/company_profile/fonix-mobile/|website=Fast Track|accessdate=26 January 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202161041/http://www.fasttrack.co.uk/company_profile/fonix-mobile/|url-status=dead}} Fonix's Carrier Billing services can be used for ticketing (e.g. parking tickets and cinema tickets), content (e.g. paying for film or magazines) and cash deposits.{{Cite web |title=Mobile Carrier Billing payments |url=https://www.fonix.com/payment/ |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=Fonix |language=en-GB}}
= SMS billing =
Fonix's API charges customers to their phone bills via SMS.{{cite web|last1=Alert Logic Product Marketing Team|title=Fonix Mobile - Mobile and billing system security in Amazon Web Services (aws)|url=https://www.alertlogic.com/blog/fonix-mobile-mobile-and-billing-system-security-in-amazon-web-services-(aws)/|website=Alert Logic|accessdate=27 January 2017|archive-date=February 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202030810/https://www.alertlogic.com/blog/fonix-mobile-mobile-and-billing-system-security-in-amazon-web-services-(aws)/|url-status=dead}} This means that customers can purchase services or make charitable donations and are charged by sending the text message.{{cite web|last1=Skeldon|first1=Paul|title=BBC Children in Need breaks all time text to donate record with Fonix|url=http://www.telemediaonline.co.uk/bbc-children-in-need-breaks-all-time-text-to-donate-record-with-fonix/|website=Telemedia Online|date=November 25, 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}{{cite web|last1=Skeldon|first1=Paul|title=Heart Radio embraces mobile listeners whose heart voice shortcodes - volume increase dramatically|url=http://www.telemediaonline.co.uk/heart-radio-embraces-mobile-listeners-whos-heart-voice-shortcodes-volume-increase-dramatically/|website=Telemedia Online|date=May 19, 2016 |accessdate=27 January 2017}} The service is most commonly used for digital purchases, such as content, donations, voting, competitions and polls.{{cite web|last1=Liggero|first1=Rebecca|title=Rob Weisz on introducing mobile payments in the online gambling industry|url=http://calvinayre.com/2015/11/16/business/introducing-mobile-payments-for-online-gambling-bl-video/|website=Calvin Ayre|date=November 16, 2015 |accessdate=27 January 2017}}{{Cite web |title=Mobile Interactivity and SMS payments |url=https://www.fonix.com/interactive/ |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=Fonix |language=en-GB}}
= Messaging =
Fonix's messaging services have the capability to send and receive SMS online, via an API or via SMPP. RCS messaging can be used to send richer message content.{{cite news |last1=Giles |first1=Hannah |title=Fonix joins Google's RCS Messaging Early Access Program |url=https://blog.fonix.com/fonix-joins-googles-rcs-messaging-early-access-program-ca9995851f45 |accessdate=23 January 2019 |publisher=Fonix Mobile}}{{Cite web |title=Send and receive text messages |url=https://www.fonix.com/products/messaging-api/ |access-date=2022-08-03 |website=Fonix |language=en-GB}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website|https://www.fonix.com/}}