InternetQ

InternetQ was founded in 2000 by their current chief executive officer Panagiotis Dimitropoulos as a website design and development company. It later began offering mobile marketing services.{{cite web|title=Internetq Plc|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot_article.asp?ticker=INTQ:LN|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140507163841/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/snapshot/snapshot_article.asp?ticker=INTQ:LN|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 7, 2014|publisher=Bloomberg Businessweek}} In 2005 it received investment from NBGI Private Equity, and established InternetQ UK. The company also opened offices in New York in the United States and Warsaw, Poland in 2006. Its expansion continued elsewhere in Europe, including to various CIS countries.{{cite web|title=New Polish Offices for Internetq|url=http://www.nbgipe.com/ventures/news/news-article/items/New_Polish_Offices/|publisher=NBGI Private Equity}}

In 2010 the company was listed on the London's AIM stock exchange and further expanded its operations into Latin America, Middle East and Africa.

Akazoo was InternetQ's first social media and social networking product. It was developed in 2007 and launched in 2008. It allowed users to share text, photos and videos, to chat and play games together.{{cite web|title=Case Study: Akazoo.gr|url=http://www.diyomisoft.com/portfolidiyomisoft.pdf|publisher=Diyomi Soft Ltd}}

At the Mobile World Congress in February 2012, InternetQ launched the Akazoo social music platform for operators.{{cite web|title=InternetQ launches Akazoo music service|url=http://www.mobileeurope.co.uk/video/popular/internetq-launches-akazoo-music-service|publisher=Mobile Europe}} An expansion on its previous platform, Akazoo 2.0 included functions to allow users to play, download, share, and access local and international music.{{cite web|title=InternetQ debuts Akazoo social music platform for operators at Mobile World Congress|url=http://news.cision.com/internetq/r/internetq-debuts-akazoo-social-music-platform-for-operators-at-mobile-world-congress,c9224408|publisher=Cision}}

Before the Mobile World Congress in 2013, InternetQ launched a new product, called Minimob.com, targeted to developers and publishers of applications.{{cite web|title=InternetQ PLC Launches New Product|url=http://in.reuters.com/finance/stocks/INTQ.L/key-developments/article/2687884|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517114831/http://in.reuters.com/finance/stocks/INTQ.L/key-developments/article/2687884|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-05-17|publisher=Reuters}}

On December 10, 2010 the company was listed on the London's AIM stock exchange. It was listed with a market cap of £31 million, and ended up raising £6.8 million during its initial offering.{{cite web|last=Lunden|first=Ingrid|title=Internetq: UK IPO Pegs Mobile Marketing Company at $50 Million|date=10 December 2010|url=http://gigaom.com/2010/12/10/419-internetq-uk-ipo-pegs-mobile-marketing-company-at-50-million/|publisher=Gigaom}} The company also further expanded its operations into Latin America, the Middle East and Africa.{{cite web|title=InternetQ lists with a 31m market cap|url=http://www.stockmarketwire.com/article/4031043/InternetQ-lists-with-31m-market-cap.html|publisher=StockkMarketWire.com}}

InternetQ is a member of the [https://archive.today/20140620110410/http://www.mefmobile.org/Members/members-service/member/236 MEF] global trade association and has an international Board of Directors.{{cite web|title=Mef Member InternetQ|url=http://www.mefmobile.org/Members/members-service/member/236|publisher=Mefmobile|access-date=2014-06-20|archive-url=https://archive.today/20140620110410/http://www.mefmobile.org/Members/members-service/member/236|archive-date=2014-06-20|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Mef Asia Board|url=http://www.mefmobile.org/Regions/mef-asia/board}}

In 2011 InternetQ announced the acquisition of IPOP Networks PTE, a Singapore-based mobile and media services business that serves mobile network operators, FMCG companies, creative agencies and traditional media companies, expanding InternetQ's footprint in the Southeast Asia region.

In 2012, InternetQ announced an investment in Aventurine SA, a digital game development company, specializing in online multiplayer role-playing games like Darkfall, and casual games for both online and mobile use.{{cite web|title=Investment in Aventurine|url=http://www.internetq.com/company-news/investment-aventurine}}

InternetQ started 2013 with the acquisition of Atlas Interactive Deutschland GmbH. This move increased the company's reach with mobile network operators in Eastern, Western, and Central Europe.{{cite web|title=InternetQ acquires Atlas Interactive Deutschland|date=17 July 2013|url=http://www.vcpost.com/articles/11321/20130717/internetq-acquires-atlas-interactive-deutschland.htm|publisher=Venture Capital Post}} The company further expanded into Latin American markets at the beginning of 2014, entering an agreement to acquire Interacel Holdings LLC, a mobile service provider in the region{{cite web|title=InternetQ PLC acquires Interacel to accelerate Latin American expansion|url=http://in.reuters.com/finance/stocks/INTQ.L/key-developments/article/2902237|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514045522/http://in.reuters.com/finance/stocks/INTQ.L/key-developments/article/2902237|url-status=dead|archive-date=2014-05-14|publisher=Reuters}} and UpMobile a mobile marketing and interactive TV and radio content provider in Mexico.{{cite web|title=InternetQ acquires UpMobile, its second Latin American acquisition in 2014 |url=http://latam.portada-online.com/2014/06/18/internetq-acquires-upmobile-its-second-latin-american-acquisition-in-2014/|publisher=Portada Online}}{{cite web|title=InternetQ plc: Acquisition of UpMobile|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/article/2014-06-16/ahFYtqww2gw4.html|publisher=Bloomberg}}

InternetQ partners with mobile network operators, internet service providers, mobile device manufacturers and app stores and runs campaigns on traditional media, text and voice services, smartphones and tablets.

Sony reached a deal with InternetQ in 2013, with the tech giant agreeing to pre-load Akazoo onto new smartphones it sells in Malaysia, and to provide users with three months of free music streaming.{{cite web|last1=Ashcroft|first1=Jamie|title=InternetQ: Akazoo's Sony tie-up is a major endorsement.|date=29 August 2014|url=http://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/companies/news/61284/internetq-akazoos-sony-tie-up-is-a-major-endorsement-61284.html}} This deal came on the heels of a similar agreement with Samsung earlier in 2013, with Samsung agreeing to load Akazoo onto its various smartphones and tablets throughout Greece.{{cite web|title=Samsung and Akazoo: Going for a Song!|url=http://www.internetq.com/blog/samsung-and-akazoo-going-song|publisher=InternetQ}} In the summer of 2013 Orange reached a bundle agreement and launched its Muzyka Tu i Tam service with Akazoo during the Orange Warsaw Music Festival.{{cite web|title=aktywuj i słuchaj swojej ulubionej muzyki dzięki usłudze Muzyka Tu i Tam|url=http://www.orange.pl/muzyka-tu-i-tam.phtml|publisher=Orange}}{{cite web|title=Muzyka Tu i Tam|url=http://www.muza.orange.pl/|publisher=Orange}}{{cite web|title=Muzyka Tu i Tam|url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=pl.orange.muza|publisher=Google Play}}

Akazoo is InternetQ's social music streaming platform. It allows for payment via mobile platforms, cutting out the need for a credit card in places where banking infrastructures are less established.{{cite web|title=Akazoo: Description, Go Live Time, Territories, How They Sell Your Music, Pay Rate|url=http://help.tunecore.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/343/~/akazoo%3A-description,-go-live-time,-territories,-how-they-sell-your-music,-pay|publisher=TuneCore}} Akazoo is sold direct to consumers or can be ‘white labelled’ by mobile operators, brands and device manufacturers.

One of InternetQ's original products was MobiDialog, a mobile marketing platform through which third party advertisers could submit messages to users and track interactions. Advertisements are delivered via SMS and include polling surveys, sweepstakes, coupons, mobile games and mobile music.

In 2013, InternetQ launched MiniMob.com. This platform was developed specially for application developers and publishers, who use it for mobile advertising to promote their apps.

Polish news sources report that InternetQ subsidiary Mobile Dialogue engaged in controversial marketing practices aimed at subscribing users to paid services. This activity took place mostly through Facebook. News items were placed into users feeds. When a user attempted to view these items they were prompted for their cellphone number and a PIN. According to Polish news reports, users were then led into subscribing to the paid services.{{cite news|title=Uwaga na kolejny scam na Facebooku "Tragiczny wypadek w centrum, dwie osoby nie żyją."|url=http://sopee.net/index.php/uwaga-na-kolejny-scam-na-facebooku-tragiczny-wypadek-w-centrum-dwie-osoby-nie-zyja/}}{{cite news|title=Polscy facebookowicze znowu dali się nabrać na scam|url=http://www.benchmark.pl/aktualnosci/facebook-sms-scam-gimnazjalistki-sloneczko-ciaza-wideo.html}}{{cite news|title=AKTUALIZACJA: Oszust spamuje SMSami i namawia ofiary do zapisania się w płatnej subskrypcji|url=http://www.spidersweb.pl/2012/12/oszust-spamuje-smsami-namawia-ofiary-zapisania-sie-platnej-subskrypcji.html}}{{cite news|title=Nowe oszustwo na Facebooku - nie daj się nabrać! Nie płać SMS za dostęp do filmu opisującego fikcyjny wypadek|url=http://technologie.gazeta.pl/internet/1,104530,14644691,Nowe_oszustwo_na_Facebooku___nie_daj_sie_nabrac__Nie.html}}

In November 2011 InternetQ was sued in Polish courts over an SMS lottery they had been conducting. The plaintiffs argued that they received an SMS claiming that they had won 20,000 PLN (approx 4,700 EUR) and all they had to do was reply with a blank SMS. While they were charged for sending the SMS, they received no payout. The court initially found for the plaintiff and awarded damages of 60,000 PLN (approx 14,000 EUR), but this was overturned on appeal. The case brought discussion about the structure of Polish anti-spam laws, which did not successfully prevent such situations.{{cite news|title=Polish competition watchdog fines Internetq |url=http://www.telecompaper.com/news/polish-competition-watchdog-fines-internetq--977080}}{{cite news|title=Decision no. RPZ-30/2010|url=https://webgate.ec.europa.eu/ucp/public/index.cfm?event=public.cases.showCasePop&caseID=206&articleID=199&elemID=199&countryID=PL}}{{cite news|title=Poland: UOKiK Investigates Text Message Lotteries |url=http://www.mondaq.com/x/114896/Trade+Regulation+Practices/UOKiK+Investigates+Text+Message+Lotteries}}{{cite news|title=Price(less) SMS - activities of UOKiK and UKE|url=http://www.en.uke.gov.pl/priceless-sms-activities-of-uokik-and-uke-630}}{{cite news|title=Civil law, case VI C 143/11|url=http://rychlicki.net/en/2012/03/24/8216/}}{{cite news|title=Nieuczciwy marketing mobilny w ostatnich decyzjach Prezes UOKiK(Polish)|url=http://prawo.vagla.pl/node/9325}} As of 2011, claims against InternetQ in Poland related to their mobile marketing practices totaled €432,000.{{cite news|title=2011 Annual Report|url=http://www.internetq.com/sites/default/files/financial/INTQ_Annual%20Report%20and%20Accounts%202011.pdf}}

A report published by [https://www.qcmfunds.com/ Quintessential Capital Management] firm, an American hedge fund based in New York, on Sunday, April 19, 2020 claimed that InternetQ's Akazoo has been deceiving investors.{{cite web |title=Akazoo S.A.: You Only Live Twice! / Akazoo has deceived investors for the last time |url=https://www.qcmfunds.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Quintessential-Akazoo-Report.pdf |publisher=Quintessential Capital Management}} The firm's stock immediately tumbled in NASDAQ trading and eventually was suspended trading.{{cite news |last1=Nimmo |first1=Jamie Nimmo |title=Market Report: Pressure mounts on InternetQ as shares crash |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/sharewatch/market-report-pressure-mounts-on-internetq-as-shares-crash-a6759766.html |work=Independent |date=4 December 2015}} On October 27, 2021 the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) said it had settled charges against the firm for $38.8 million after the firm allegedly defrauded investors out of tens of millions of dollars.{{cite web |last1=Prentice |first1=Chris |last2=Singh |first2=Kanishka |title=Music streamer Akazoo agrees to $38.8-million settlement over SEC fraud charges |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/sec-says-music-streaming-firm-204219392.html |website=Yahoo Finance |publisher=Yahoo }}

For the year ended 31 December 2013 InternetQ reported €104.42 million in revenue, a 42% increase over 2012. Profit before tax was €9.01 million and total assets accounted for €111.89 million.{{cite web|title=InternetQ PLC, Annual report and accounts 2013|url=http://www.internetq.com/sites/default/files/financial/Annual%20Report%202013.pdf|publisher=internetq.com}}

{{Reflist}}

Category:Information technology companies of Greece

Category:Marketing companies of the United Kingdom