ItsOn

ItsOn was the first company to develop and commercialize a network function virtualization (NFV) platform that replaced the traditional hardware-based 3GPP policy control plane. ItsOn's cloud-based software enabled mobile operators to create and sell new services and provide users the ability to purchase mobile services in real-time directly from their smart devices.{{cite news |last=Kim |first=Ryan |date=October 30, 2012 |title=With $15M from Andreessen Horowitz, ItsOn wants to arm operators with options |url=http://gigaom.com/2012/10/30/with-15m-from-andreessen-horowitz-itson-wants-to-arm-operators-with-options/ |newspaper=GIGAOM |publisher=GIGAOM, Inc. |access-date=December 3, 2013 |archive-date=September 14, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130914102236/http://gigaom.com/2012/10/30/with-15m-from-andreessen-horowitz-itson-wants-to-arm-operators-with-options/ |url-status=dead }}

The ItsOn technology platform overlaid existing infrastructure and extended service policy control to the edge of the network.{{cite news |last=Primack |first=Dan |date=October 30, 2012 |title=The Future of Mobile Service Plans? |url=http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/10/30/itson-mobile/ |newspaper=CNN Money |publisher=Cable News Network |access-date=December 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204181941/http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/10/30/itson-mobile/ |archive-date=February 4, 2014 |url-status=dead }} The platform worked with existing billing systems and networks. The overlay consisted of a service controller, a service design center, and device clients.{{ cite patent |country=US |number= 8583781 |status=patent}}{{ cite patent |country=US |number= 8441989 |status=patent}}{{ cite patent |country=US |number= 8355337 |status=patent}}

ItsOn's services enabled mobile operators to respond to mobile users’ changing needs. Rather than choose from a limited selection of predefined plans, mobile users could purchase exact amounts of each type of service desired.{{cite news |last=Vance |first=Jeff |date=January 7, 2013 |title=10 Mobile Startups to Watch |url=http://www.networkworld.com/slideshow/80439/10-mobile-startups-to-watch.html#slide6 |newspaper=Network World |publisher=IDG |access-date=December 5, 2013}} Data could be purchased by quantity (for all uses) or for specific applications (such as Facebook).{{cite news |last=Milian |first=Mark |date=October 30, 2012 |title=Coming to a Mobile Plan Near You: Pay Just for E-Mail or Facebook |url=http://go.bloomberg.com/tech-deals/2012-10-30-coming-to-a-mobile-plan-near-you-pay-just-for-e-mail-or-facebook/ |newspaper=Bloomberg |publisher=Bloomberg LP |access-date=December 3, 2013}} Service plans could be shared between devices and family members as determined by the account owner. Service plans could be changed as devices and user habits changed. Child curfews could be defined and applied to both mobile and Wi-Fi networks.{{cite news |last=Bennett |first=Brian |date=May 13, 2013 |title=Zact Touts Lower Phone Bills |url=http://reviews.cnet.com/8301-6452_7-57583992/zact-touts-lower-phone-bills/ |newspaper=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=December 5, 2013}} Users were notified as they approached usage limits.{{cite news |last=McCracken |first=Harry |date=May 13, 2013 |title=Zact: Build Your Own Wireless Plan, Down to the Last Detail |url=https://techland.time.com/2013/05/13/zact-build-your-own-wireless-plan-down-to-the-last-detail/ |newspaper=Time |publisher=Time Inc. |access-date=December 3, 2013}}

ItsOn's services allowed operators to introduce self-service capabilities that reduced the need for expensive and time-consuming telephone and in-store support. Users could 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 services enabled advertisers and businesses with rewards programs to provide sponsored services.{{cite news |last=Fried |first=Ina |date=October 30, 2012 |title=Andreessen-Backed Start-Up ItsOn Raises $15 Million to Help Make Mobile Service More Flexible |url=http://allthingsd.com/20121030/andreesen-backed-start-up-itson-raises-15-million-to-help-make-mobile-service-more-flexible/ |newspaper=All Things Digital |publisher=Dow Jones & Co. |access-date=December 3, 2013}} Operators could offer “MVNO-in-a-box” solutions that allow value-added resellers to package devices with services.{{cite news |last=Kolodny |first=Lora |date=November 1, 2012 |title= Marc Andreessen: 'The Dot-Com Bust Was Basically A Mistake' |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2012/11/01/marc-andreessen-the-dot-com-bust-was-basically-a-mistake/ |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |publisher=Dow Jones & Company |access-date=December 3, 2013}} The ItsOn client application also served as a vehicle for upselling premium services such as international roaming.

The ItsOn platform could 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 could 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.{{cite news |last=Cutler |first=Kim-Mai |date=October 30, 2012 |title=Are Flexible Mobile Data Plans Finally Here? Andreessen Horowitz Leads $15.5M Round In ItsOn |url=https://techcrunch.com/2012/10/30/itson-andreessen/ |newspaper=TechCrunch |publisher=AOL, Inc. |access-date=December 5, 2013}}

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.{{cite news |last=Carew |first=Sinead |date=October 30, 2012 |title= Andreessen Horowitz leads $15.5 million funding of ItsOn mobile firm |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/net-us-itson-andreessenhorowitz-idUSBRE89T0ES20121030 |newspaper=Reuters |publisher=Thomson Reuters |access-date=December 3, 2013}}{{cite news |last=Delevett |first=Peter |date=October 30, 2012 |title=Former Cisco Exec Charlie Giancarlo Takes Startup ItsOn out of Stealth Mode |url=http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_21885717/charlie-giancarlo-onetime-heir-apparent-at-cisco-takes |newspaper=San Jose Mercury News |publisher=Media News Group |access-date=December 5, 2013}}

ItsOn announced its Zact Mobile service in May 2013.{{cite news |last=Kharif |first=Olga |date=May 16, 2013 |title= Innovator: Greg Raleigh's Zact, Pay-as-You-Go Custom Wireless |url=http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-05-16/innovator-greg-raleighs-zact-pay-as-you-go-custom-wireless |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130608181020/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-05-16/innovator-greg-raleighs-zact-pay-as-you-go-custom-wireless |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 8, 2013 |newspaper=BusinessWeek |publisher=Bloomberg |access-date=December 3, 2013}} 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.{{cite news |last=Kolodny |first=Olga |date=November 4, 2013 |title= Zact Mobile Goes from Launch to Best Buy in Four Months |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2013/11/04/zact-mobile-goes-from-launch-to-best-buy-in-four-months/ |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |publisher=Dow Jones & Co. |access-date=December 3, 2013}}

On December 10, 2015, ItsOn announced its $12.5m raised in funding led by Delta Partners Group, with participation from several of existing investors, including Verizon Ventures, Andreessen Horowitz and Tenaya Capital.{{Cite web|title = ItsOn Raises $12.5M From Verizon, A16Z, More To Help Carriers Sell Tailored Data Services|url = https://techcrunch.com/2015/12/10/itson-raises-12-5m-from-verizon-a16z-and-more-so-carriers-can-sell-tailored-data-services/|website = TechCrunch|access-date = 2015-12-10|first = Ingrid|last = Lunden}}{{cite web|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/itson-raises-125-million-to-help-finance-worldwide-expansion-of-smart-services-platform-300191001.html

|title=ItsOn raises $12.5 million to help finance worldwide expansion of Smart Services™ platform|access-date = 9 June 2016 |editor=PR News Wire}}

In January 2018 Movistar Mexico announced that its service based on the ItsOn product was being discontinued due to the company liquidation.{{Cite web|url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/telefonica-to-phase-out-mexican-customer-services-app-movistar-on--1228917|title=Telefonica to phase out Mexican customer services app 'Movistar On'|website=www.telecompaper.com|access-date=2018-01-31}}

• Network virtualization
• Cellular network
• Cloud computing
• Telecommunications billing

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website}}
• {{URL|http://www.zact.com/|Zact website}}

Category:Companies based in Redwood Shores, California

Category:Telecommunications companies of the United States

Category:Defunct software companies of the United States