J2 Global#MyFax

J2 Global was founded in December 1995 as JFax.com by Jaye Muller and Jack Rieley.{{cite web |title=The Fax Of Business Life |url=https://www.forbes.com/2004/02/04/cx_ah_0204j2global.html |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=Forbes |date=2004-02-04}} The company changed its registered name to J2 Global Communications, Inc. in August 2000,{{cite web |url=https://investor.j2global.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=197687 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131202230030/http://investor.j2global.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=197687|date=2000-08-10 |archive-date=2013-12-02 |title=JFAX.COM Evolves to Become j2 Global Communications; Company is Launching New Business Services, New Website, and New Name}} J2 Press Release: JFAX.COM Evolves to Become J2 Global Communications; Company is Launching New Business Services, New Website, and New Name. August 10, 2000, Retrieved on May 23, 2012. and again to J2 Global on December 7, 2011, dropping "Communications" from its official name to reflect "…expansion from phone-number-centric services…into complementary lines of non-phone-number-centric services."{{cite web |url=https://investor.ziffdavis.com/news-events/news/news-details/2011/j2-Global-Communications-Inc-Becomes-j2-Global-Inc/default.aspx |title=j2 Global Communications, Inc. Becomes J2 Global, Inc. |publisher=Ziff-Davis |date=2011-12-07 |access-date=2024-03-18}}

File:Jfax founders 1996 nyc.jpg On November 12, 2012, J2 Global launched its digital media division with the acquisition of digital publisher Ziff Davis for $167 million in cash.{{cite news |url=https://investor.ziffdavis.com/news-events/news/news-details/2012/j2-Global-Acquires-Ziff-Davis-Inc/default.aspx |title=j2 Global Acquires Ziff Davis, Inc. |date=2012-11-12 |access-date=2024-03-18}} On February 4, 2013, J2 Global acquired IGN Entertainment from News Corporation.{{cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikkain/2013/02/04/ign-entertainment-sold-to-j2-global/ |title=IGN Entertainment Sold to J2 Global |date=2013-02-04 |access-date=2024-03-18 |first=Erik |last=Kain}} Terms of the IGN acquisition were not publicized.

On March 18, 2013, the company announced it had acquired MetroFax, a Bellevue, Washington, provider of Internet faxing services.{{cite news |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130318005570/en/j2-Global-Acquires-MetroFax |title=j2 Global Acquires MetroFax |date=2013-03-18 |access-date=2024-03-18}} On April 17, 2013, the company acquired Backup Connect BV, a Dutch provider of online backup services.{{cite news |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130417005428/en/j2-Acquires-Dutch-Online-Backup-Business-Backup |title=j2 Acquires Dutch Online Backup Business Backup Connect BV |date=2013-04-17 |access-date=2024-03-18}} On 19 November 2013, its media division Ziff Davis announced it acquired electronics aggregating website TechBargain.com.

In February 2014, J2 Global announced the acquisition of several companies: City Numbers, a UK-based worldwide provider of inbound toll-free numbers in over 80 countries;{{cite web |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/j2-global-acquires-uk-based-130000917.html |title=j2 Global Acquires UK-Based Phone Number Provider City Numbers |publisher=Yahoo! Finance |date=6 February 2014|access-date=30 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006072142/http://finance.yahoo.com/news/j2-global-acquires-uk-based-130000917.html|archive-date=2014-10-06|url-status=dead}} Livedrive, a UK-based provider of online backup;{{cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/j2-global-acquires-livedrive-j2-130000654.html|title=j2 Global Acquires Livedrive; j2's Online Backup Annualized Monthly Run-Rate Exceeds $40M|publisher=Yahoo! Finance|date=10 February 2014|access-date=30 September 2014}} and Australian companies OzeFax and Faxmate.{{cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/j2-global-acquires-australian-companies-130000877.html|title=j2 Global Acquires Australian Companies OzeFax and Faxmate|publisher=Yahoo! Finance|date=11 February 2014|access-date=30 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006162641/http://finance.yahoo.com/news/j2-global-acquires-australian-companies-130000877.html|archive-date=2014-10-06|url-status=dead}} On 3 April{{cite web|url=http://www.vcpost.com/articles/18429/20131121/ziff-davis-acquires-techbargains-com.htm|title=Ziff Davis acquires TechBargains.com|publisher=Venture Capital Post|date=21 November 2013|access-date=30 September 2014|author=VCPost Staff Reporter}} 2014 J2 Global announced that it acquired Business Critical Software (also known as iCritical), a UK-based email security and management company.{{cite web|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/j2-global-acquires-uk-email-115900428.html|title=j2 Global Acquires UK Email Security and Management Business Critical Software Ltd.|publisher=Yahoo! Finance|date=3 April 2014|access-date=30 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006105201/http://finance.yahoo.com/news/j2-global-acquires-uk-email-115900428.html|archive-date=2014-10-06|url-status=dead}} In July 2019, J2 Global acquired the SaferVPN brand, bringing its total number of consumer VPN services to five.{{cite web|url=https://www.top10vpn.com/news/vpn/tech-giant-j2-globals-netprotect-acquires-safervpn|title=Tech Giant J2 Global's NetProtect Acquires SaferVPN|website=www.top10vpn.com|date=25 July 2019 |language=en|access-date=2019-08-20}}

In April 2021, J2 Global announced its intent to spin off part of its cloud services business as a new publicly traded company known as Consensus, with the remainder of the company (consisting primarily of its media assets) being retained under the J2 Global name.{{cite web|last=Sumagaysay|first=Levi|title=J2 Global to split into two publicly traded companies|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/j2-global-to-split-media-and-cloud-businesses-into-two-publicly-traded-companies-11618866397|access-date=2022-02-24|website=MarketWatch|date=19 April 2021 |language=EN-US}} It was later announced that J2 Global would be renamed Ziff Davis Inc. upon its completion of the spin-off: the transaction was approved by J2 Global's board in September 2021.{{Cite web|title=J2 Global board approves spin-off, announces record date (NASDAQ:ZD) {{!}} Seeking Alpha|url=https://seekingalpha.com/news/3742095-j2-global-board-approves-spin-off-announces-record-date|access-date=2022-02-24|website=seekingalpha.com|date=22 September 2021 |language=en}}

The company operates two divisions; the "Business Cloud Services" division includes firms such as eFax, Onebox, eVoice, VIPRE, FuseMail, Campaigner, KeepItSafe, VaultLogix, Callstream, Yotta280, Mailout Interactive, GDV, BackUp Solutions, SugarSync, Nuvotera, UnityFax, Firstway Digital, Excel Micro, Web24 Group, MXSweep, City Numbers, IPVanish, Livedrive, Moz, MetroFax, FoneBox, TrustFax, RapidFax, Send2Fax, SFax, SRFax, and Fax.com. The company's digital media division, Ziff Davis, includes brands such as Mashable, PCMag, IGN and Everyday Health.

MyFax is an Internet business communication tool launched by the Ottawa-based software company Protus IP Solutions in 2009.2009 INTERNET TELEPHONY Product of the Year Awards - Tmcnet.com, http://www.tmcnet.com/voip/0210/2009-internet-telephony-product-of-the-year-awards.htm

An alternative to fax machines, it enables users to send and receive faxes from any location through the internet,{{cite web|website=protus.com|url=http://www.protus.com/company/news_room/release.asp?r%3D115|title=Protus Launches MyFax, an Internet-based Fax Service for SOHO Market|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715124537/http://www.protus.com/company/news_room/release.asp?r=115|date=May 20, 2004|archive-date=July 15, 2011|access-date=December 2, 2010}} as well as directly from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft Windows-based applications including Google Docs, OpenOffice.org, and Intuit QuickBooks.{{cite web|website=MyFax.com|url=https://www.myfax.com/features|title=Online Fax Service Award Winning Features|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100206131525/http://www.myfax.com/features.aspx|archive-date=February 6, 2010|access-date=December 2, 2010}} A program was released that allows for iPhone and BlackBerry applications to be fully compatible with smartphones.{{Cite web |date=2020-10-20 |title=Best Free Fax App for iPhone |url=https://gmailtofax.com/best-free-fax-app-for-iphone/ |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=gmail to fax |language=en-US}}

MyFax has grown to over 400,000 subscribers,Putting 400,000 Subscribers into Perspective - Inside MyFax blog, http://blog.myfax.com/2009/11/putting-400000-subscribers-into.html with approximately 20,000 new customers subscribing to the service each month. Before its acquisition by J2 Global, MyFax had received a few favorable reviews{{Cite web |date=2016-07-09 |title=MyFax Review 2016 {{!}} Good & Bad of MyFax |url=http://faxing-service-review.toptenreviews.com/myfax-review.html |access-date=2023-07-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160709213516/http://faxing-service-review.toptenreviews.com/myfax-review.html |archive-date=2016-07-09 }} including an Internet Telephony magazine product of the year for 2009.{{cite web|website=MyFax.com|url=http://www.myfax.com/about/news-room/release.aspx?r%3D358|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100817165803/http://www.myfax.com/about/news-room/release.aspx?r=358|date=February 22, 2010|archive-date=August 17, 2010|access-date=December 3, 2010|title=MyFax and my1voice Receive INTERNET TELEPHONY® Magazine's Product of the Year Award}}

On December 6, 2010, MyFax announced that it had been acquired by J2 Global Communications, Inc., owners of eFax,{{cite web|url=http://www.myfax.com/about/news-room/release.aspx?r%3D404|title=j2 Global Acquires Protus IP Solutions, Inc.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228102615/http://www.myfax.com/about/news-room/release.aspx?r=404|date=December 6, 2010|archive-date=December 28, 2010|access-date=March 18, 2013}} which subsequently imposed restrictive terms and conditions on the client's right to local number portability. Among the restrictions is a $40 US charge per number if J2 permits the number to be ported out; the company imposes many arbitrary restrictions on portability and has attempted to claim the numbers as its own property, in some cases imposing inflated penalties and unilaterally taking numbers back after they've been ported to another provider by clients.{{cite web|url=https://www.myfax.com/legal/terms|title=MyFax - Customer Agreement|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120610040446/http://www.myfax.com/legal/terms.aspx|archive-date=June 10, 2012|access-date=October 31, 2014}}

StrongVPN is a commercial VPN service owned by J2 Global. It was founded in 2005,{{cite web |url=https://support.strongvpn.com/hc/en-us/articles/115003223073-How-We-Started |title=How We Started |date=2022-09-02 |access-date=2024-03-18 |first=Vladimir |last=Malygin |website=StrongVPN.com}} and is one of the oldest VPN services.{{Cite book|last1=Khan|first1=Mohammad Taha|last2=DeBlasio|first2=Joe|last3=Voelker|first3=Geoffrey M.|last4=Snoeren|first4=Alex C.|last5=Kanich|first5=Chris|last6=Vallina-Rodriguez|first6=Narseo|title=Proceedings of the Internet Measurement Conference 2018 |chapter=An Empirical Analysis of the Commercial VPN Ecosystem |date=2018-10-31|pages=443–456|location=New York, NY, USA|publisher=ACM|doi=10.1145/3278532.3278570|isbn=978-1-4503-5619-0|doi-access=free}} It supports various protocols, including IPsec, OpenVPN and WireGuard. It was acquired by J2 Global in 2019 from its former owner StackPath.{{cite web|last=Athow|first=Desire|title=IGN owner J2 Global snaps up major VPN brands|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/ign-owner-j2-global-snaps-up-major-vpn-brands|url-status=live|website=TechRadar.com|date=7 May 2019 |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190507162850/https://www.techradar.com/news/ign-owner-j2-global-snaps-up-major-vpn-brands|archive-date=May 7, 2019|access-date=June 14, 2021}}

ZDNet described StrongVPN as "a clear and easy-to-use VPN ideal for coffee shop use".{{cite web|last=Gewirtz|first=David|title=StrongVPN review: A clear and easy-to-use VPN ideal for coffee shop use|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/strongvpn-review-a-clear-and-easy-to-use-vpn-ideal-for-coffee-shop-use/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200303092531/https://www.zdnet.com/article/strongvpn-review-a-clear-and-easy-to-use-vpn-ideal-for-coffee-shop-use|date=September 16, 2019|archive-date=March 3, 2020|access-date=June 14, 2021|website=ZDNet.com|language=en}} Meanwhile, Tom's Hardware considered it strong and simple but noted the lack of information on its no-log policy.{{cite web|first=Sead|last=Fadilpašić|title=StrongVPN Review: Strong and Simple|url=https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/strongvpn-vpn-service,6221.html|date=July 24, 2019|access-date=June 14, 2021|website=Tom's Hardware|language=en}} PC World considered it "a good VPN for most people".{{cite web|title=StrongVPN review: A good VPN service for rookies|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/3269191/strongvpn-vpn-review.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200919191801/https://www.pcworld.com/article/3269191/strongvpn-vpn-review.html|url-status=live|date=June 11, 2018|archive-date=September 19, 2020|access-date=June 14, 2021|website=PC World|language=en|first=Ian|last=Paul}}

StrongVPN has not directly answered questions about logging, but they are able to match an IP address to a customer.{{Cite book|last=Ziccardi|first=Giovanni|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/812452659|title=Resistance, liberation technology and human rights in the digital age|date=2013|publisher=Springer|isbn=978-94-007-5276-4|location=Dordrecht|pages=184|oclc=812452659}}

• 2012, InformationWeek 500 list of technology companies.{{cite web|title=j2 Global, Inc. Once Again Ranked Among Top Technology Innovators by InformationWeek|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/j2-global-inc-once-again-055408716.html|access-date=2021-09-05|website=finance.yahoo.com|date=12 September 2012 |language=en-US}}
• 2013, ranked number 39 in Forbes' list of "America's Best Small Companies".{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/natalierobehmed/2013/10/09/darwins-digital-darlings-how-these-web-1-0-companies-survived-and-thrived|title=Darwin's Digital Darlings: How These Web 1.0 Companies Survived And Thrived|work=Forbes|date=2013-10-09|accessdate=2022-03-11|author=Robehmed, Natalie}}

{{Primary sources section|date=September 2021}}

J2 Global has filed patent litigation cases against several companies, including CallWave,{{cite web|title=j2 Global Files Patent Infringement Suit Against CallWave, Inc.|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1084048/000107261304001597/ex99-1_12913.htm}} Comodo, EasyLink Services International Corporation,{{cite web|title=j2 Global Files Patent Infringement Suits Against Protus IP Solutions, Inc, Captaris, Inc. and EasyLink Services International Corporation|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1084048/000107261308001429/exh99-1_15985.htm}} OpenText, Packetel, Protus, Venali and Zayo Group. Some of the companies filed counterclaims, some of which alleged antitrust violations of Section 2 of the Sherman Act and California's Business and Professions Code §§ 16720 and 17200.{{cite web|url=http://www.getfilings.com/sec-filings/100223/J2-GLOBAL-COMMUNICATIONS-INC_10-K|title=J2 GLOBAL, INC. - FORM 10-K - February 23, 2010|access-date=October 30, 2014|archive-date=October 30, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141030185319/http://www.getfilings.com/sec-filings/100223/J2-GLOBAL-COMMUNICATIONS-INC_10-K/|url-status=dead}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://www.j2global.com}}

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