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			{{Short description\|Mobile data and Internet comms company}}
	'''SMS.ac''' is the website of a mobile data communications company based in ]. Its current ] and ] is Michael C. Pousti. It offers MMS/SMS services.
			{{Multiple issues\|
			{{outdated\|date=July 2022}}
			{{Cleanup rewrite\|date=September 2024}}
			}}
			{{Use dmy dates\|date=January 2020}}
			{{Infobox company
			\| name = SMS.ac Inc.
			\| logo =
			\| type = ]
			\| foundation = 2001
			\| location = ], United States
			\| key_people = Michael Pousti, Chairman and CEO
			\| industry = ], ], ]
			\| products = ] messaging
			\| revenue = unknown
			\| net_income = unknown
			\| num_employees = 100-200
		⚫	\| homepage =
			}}
			Founded in 2001,<ref name="Special Report">{{cite web\|url=http://www.fiercewireless.com/special-reports/sms-ac\|title=Fierce 15, SMS.ac\|publisher=Fierce Wireless\|accessdate=18 August 2014}}</ref> '''SMS.ac Inc.''' is a ] and ] company based in ]. With a worldwide connectivity to more than 400 mobile operators, the company offers a platform '''MMSbox''' for interpole exchange of MMS and SMS.<ref name="Company Directory">{{cite web\|url=http://www.techvibes.com/company-directory/sms.ac-inc.\|title=Company SMS.ac, Inc.\|publisher=TechVibes\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614213812/http://www.techvibes.com/company-directory/sms.ac-inc.\|archive-date=14 June 2014\|url-status=dead\|accessdate=18 August 2014\|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The company (and its spinoff subsidiary '''FanBox''', now rebranded as '''empowr'''<ref>{{cite web\|title=The FanBox experiment has concluded\|url=http://www.fanbox.com/socnet/\|accessdate=23 September 2016}}</ref>) has claimed to serve over 14 billion mobile text messages in 2003, and 25 billion in 2004<ref>{{cite news\|last1=Sinrid\|first1=Eric J.\|title=Exploding growth in mobile messaging\|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/ericjsinrod/2005-01-12-sinrod_x.htm\|accessdate=25 August 2014\|agency=USA Today\|issue=USA Today\|publisher=USA Today\|date=1 December 2005}}</ref> where they were widely criticized for charging unrequested SMS services from consumers and for failing to respond to the complaints of users<ref name="bbbreport">{{cite web\|title=BBB Business Review Reliability Report for SMS.AC Inc\|url=http://ourbbbproxy.bbb.org/sandiego/business-reviews/cellular-telephone-service-and-supplies/sms-ac-inc-in-san-diego-ca-20007583/\|publisher=Better Business Bureau\|accessdate=19 October 2010}}</ref> and for FanBox's ]<ref name="FanBoxplaxo"/><ref name="cfrFanBox">{{cite web\|title=FanBox Part 2 \|url=http://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/FanBoxScam2.php \|publisher=Consumer Fraud Reporting \|accessdate=28 October 2010 \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121132701/http://consumerfraudreporting.org/FanboxScam2.php \|archivedate=21 November 2010 \|df=dmy }}</ref> activities. The company provides distribution and billing to people buying and selling digital content (video, music, and applications) through (]) mobile services{{Citation needed\|date=November 2008}} and web-based applications. SMS.ac's website integrates its mobile billing technology with various social networking services like photos, videos, music, and comments.<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://www.sms.ac \|archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20020914122048/http://www.sms.ac \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=2002-09-14 \|title=SMS.ac Mobile Homepage service \|publisher=SMS.ac}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|title=FanBox: Products \|url=http://corp.fanbox.com/products.php \|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120716120908/http://corp.fanbox.com/products.php \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=16 July 2012 \|publisher=fanbox.com \|accessdate=28 October 2010 }}</ref> SMS.ac claims over 50 million registered users in more than 180 countries.<ref>{{cite web\|title=FanBox: About Us \|url=http://corp.fanbox.com/aboutus.php \|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120710040013/http://corp.fanbox.com/aboutus.php \|url-status=dead \|archive-date=10 July 2012 \|publisher=fanbox.com \|accessdate=28 October 2010 }}</ref>

			The SMS.ac website domain name uses the ] top-level domain for ].
	The company claims to have more than 40 million registered mobile consumers in over 180 countries, and to have connectivity to more than 400 mobile operators worldwide. The company operates a ] website which also claims to offer free outgoing ]es.

			As of June 2022, the domain is for sale<ref>{{cite web \|url=http://sms.ac \|title=Sms.ac is for sale! Bodis.com - Smart Domain Monetization \|accessdate=23 June 2022}}</ref> and emails to the domain bounce due to lack of a configured mail server.
	== Services ==

			==Business model==
	SMS.ac aims to be a community for mobile phone users. Users of the service can send multimedia (MMS) and text (SMS) to any mobile phone in the world, using either their mobile phones or the web. Additional community services (picture uploading, for instance) are also offered.
			SMS.ac's revenue is derived through revenue-sharing arrangements with content providers and ] operators.{{Citation needed\|date=November 2008}} Specifically, the company enables content providers to bill subscribers for consumption of video, music, and widgets through ]-based (text message) mobile billing.{{Citation needed\|date=January 2008}}

			==History==
	"This is a private website from which users can send free SMS, in return for which the receiver gets advertisements with the messages."(''The Edge Malaysia'', May 23, 2005, "Net Value: 'CPs cannot spam customers'").
			At the time of its public launch in 2002, SMS.ac made history by signing up "nearly 6 million users in its first six months – making it the fastest product launch in Internet history".<ref name=fastco>{{cite web\|url=http://www.fastcompany.com/online/62/speedometer.html \|title=Fast Company: Speedometer \|publisher=] \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927233154/http://www.fastcompany.com/online/62/speedometer.html \|archivedate=27 September 2007 \|df=dmy }}</ref>

			In 2005, SMS.ac was recognized as one of "the top emerging companies in the ] industry" by ]'s "Fierce 15".<ref name=fierce>{{cite web \|url=http://www.fiercewireless.com/Fierce15/2005 \|title=Fierce Wireless \|publisher=Fierce Wireless \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927024739/http://www.fiercewireless.com/Fierce15/2005 \|archivedate=27 September 2007 \|df=dmy-all }}</ref> An article by the '']'' described "a clever text-messaging ploy" whereby users provide their e-mail address and password in response to a message to join.<ref>{{cite news \|last=Yue \|first=Lorene \|title=Reality check: A message to the wise about text trick \|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2005/05/01/a-message-to-the-wise-about-text-trick/ \|access-date=19 October 2010 \|newspaper=Chicago Tribune \|date=4 May 2005}} (contains corrections).</ref>
	In August 2005 it launched a "Global Mobile Phone Users' Consumer Bill of Rights" .

			In 2006 an article in the '']'', while praising the service's integrated billing option, stated "SMS.ac is one of those right-place, right-time, right-technology companies that has nearly all the elements for colossal success. But it also has hovering over it a big red flag that could wrong-foot it at any moment as some consumers had complained on the Internet and in the mainstream press that SMS.ac has charged them for services they never asked for, making that billing relationship into potentially its greatest liability."<ref name=iht>{{cite news \|first=Victoria \|last=Shannon \|date=22 February 2006 \|url=http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/02/22/business/ptend23.php \|title=The End User: Noticing a red flag \|newspaper=International Herald Tribune \|accessdate=19 October 2010}}</ref>
	== Controversy ==

			In 2007, SMS.ac created a ] called FanBox, a ] mobile desktop site.<ref name="FanBoxplaxo">{{cite web\|last=Riley\|first=Duncan\|title=FanBox Is The New Plaxo\|url=https://techcrunch.com/2008/03/04/FanBox-is-the-new-plaxo/\|publisher=]\|accessdate=19 October 2010\|date=4 March 2008}}</ref>
	It is alleged that ] is employed in their attempt to capture new members by ]ming the ] contacts of new members, usually without their knowledge. Upon attempting voluntary registration, the user is immediately advised to sign into their Hotmail account through the sms.ac website for "best results".

			In 2008, SMS.ac was fined £250,000 by the UK premium rate regulator, ], for operating misleading and unfair mobile-terminating text message services without giving proper pricing information, and barred from operating reverse-billed services in the UK until it became compliant with the PhonepayPlus compliance rules.<ref>Cases 702783/GL and 704922/GL at </ref> Following the ruling SMS.ac brought their practices into compliance with UK regulations.
	Upon signing up for the service, a customer is given the option of importing their address books from online email services such as ], ], ] and others. SMS.ac claims they are then given the option of inviting all, some, or none of those contacts to join the service, but it is said by some that this process is confusing and misleading; especially because the user is asked to input the password to his email account before completing the registration process, and that nearly all new users are confused by misleading wording and visual cues.

			On 18 July 2009 the alleged unfair labor practices of SMS.ac subsidiary, FanBox were reported by '']''.<ref>{{cite news \|last=Myers \|first=Heather \|title=Former Employees Frustrated with Downtown based "fanbox.com" \|url=http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/story/Former-Employees-Frustrated-with-Downtown-based/gCLA87OFxE-53GTQ8OoEGA.cspx \|accessdate=19 October 2010 \|publisher=XETV (San Diego TV Channel 6) \|date=18 July 2009 \|url-status=dead \|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722011843/http://www.sandiego6.com/news/local/story/Former-Employees-Frustrated-with-Downtown-based/gCLA87OFxE-53GTQ8OoEGA.cspx \|archivedate=22 July 2009 \|df=dmy }}</ref> In the coverage, former employees claimed they often received partial paychecks if they were paid at all.
	Once the registrant has signed over their contact list, it is said that SMS.ac will continue to send ]s to their contacts in the address book, until they opt out of SMS.ac, or they actually sign-up. This has generated a significant negative reaction from those who have never signed up for the service, but who have instead simply received a barrage of apparently deceptive spam (the registrants name is placed in the subject field).

	A former employee has alleged that when a person becomes a member, SMS.ac automatically adds them to several mobile chatgroups and charges the member's mobile phone account a small fee for each ] sent to the registered phone. Its also been alleged by others that these messages are generated by SMS.ac itself, which makes it seem like real people are actually chatting through the service. In March 2005 the Belgian newspaper ''De Standaard'' (March 23, 2005, "Onderzoek naar sms-site") reported that users of the "free" SMS service were subsequently charged €0.25 per message for receiving unwanted messages.

	The company has responded to some ] with a made-up/mock ], demanding they refrain from using the word "spam" in reference to the service. (''RCR Wireless News'', March 21, 2005, "SMS.ac gains members, detractors as wireless learns viral marketing lessons")

	Some users have indicated that attempting to cancel one's membership at SMS.ac is difficult and non-intuitive.

	==See also==		==See also==
			*]
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			==References==
	*]
			{{reflist}}
	*]

	==External links==		==External links==
			*{{Cite web \|last=Swibel \|first=Matthew \|date=2005-06-22 \|title=A Ringing Headache? \|url=http://www.forbes.com/home/wireless/2005/06/22/messaging-wireless-smsac-cz_ms_0622beltway.html \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050629012211/http://www.forbes.com/home/wireless/2005/06/22/messaging-wireless-smsac-cz_ms_0622beltway.html \|archive-date=2005-06-29 \|access-date=2024-11-21 \|website=Forbes.com}}
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	{{Spamming}}

			{{DEFAULTSORT:Sms.Ac, Inc.}}
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Latest revision as of 09:51, 21 November 2024

Mobile data and Internet comms company

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SMS.ac Inc.
Company type	Private
Industry	Telephone, Mobile, Internet
Founded	2001
Headquarters	San Diego, California, United States
Key people	Michael Pousti, Chairman and CEO
Products	SMS messaging
Revenue	unknown
Net income	unknown
Number of employees	100-200
Website	www.sms.ac

Founded in 2001, SMS.ac Inc. is a mobile data and Internet communications company based in San Diego, California. With a worldwide connectivity to more than 400 mobile operators, the company offers a platform MMSbox for interpole exchange of MMS and SMS. The company (and its spinoff subsidiary FanBox, now rebranded as empowr) has claimed to serve over 14 billion mobile text messages in 2003, and 25 billion in 2004 where they were widely criticized for charging unrequested SMS services from consumers and for failing to respond to the complaints of users and for FanBox's e-mail activities. The company provides distribution and billing to people buying and selling digital content (video, music, and applications) through (SMS) mobile services and web-based applications. SMS.ac's website integrates its mobile billing technology with various social networking services like photos, videos, music, and comments. SMS.ac claims over 50 million registered users in more than 180 countries.

The SMS.ac website domain name uses the .ac top-level domain for Ascension Island.

As of June 2022, the domain is for sale and emails to the domain bounce due to lack of a configured mail server.

Business model

SMS.ac's revenue is derived through revenue-sharing arrangements with content providers and mobile operators. Specifically, the company enables content providers to bill subscribers for consumption of video, music, and widgets through SMS-based (text message) mobile billing.

History

At the time of its public launch in 2002, SMS.ac made history by signing up "nearly 6 million users in its first six months – making it the fastest product launch in Internet history".

In 2005, SMS.ac was recognized as one of "the top emerging companies in the wireless industry" by Fierce Wireless's "Fierce 15". An article by the Chicago Tribune described "a clever text-messaging ploy" whereby users provide their e-mail address and password in response to a message to join.

In 2006 an article in the International Herald Tribune, while praising the service's integrated billing option, stated "SMS.ac is one of those right-place, right-time, right-technology companies that has nearly all the elements for colossal success. But it also has hovering over it a big red flag that could wrong-foot it at any moment as some consumers had complained on the Internet and in the mainstream press that SMS.ac has charged them for services they never asked for, making that billing relationship into potentially its greatest liability."

In 2007, SMS.ac created a DBA called FanBox, a social networking mobile desktop site.

In 2008, SMS.ac was fined £250,000 by the UK premium rate regulator, PhonepayPlus, for operating misleading and unfair mobile-terminating text message services without giving proper pricing information, and barred from operating reverse-billed services in the UK until it became compliant with the PhonepayPlus compliance rules. Following the ruling SMS.ac brought their practices into compliance with UK regulations.

On 18 July 2009 the alleged unfair labor practices of SMS.ac subsidiary, FanBox were reported by San Diego 6 News. In the coverage, former employees claimed they often received partial paychecks if they were paid at all.

References

"Fierce 15, SMS.ac". Fierce Wireless. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
"Company SMS.ac, Inc". TechVibes. Archived from the original on 14 June 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2014.
"The FanBox experiment has concluded". Retrieved 23 September 2016.
Sinrid, Eric J. (1 December 2005). "Exploding growth in mobile messaging". No. USA Today. USA Today. USA Today. Retrieved 25 August 2014.
"BBB Business Review Reliability Report for SMS.AC Inc". Better Business Bureau. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
^ Riley, Duncan (4 March 2008). "FanBox Is The New Plaxo". TechCrunch. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
"FanBox Part 2". Consumer Fraud Reporting. Archived from the original on 21 November 2010. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
"SMS.ac Mobile Homepage service". SMS.ac. Archived from the original on 14 September 2002.
"FanBox: Products". fanbox.com. Archived from the original on 16 July 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
"FanBox: About Us". fanbox.com. Archived from the original on 10 July 2012. Retrieved 28 October 2010.
"Sms.ac is for sale! Bodis.com - Smart Domain Monetization". Retrieved 23 June 2022.
"Fast Company: Speedometer". Fast Company. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
"Fierce Wireless". Fierce Wireless. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007.
Yue, Lorene (4 May 2005). "Reality check: A message to the wise about text trick". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 19 October 2010. (contains corrections).
Shannon, Victoria (22 February 2006). "The End User: Noticing a red flag". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved 19 October 2010.
Cases 702783/GL and 704922/GL at Phonepayplus.org.uk
Myers, Heather (18 July 2009). "Former Employees Frustrated with Downtown based "fanbox.com"". XETV (San Diego TV Channel 6). Archived from the original on 22 July 2009. Retrieved 19 October 2010.

External links

Swibel, Matthew (22 June 2005). "A Ringing Headache?". Forbes.com. Archived from the original on 29 June 2005. Retrieved 21 November 2024.

Categories:

Latest revision as of 09:51, 21 November 2024

Business model

History

See also

References

External links