United Online

2025-05-30T01:31:19Z

70.106.196.94: updated current leadership and ownership

{{Infobox company
| name = United Online
| logo = File:United-lores.jpg
| logo_caption = United Online logo
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| traded_as = {{NASDAQ was|UNTD}}
| foundation = 2001
| owner = [[BRPI Acquisition Co.]]
| defunct = July 1, 2016 (as an independent company)
| location_city = Westlake Village, California
| key_people = ANANTH VELUPPILLAI, CEO
| brands = [[NetZero]], [[Juno Online Services]], MyPoints, StayFriends
}}

'''United Online, Inc.''' was an independent [[public company]] formed by the 2001 [[merger]] of [[NetZero]] and [[Juno Online Services]].<ref name=chicago1>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2001-06-09-0106090176-story.html|title=UNITED ONLINE INC.: NetZero, Juno merge services|work=Chicago Tribune|date=2001-06-09|access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref> It is currently a [[subsidiary]] of investment bank [[B. Riley Financial]].<ref name=Riley1>{{cite web |url= https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2017/nov/10/b-riley-acquire-voice-over-internet-firm-143-milli/ |title= B. Riley to Acquire Voice-Over-Internet Firm for $143 Million |work= LA Business Journal |access-date= 2020-03-02 |date=2017-11-10}}</ref> The company's range of products and services has evolved significantly since its inception as a provider of dial-up Internet access. This has been aided by a series of acquisitions that have included Classmates Online (2004),<ref name="No. 2 Internet service provider buying Classmates Online">{{cite web|url=http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2002072722_classmates26.html|title=No. 2 Internet service provider buying Classmates Online|publisher=The Seattle Times|date=October 26, 2004}}</ref> MyPoints (2006),<ref name="United Online Acquires MyPoints.com From UAL Corp">{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1142701/000110465906024977/a06-8970_1ex99d1.htm|title=United Online Acquires MyPoints.com From UAL Corp|publisher=sec.gov|date=April 10, 2006}}</ref> and [[Florists'_Transworld_Delivery|FTD Group, Inc.]] (2008), the latter of which was spun off as its own company in 2013. United Online is headquartered in [[Woodland Hills, California|Woodland Hills]], [[California]], [[United States]].

The company claims to have more than 100 million registered accounts.{{when?|date=March 2020}}{{cn|date=March 2020}} The company’s Content & Media segment provides networking services and products (Classmates and StayFriends). Its primary communications segment services are internet access, and services and devices (NetZero and Juno). United Online operates through a global network of locations in the U.S., Germany, and India. On July 1, 2016, B. Riley Financial completed its acquisition of United Online for $11.00 per share in a transaction valued at approximately $170 million.<ref name=Riley1/>

==History==
United Online, Inc. was formed in June 2001 by the merger of Internet service providers [[NetZero]] and [[Juno Online Services]].<ref name=chicago1/> The two merged companies were to be independent subsidiaries of United Online, and the resultant company was the United States' second largest internet service provider at the time.<ref name=chicago1/>

In November 2013, United Online spun off its floral delivery subsidiary, FTD, which became a separate NASDAQ-traded company called [[FTD Companies]], Inc., under the symbol FTD.<ref>{{cite web|title=FTD Spinoff from United Online Complete|date=November 2013 |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/ftd-spinoff-united-online-complete-124640964.html|publisher=Yahoo! Finance|access-date=February 3, 2014}}</ref>

Directly following the spin-off of FTD, long time CEO Mark Goldston, who had been with the company for 14 years, taken it public and presided over the acquisitions and growth, left the company. Francis Lobo, who had spent 10 years with AOL, eventually rising to the position of president of AOL Services, was selected to take Goldston's place as CEO.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rttnews.com/2197955/united-online-names-francis-lobo-ceo-quick-facts.aspx|title=United Online Names Francis Lobo CEO - Quick Facts |website=RTT News |date=2013-10-03 |access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref> The company continued to struggle, and Lobo eventually resigned. Following Lobo's exit, the investment bank B. Riley Financial acquired the remnants of UOL on July 1, 2016, naming Robert J. Taragan the new CEO of the subsidiary.<ref name=Riley1/>

In April 2016, United Online sold MyPoints to El Segundo, California-based loyalty program marketer [[Prodege]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://labusinessjournal.com/news/2016/apr/19/prodege-buys-mypoints-13-million/ |title=Prodege Buys MyPoints for $13 Million |website=LA Business Journal |date=2016-04-19 |access-date=2020-03-02}}</ref>

==Products==
Faced with the introduction and rapid expansion of broadband Internet-access services, United Online has diversified its products and service offerings, both via acquisitions and by evolving its current brands.

===ISP===
In September 2007, NetZero launched its first broadband access service, NetZero [[Digital subscriber line|DSL]]. In May 2008, it launched Juno DSL. Together, NetZero DSL and Juno DSL provided almost 30 percent of United Online’s ISP customers, and provided those customers with the ability to upgrade to broadband while maintaining their NetZero or Juno email addresses.

===Mobile broadband===
In March 2012, NetZero expanded into the wireless Internet access market with the debut of NetZero Mobile Broadband, a value-priced mobile broadband service using the Clearwire network. NetZero Mobile Broadband was available in over 80 cities, and allowed subscribers to choose from four monthly data plans. It also offered a one-year free trial with the purchase of a NetZero Connection device.

NetZero Mobile Broadband has since rolled out the service across the nationwide using the Sprint 3G network, expanding its coverage to more than 276 million people. NetZero also offers a Home Wireless Broadband service which is intended to provide limited wireless access in the home or office. In 2013, it debuted NetZero DataShield, a personal [[Virtual private network|VPN]] which encrypts and protects users’ data when they connect to the Internet via any WiFi connection, including public WiFi hubs.

NetZero HotSpot is a service that the company offers.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.wsj.com/articles/united-online-owner-of-netzero-agrees-to-170-million-sale-1462417977?reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink | title=United Online, Owner of NetZero, Agrees to $170 Million Sale | first=Josh | last=Beckerman | newspaper=[[Wall Street Journal]] | date=2016-05-04}}</ref>

===Mobile phone===
At the end of 2014, UOL rolled out a mobile phone service to their NetZero brand. The service provides 3G coverage, and features refurbished equipment (such as an [[iPhone 4]] or Samsung [[Galaxy SIII]] for the price of $199 each) and limited monthly data.

===Classmates.com===
United Online's Classmates subsidiary began digitizing high school yearbooks in 2010, giving members the ability to view more than 30,000 high school yearbooks at Classmates.com. The Classmates Yearbook Initiative has since grown to over 250,000 yearbooks.{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{official website|http://www.unitedonline.com }}
{{Portal|Los Angeles|Companies}}

{{Dot-com Bubble}}

[[Category:Companies based in Los Angeles]]
[[Category:2016 mergers and acquisitions]]

Lingo (VoIP Service operator)

2025-05-28T21:16:15Z

70.106.196.94:

{{Short description|American telecommunications company}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2019}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Lingo Management, LLC
| logo = Lingo_(VoIP_Service_operator)_logo.svg
| type = [[Limited Liability Company]] (LLC)
| foundation = 2018
| location = [[Southfield, Michigan]]
| key_people = Ananth Veluppillai (President & CEO)
| num_employees = 150–200
| industry = Telecommunications
| products = Voice & broadband services
| revenue = Projected $135 million
| website = {{url|https://www.lingo.com}}
}}
'''Lingo Management, LLC "Lingo"''' was founded by Vincent M. Oddo, and partners, in 2018 as a voice and broadband provider based in [[Macon, Georgia]] and headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Lingo is a global Cloud/UC and managed service provider providing IP-based voice and data, mobile services, and other [[managed services]] to the Business, Carrier, and Consumer markets. The Lingo name originates from the Lingo VoIP product line which operated under the Primus Telecommunications brand and later transitioned into a product line of [[Birch Communications]] with the acquisition of [[HC2 Holdings|Primus Telecommunications]] in 2013. In May 2018, Birch Communications divided into two completely separate companies led by Fusion Telecommunications International, Inc. acquiring the Birch enterprise customer sectors. The remaining customer base formed what is now Lingo Communications, LLC or simply Lingo.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Panettieri|first=Joe|date=2019-02-12|title=Acquisitions: Lingo Continues SMB and Carrier Rollup Strategy|url=https://www.channele2e.com/investors/mergers-acquisitions/lingo-smb-and-carrier-rollup-strategy/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513102631/https://www.channele2e.com/investors/mergers-acquisitions/lingo-smb-and-carrier-rollup-strategy/|archive-date=2021-05-13|access-date=2021-12-07|website=ChannelE2E|language=en-US}}</ref>

In December 2018, Lingo finalized the acquisition of Impact Telecom, LLC "Impact" based out of Irving, TX. The Impact acquisition included its customers, operations, and network infrastructure. The merger of Lingo and Impact creates a leading global telecom and managed service provider, with approximately 250,000 SMB, Carrier, and Consumer customers.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Powell|first=Rob|date=2018-07-12|title=Lingo Acquires Impact {{!}} Telecom Ramblings|url=https://www.telecomramblings.com/2018/07/lingo-acquires-impact/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211207125412/https://www.telecomramblings.com/2018/07/lingo-acquires-impact/|archive-date=2021-12-07|access-date=2021-12-07|website=Telecom Ramblings}}</ref>

On November 30, 2020, Lingo closed on the acquisition of Lingo of Kentucky, LLC and Tempo Telecom, LLC. Lingo also announced a recapitalization transaction sponsored by B. Riley Principal Investments, LLC (a subsidiary of financial services company [[B. Riley Financial]], Inc.).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lingo Announces New Capitalization Led by B. Riley and Appoints New Leadership|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/lingo-announces-capitalization-led-b-180000140.html|access-date=2021-12-07|website=finance.yahoo.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Product Offering ==
Cloud PBX
 Call Center Solutions
 [[Broadband]]
 Traditional Voice (POTS)
 [[VoIP]]
 Long Distance
 Toll-Free
 SIP/PRI/T1
 Video Conferencing
 Web Collaboration
 Managed Services

== Controversies ==

=== Deepfakes ===
Prior to the [[2024 New Hampshire Democratic presidential primary]] election, a Lingo user transmitted [[deepfake]] [[robocalls]] spoofing the voice of President Joe Biden, encouraging voters to not cast a ballot in the primary.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Source of Biden ‘deepfake' robocalls before NH primary traced to Texas companies|url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/national-international/source-of-biden-deepfake-robocalls-before-nh-primary-traced-to-texas-companies/3454503/|access-date=2024-02-06|website=NBCDFW.com}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:VoIP companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Companies based in Atlanta]]
[[Category:2018 establishments in the United States]]

wiki143 - User contributions [en]

United Online

Lingo (VoIP Service operator)