ItsOn was an American
software
Software is a set of computer programs and associated documentation and data. This is in contrast to hardware, from which the system is built and which actually performs the work.
At the lowest programming level, executable code consists ...
company based in
Redwood City, California
Redwood City is a city on the San Francisco Peninsula in Northern California's Bay Area, approximately south of San Francisco, and northwest of San Jose. Redwood City's history spans its earliest inhabitation by the Ohlone people to being a ...
that developed
cloud computing
Cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computer system resources, especially data storage ( cloud storage) and computing power, without direct active management by the user. Large clouds often have functions distributed over mul ...
software for enhancing the performance of mobile networks. ItsOn's software platform gave mobile network operators the ability to offer granular and flexible, user-customizable services. Users could select and change mobile voice, text, and data services, as well as manage devices, plan sharing and permissions, directly from smart devices at any time.
ItsOn launched a
mobile virtual network operator
A mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) is a wireless communications services provider that does not own the wireless network infrastructure over which it provides services to its customers. An MVNO enters into a business agreement with a mobil ...
(MVNO) service,
Zact Mobile, in 2013. Zact Mobile received the National Parenting Center's Seal of Approval for its family-oriented features and pricing. In January 2018, ItsOn filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and entered into liquidation.
Technology platform
ItsOn was the first company to develop and commercialize a
network function virtualization Network functions virtualization (NFV) is a network architecture concept that leverages the IT virtualization technologies to virtualize entire classes of network node functions into building blocks that may connect, or chain together, to create and ...
(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.
The ItsOn technology platform overlaid existing infrastructure and extended service policy control to the edge of the network. The platform worked with existing
billing systems and networks. The overlay consisted of a service controller, a service design center, and device
clients.
Services
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. Data could be purchased by quantity (for all uses) or for specific applications (such as Facebook). 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
Wi-Fi () is a family of wireless network protocols, based on the IEEE 802.11 family of standards, which are commonly used for local area networking of devices and Internet access, allowing nearby digital devices to exchange data by radio wave ...
networks. Users were notified as they approached usage limits.
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. Operators could offer “MVNO-in-a-box” solutions that allow value-added resellers to package devices with services. The ItsOn client application also served as a vehicle for
upselling
Upselling is a sales technique where a seller invites the customer to purchase more expensive items, upgrades, or other add-ons to generate more revenue. While it usually involves marketing more profitable services or products, it can be simply e ...
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.
Company history
ItsOn was founded by
Greg Raleigh and
Charlie Giancarlo in 2008. ItsOn received just over $3 million in seed and
venture round
A venture round is a type of funding round used for venture capital financing, by which startup companies obtain investment, generally from venture capitalists and other institutional investors. The availability of venture funding is among the ...
funding from 2009 to 2011, and $15.5 million in Series B funding (led by
Andreessen Horowitz
Andreessen Horowitz (also called a16z, legal name AH Capital Management, LLC) is a private American venture capital firm, founded in 2009 by Marc Andreessen and Ben Horowitz. The company is headquartered in Menlo Park, California.
Andreessen ...
) in 2012.
ItsOn announced its Zact Mobile service in May 2013. The company announced an agreement with
Best Buy Mobile
Best Buy Co. Inc. is an American multinational consumer electronics retailer headquartered in Richfield, Minnesota. Originally founded by Richard M. Schulze and James Wheeler in 1966 as an audio specialty store called Sound of Music, it was rebra ...
in November 2013 to make Zact Mobile available in more than 400 stores throughout the United States.
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.
In January 2018 Movistar Mexico announced that its service based on the ItsOn product was being discontinued due to the company liquidation.
See also
*
Network virtualization
In computing, network virtualization is the process of combining hardware and software network resources and network functionality into a single, software-based administrative entity, a virtual network. Network virtualization involves platform vi ...
*
Cellular network
A cellular network or mobile network is a communication network where the link to and from end nodes is wireless. The network is distributed over land areas called "cells", each served by at least one fixed-location transceiver (typically thre ...
*
Cloud computing
Cloud computing is the on-demand availability of computer system resources, especially data storage ( cloud storage) and computing power, without direct active management by the user. Large clouds often have functions distributed over mul ...
*
Telecommunications billing
Telecommunications billing is the group of processes of communications service providers that are responsible to collect consumption data, calculate charging and billing information, produce bills to customers, process their payments and manage deb ...
References
External links
*
* {{URL, http://www.zact.com/, Zact website
Companies based in Redwood Shores, California
Telecommunications companies of the United States