SAN DIEGO, June 19, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- SMS.ac, Inc. now owns the record for the largest and fastest product launch in Internet history. As of June 10, 2002, the San Diego-based wireless communications company registered nearly 6 million users, eclipsing the launches of several impressive companies. Ebay took more than two years to accumulate 1 million-users, while ICQ and Napster took six months to garner 1 million registrants. And it was approximately one year before Hotmail amassed as many users as SMS.ac attracted in a six-month time frame (www.sms.ac/launches).
No other company in history has registered so many members in so little time, not even AOL, or Yahoo! And SMS.ac accomplished this feat with no marketing or advertising budget. 1-in-10 mobile phone users around the globe have already sent or received a text message through SMS.ac, due in part to the company's connectivity to more than 400 mobile phone networks in over 170 countries.
Founded by a group of technology veterans from companies such as Sony, Ericsson, Microsoft, AOL, Qualcomm, CollegeClub.com, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, Oracle, and MP3.com (www.sms.ac/management) SMS.ac originally introduced www.sms.ac on December 10, 2001 as a showcase for its proprietary technology related to the delivery of wireless data.
"This team carefully built upon what has proved successful for other standouts," said Michael Pousti, chairman and chief executive officer of SMS.ac. "The resulting model is a hybrid that takes the Hotmail viral growth strategy, the ICQ instant communications philosophy, and the monetizable community model of eBay, and encapsulates all that wireless data represents- always on, always connected and truly mobile."
Reaching this latest record Internet milestone is especially significant because most interactions with SMS.ac are actually through wireless devices, not personal computers and the Web. More than 100 million unique individuals have already sent and/or received messages through SMS.ac, solely utilizing wireless devices. And as MMS (Multimedia Messaging Service) and next-generation technologies make their appearance across the globe, this trend is expected to increase.
Pousti said his company's most recent record-breaking performance was simply the latest in a series of objectives that his team reached on schedule. "Our initial goal was to create interoperable technology that would accelerate the worldwide adoption and propagation of SMS and next-generation wireless data communications," said Pousti. "Having achieved that goal before our self-imposed deadline, the next objective was to become the world's largest wireless community and gateway-that milestone was realized last month."
Pousti used the announcement of his company's record launch to reveal his next prediction for SMS.ac. "Without reservation, I can tell you that SMS.ac will achieve profitability by December 31, 2002-six months from now and one year following product launch," said Pousti. "Our objective continues to be to prove the amazing opportunities that exist for companies that harness the power of wireless data.
"We are reaching out proactively to mobile network operators around the world," added Pousti. "It is important for operators to recognize that SMS.ac's success is the exception and not the norm. Operator billing systems must be open and accessible in order to enable the success of other companies that enter the wireless communications space, and for operators' GPRS/UMTS strategies to succeed."
SMS.ac is host to millions of wireless customers from over 220 countries that have registered to utilize the communication-focused wireless products and services offered at www.sms.ac.
To learn more about SMS.ac and to discover how this brandable technology can be integrated into your company's existing infrastructure, visit www.sms.ac and contact bizdev@sms.ac. To receive SMS.ac press releases via email, register at prsubscribe@sms.ac. You may unsubscribe from this service by sending an email to prunsubscribe@sms.ac.
About SMS.ac
With nearly 6 million registered members, SMS.ac is a truly global mobile community with connectivity to more than 400 mobile phone networks in over 170 countries. Through its core MMSbox(tm) technologies, SMS.ac, Inc. enables worldwide wireless interaction between network operators, technology standards, the Internet, consumers and application/content developers. The result is interaction not previously possible amongst a critical mass of developers, consumers and businesses-- igniting the widespread adoption and use of wireless data for network operators.
SMS.ac drives revenues through technology licensing, subscriptions, sponsorships and shared revenue opportunities. SMS.ac's consumer site (www.sms.ac) is an example of the brandable web interfaces to MMSbox(tm) technologies available for licensing. The community of wireless enthusiasts at SMS.ac represents one of the fastest growing consumer properties on the Internet. SMS.ac and MMSbox are trademarks of SMS.ac, Incorporated. Other trademarks or service marks referenced herein are the property of their respective owners. To view the SMS.ac corporate web site, visit www.sms.ac/corporate.
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