DISQUS

SMSblack · 1 year ago

So is this a sign that Texperts is great, or that the 118118 service is not that great?

Mark · 1 year ago

wow, thats probably going to put a few presents under a few trees this year...

Rax Lakhani · 1 year ago

This is amazing news! Massive congrats go out to Sarah, Thomas and the whole team behind Texperts. Their hard work has paid off and I'm sure we can expect more great things to come from everyone involved.

I had the great pleasure of working with Texperts back in the day when it was 82ASK. Definitely some the nicest people in mobile industry - with awesome attention to detail. If you're ever looking for an example of a service that cares about the whole consumer experience, look no further.

I Use Google · 1 year ago

Maybe they cared too much...rather than keeping their keys on the prize...organic growth and sustainable profit.

Ewan · 1 year ago

I suspect it's an equitable arrangement for both parties. One gets an exit, the other takes one competitor out of the market.

Paul Cockerton · 1 year ago

There was an 'interesting' post about 118 here. But then, who am i to comment ;)
http://sturgeonslaw.blogspot.com/2008/12/118-11...

willmcinnes · 1 year ago

On the 'no news on valuations as yet though' I just whacked it into their 'try us now' function on their website - 'How much wonga did you sell for?' - so am due the figure via SMS any minute :)

Mike42 · 1 year ago

Nice.

SMSblack · 1 year ago

Any update on that?

leander · 1 year ago

Texperts raised a lot of cash 2007 and seemingly used it all up. In August 2008 they undertook a rights issue which diluted down all the original founders to very small percentages. I would think that most investors will have lost money whilst the founders will only have very small Christmas pressies under the tree. I wonder if they are going to work at 118 ?

heracles · 1 year ago

Texperts raised a lot of cash 2007 and seemingly used it all up. In August 2008 they undertook a rights issue which diluted down all the original founders to very small percentages. I would think that most investors will have lost money whilst the founders will only have very small Christmas pressies under the tree. I wonder if they are going to work at 118 ?

edcave · 1 year ago

Lets hope they dont send Textperts down this route: http://tinyurl.com/67hl66

heracles · 1 year ago

edit

SMSblack · 1 year ago

Nice comments by Colly Myers, CEO of AQA here: http://smsisthenewblack.co.uk/2008/12/19/colly-...

I Use Google · 1 year ago

I'd be shocked if they (the founders) walked away with much cash. The aim of the game was IPO and to take the 'brand' to a global level, and in this current economic climate that was never going to happen. The rebrand, whilst a worthy endeavour, was also high risk and was clearly a costly exercise.

One wonders whether that 1M GBP of funding diverted to the marketing and advertising effort from August 2007 to where we are now has reaped an adequate return on investment. I think the acquisition (or is that integration?) in to The KGB group (ironic as their BDM was from The Number and returns to the corporate bosom), plus the disappearance of key members of the team in recent times, such as the marketing director, is a telling sign that this may not have had the increase in ARPU and new business and furthermore the second round funding was insufficient to see them through this economic and technology downturn that will continue for at least another 12 to 18 months. Personally it sounds like the operational cash was running out, but one could be wrong...

The $66,000 question is should Texperts have been the name to bet on from the outset to create a brand value proposition, rather than previous iterations - version 1, RE5ULT or version 2, 82ASK, five years ago. As we've seen with AQA who wisely snagged a good shortcode number for the UK and built up a recognisable brand in the same amount of years, whilst keeping the operational side of things virtual and lean, have the capacity to grow outside the UK. Maybe then the shoe might be on the other foot and Texperts might have been doing the acquiring or licensing of technologies...