fring

Talk, Text & Video Calls for Mobile

Media & Entertainment Technologies
Acquired (Inactive) by Genband on Sep 2013 - closed due to acquisition

Company Overview

Snapshot

Founded in January 2006, fring operated with 11–50 employees. The company raised a total of $30,000,000 across 4 funding rounds from 4 investors. fring was acquired by Genband in September 2013.

Business overview

fring developed mobile communication solutions, enabling free mobile group video chat, two-way video calls, voice calls, and text chat. Their core technology leveraged mobile internet connections (3G/4G, Wi-Fi, GPRS, EDGE) to deliver these services across major smartphones and tablets, including iPhone/iPod touch/iPad, Android, and Nokia devices. The company served consumers globally, operating within the Media & Entertainment Technologies sector, specifically focusing on mobile applications, messaging, social media, video, VoIP, and OTT communications.

Strategic signal

In September 2013, fring was acquired by Genband. This acquisition signaled a strategic move by Genband to integrate fring's mobile VoIP capabilities, aiming to strengthen carriers' competitive position against over-the-top (OTT) communication services like Skype and WhatsApp. For investors, this demonstrated the value of fring's technology and user base in a rapidly evolving mobile communication landscape.

Company Intelligence Q&A

When was fring acquired?
fring was acquired by Genband in September 2013.
What was the total capital raised by fring?
fring raised a total of $30,000,000 across its funding rounds.
Which investors participated in fring's May 2011 funding round?
In May 2011, fring received investment from Pitango VC and North Bridge Venture Partners & Growth Equity.
What was the strategic rationale behind Genband's acquisition of fring?
Genband acquired fring in September 2013 to leverage its iPhone VoIP technology, aiming to assist carriers in competing with popular OTT communication platforms such as Skype and WhatsApp.
Which investors participated in fring's April 2009 funding round?
In April 2009, fring received investment from Pitango VC and North Bridge Venture Partners & Growth Equity.

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