Professional services
UnclaimedAn American telecommunications and technology company serving consumers and businesses through international communications, cloud communications, retail technology, and financial services.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
IDT Corporation is an American telecommunications and technology company headquartered in Newark, New Jersey. The company was founded by Howard Jonas in August 1990 after he encountered unusually high international telephone bills connected with a sales office in Israel. Jonas identified a callback and call-reorigination model in which an overseas caller could route a call through the United States, where international rates were often lower. That initial insight established IDT's long-term focus on cross-border communications and price-sensitive international calling. The company expanded from callback services into international long-distance, prepaid calling, Internet access, wholesale telecommunications, and communications software. In 1994, it entered dial-up Internet access and later offered dedicated Internet lines and bilingual prepaid Internet services. During the 1990s, IDT also developed Net2Phone, a major early Voice over Internet Protocol business. In August 2000, IDT sold a 32 percent interest in Net2Phone to AT&T for $1.1 billion in cash, while IDT itself became a public company through an initial public offering during the same year. IDT later announced a plan to reacquire full ownership of Net2Phone in 2006, and Net2Phone subsequently became an important business communications platform within the group. Over time, IDT operated a diverse portfolio that extended beyond traditional telephone services. Its activities included international wholesale voice, consumer prepaid communications, mobile virtual network operations, enterprise unified communications, cloud communications, point-of-sale technology, and selected financial services. The company launched BOSS Revolution in 2009 as a PIN-less international calling service. The offering was designed for smartphone users and helped move international prepaid calling away from conventional physical calling cards. BOSS Revolution was later broadened with services such as international money transfer and other payment-related capabilities. In 2015, IDT launched National Retail Solutions, generally known as NRS, a point-of-sale business aimed at independent retailers. NRS provides touchscreen checkout systems, customer-facing displays, payment processing, transaction services, and related retail tools. This expanded IDT's role from communications provider into a technology supplier for small businesses. IDT has also operated IDT Financial Services and international telecommunications subsidiaries in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. IDT has repeatedly reshaped its portfolio through acquisitions, disposals, and spin-offs. Businesses or assets associated with its broader corporate history have included IDT Energy, Corbina Telecom, IDT Entertainment, Zedge, IDW, CTM Media Holdings, Straight Path, Fabrix Systems, and Rafael Holdings. Several of these transactions separated non-core activities from the telecommunications company or transferred them to shareholders. In 2018, IDT completed the spin-off of Rafael Holdings, whose assets included commercial real estate and interests in oncology-focused pharmaceutical companies. The company has also pursued newer communications and payments technologies. Net2Phone acquired LiveNinja in 2017 to strengthen messaging and live-chat capabilities for small and medium-sized businesses. In 2018, IDT began a pilot involving Ripple's cryptocurrency technology for cross-border payments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, IDT received a $10 million Paycheck Protection Program loan in April 2020 and announced several days later that it would return the funds following public criticism of larger companies accessing a program intended for small businesses. Today, IDT's best-known activities are associated with BOSS Revolution, Net2Phone, NRS, international voice and communications services, and related financial or payment offerings. Its positioning combines low-cost international connectivity, communications technology for businesses, and practical transaction tools for consumers and independent retailers.
History
IDT Corporation was founded by Howard Jonas in August 1990 after he sought a cheaper solution to high international telephone bills associated with an Israeli sales office. The company's first service used callback and call-reorigination techniques to route international calls through the United States. This model allowed IDT to compete on price in a market where conventional international calling was expensive. IDT broadened its communications portfolio during the 1990s. It entered dial-up Internet access in 1994, later adding dedicated Internet connectivity and prepaid bilingual Internet services. The company also established Net2Phone in the mid-1990s, helping popularize Internet-based voice communications. In 2000, IDT sold 32 percent of Net2Phone to AT&T for $1.1 billion in cash and completed its own initial public offering. The 2000s brought substantial diversification and corporate restructuring. IDT launched IDT Energy in 2004, sold or reorganized telecommunications assets, announced the reacquisition of full control of Net2Phone in 2006, and sold its Russian telecommunications business Corbina Telecom. Its entertainment division was sold to Liberty Media in 2006. IDT also acquired an interest in Zedge and developed positions in IDW and CTM Media Holdings, later distributing or spinning off several of these businesses. The company operated TúYo Mobile, a wireless MVNO using the T-Mobile network, until the service was terminated in 2012. IDT spun off Straight Path in 2013, separating a communications-asset company holding nationwide 39 GHz spectrum. In 2014, it sold Fabrix Systems, an Israeli cloud storage and computing software company, to Ericsson. In 2015, IDT launched National Retail Solutions, a point-of-sale and payment technology business for independent retailers. The same year, it reached an agreement with ETECSA for direct international telephone service between the United States and Cuba. Consumer communications remained central to the group. IDT introduced BOSS Revolution in 2009 as a PIN-less international calling service designed for mobile users. The platform later expanded toward international money transfer and other payment services. Net2Phone acquired LiveNinja in 2017, adding messaging and live-chat capabilities to its planned business communications platform. In 2018, IDT completed the spin-off of Rafael Holdings and separately tested Ripple technology for cross-border payment applications. In April 2020, IDT received a $10 million Paycheck Protection Program loan during the COVID-19 crisis. After public debate over larger companies using a program intended to support small businesses, the company announced that it would return the loan. IDT's continuing business identity is centered on international communications, cloud and unified communications, consumer prepaid services, point-of-sale systems, and related financial services.
- 2020
Paycheck Protection Program loan returned
[1]IDT announced that it would return a $10 million PPP loan after criticism concerning access to the small-business relief program.
- 2018
Rafael Holdings spin-off completed
[1]IDT completed the separation of Rafael Holdings, which held commercial real estate and oncology-related pharmaceutical interests.
- 2015
National Retail Solutions launches
[1]IDT launched NRS to provide touchscreen point-of-sale, payment, and transaction tools to independent retailers.
- 2013
Straight Path is spun off
[1]IDT separated Straight Path, a communications-asset company holding 39 GHz spectrum and other millimeter-wave rights.
- 2012
TúYo Mobile is discontinued
[1]IDT ended operation of its TúYo Mobile wireless MVNO, which had used the T-Mobile network.
- 2009
BOSS Revolution launches
[1]IDT introduced BOSS Revolution as a PIN-less international prepaid calling service for mobile users.
- 2000
Net2Phone transaction and public offering
[1]IDT sold a 32 percent interest in Net2Phone to AT&T for $1.1 billion in cash and became a public company through an initial public offering.
- 1994
Entry into dial-up Internet access
[1]IDT began offering dial-up Internet access and subsequently expanded into dedicated lines and prepaid bilingual Internet services.
- 1990
IDT is founded
[1]Howard Jonas founded International Discount Telecommunications, later known as IDT Corporation, around a lower-cost international callback and call-reorigination model.
Products and positioning
A value-oriented, cross-border communications and technology provider combining consumer international calling, business cloud communications, retail point-of-sale systems, and selected payment services.
Prepaid international communications and financial services · 2009
BOSS Revolution
BOSS Revolution is IDT's consumer-facing international communications platform. Introduced in 2009 as a PIN-less prepaid calling service, it was designed to let smartphone users place international calls without entering a traditional calling-card PIN. The platform helped modernize IDT's consumer business as mobile applications and direct dialing displaced physical prepaid cards. IDT subsequently added or announced related payment capabilities, including international money transfer, extending the service beyond voice calling.
Cloud and unified communications · 1996
Net2Phone
Net2Phone is IDT's business communications platform and one of the company's earliest major VoIP ventures. Founded by IDT in the 1990s, it became a significant Internet telephony provider before IDT sold a minority interest to AT&T in 2000. IDT later pursued full ownership and expanded the platform toward business voice, messaging, SMS, web chat, and other unified communications functions. Its acquisition of LiveNinja in 2017 was intended to strengthen messaging and live-chat capabilities for small and medium-sized businesses.
Point-of-sale and retail technology · 2015
National Retail Solutions
National Retail Solutions, or NRS, is a point-of-sale technology business launched by IDT in 2015. It provides independent retailers with touchscreen checkout systems, customer-facing displays, payment and transaction processing, and related operational tools. The business represents IDT's expansion from telecommunications into software and transaction infrastructure for small merchants, particularly retailers that need integrated checkout and payment capabilities.
Low-cost international calling
PennyTalk
PennyTalk was an IDT low-cost international calling service. It reflected the company's longstanding emphasis on affordable cross-border voice communications and formed part of its consumer international calling portfolio.
Financial and payment services
IDT Financial Services
IDT Financial Services is associated with the company's financial-services activities, including payment-related and foreign-exchange services for selected customers. Public reference material identifies it as part of IDT's broader portfolio but does not provide enough detail here to describe its current product range or operating scale.
Controversies
2020
Paycheck Protection Program loan controversy
IDT received a $10 million Paycheck Protection Program loan during the COVID-19 pandemic. Public criticism focused on larger companies accessing relief intended to support small businesses. IDT announced that it would return the loan several days after disclosing receipt of the funds.
Brand decisions
2020
Return Paycheck Protection Program loanOtherBackground
IDT received pandemic relief financing under the Paycheck Protection Program, prompting criticism because the program was intended primarily to support small businesses.
Action taken
The company announced that it would return the $10 million loan.
Aftermath
The decision ended IDT's participation in that loan and became a notable governance and public-relations episode for the company.
Paycheck Protection Program loan. $10 million returned (April 2020)
2017
Net2Phone acquires LiveNinjaM&ABackground
Net2Phone was developing a multi-channel communications proposition for small and medium-sized businesses.
Action taken
Net2Phone acquired LiveNinja, a Miami-based messaging and live-chat technology startup.
Aftermath
LiveNinja's technology was intended to support messaging, SMS, phone, and web-chat capabilities within Net2Phone's evolving platform.
2015
Enter retail point-of-sale technologyStrategyBackground
IDT sought to apply its communications and transaction capabilities to independent retail businesses.
Action taken
The company launched National Retail Solutions, providing touchscreen POS, payment, and transaction-processing services.
Aftermath
NRS became a distinct technology business alongside IDT's telecommunications and consumer communications operations.
2009
Launch BOSS RevolutionProduct launchBackground
Mobile usage was changing international prepaid calling, while traditional calling cards were becoming less convenient.
Action taken
IDT introduced a PIN-less international calling service designed for smartphone users.
Aftermath
BOSS Revolution and similar PIN-less services helped displace conventional prepaid international calling cards and later expanded toward payment services.
2006
Reacquire full ownership of Net2PhoneStrategyBackground
IDT sought to consolidate control over the VoIP business it had established in the 1990s.
Action taken
IDT announced that it would reacquire full ownership of Net2Phone.
Aftermath
Net2Phone continued as an IDT subsidiary and later developed into a broader business communications platform.
2000
Sell a minority interest in Net2Phone to AT&TM&ABackground
Net2Phone was one of IDT's principal early Internet telephony assets and was expanding during the development of commercial VoIP.
Action taken
IDT sold 32 percent of Net2Phone to AT&T for $1.1 billion in cash.
Aftermath
The transaction generated a major cash realization for IDT while leaving the company with continuing exposure to Net2Phone and VoIP.
Cash consideration. $1.1 billion (August 2000)
Recent events
Reported
IDT acquired Leaf Global Fintech[2]
IDT Corporation announced that it had acquired Leaf Global Fintech Corporation, a digital wallet provider serving customers in Rwanda, Uganda, and Kenya.
Reported
MarketSpark completes $7 million Series B financing[3]
MarketSpark announced that it completed a $7 million Series B financing round led by IDT Corporation, with participation from existing and new investors Goldie Group and Klein Enterprises.
Reported
Renesas and Xilinx introduce Versal ACAP reference-design solutions[4]
Renesas announced power and clock solutions supporting the Xilinx VCK190 evaluation kit and Renesas VERSALDEMO1Z power reference board for Xilinx Versal ACAP. The companies described their work as a jointly developed, pre-validated reference design.
Reported
IDT launches the ZSSC3230 sensor signal conditioner[5]
Integrated Device Technology (IDT), a wholly owned subsidiary of Renesas Electronics Corporation, launched the ZSSC3230, an energy-efficient 18-bit sensor signal conditioner for capacitive sensor applications.
Sources5 sources
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