OzEmail

OzEmail was one of Australia's early large-scale Internet service providers and a significant participant in the country's transition from proprietary electronic-mail networks to consumer Internet access. The business was founded by Sean Howard, a technology publisher and former operator of a major provider on Telecom Australia's Viatel service. In 1992, after selling his interest in Computer Publications, Howard established the original Oz-E-mail operation. Its early technical work focused on connecting different corporate messaging environments, including Lotus cc:Mail, Microsoft Mail and Novell's MHS systems. The initial network reportedly comprised 16 points of presence distributed around Australia and was operated by a small staff of approximately eight people. In 1994, investors Malcolm Turnbull and Trevor Kennedy backed the company, which was relaunched and repositioned as an Internet service provider under the OzEmail name. This shift placed the business in the rapidly expanding market for dial-up Internet access, personal email accounts and related online connectivity. OzEmail subsequently pursued an aggressive expansion strategy, growing through acquisitions while competing in an Australian market containing hundreds of Internet providers. It also created an overseas operation, Voyager Internet, in New Zealand in 1995. Voyager became one of the country's early nationwide Internet providers, although its consumer customer base was later substantially absorbed by Telecom New Zealand's Xtra service after WorldCom withdrew from consumer Internet activities. OzEmail became a notable public technology company during the first wave of Internet investment. On 28 May 1996, it became the first Australian technology company to list on NASDAQ, trading under the symbol OZEMY. The listing raised more than A$50 million in investment capital according to contemporary company history. In 1998, the company also listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the symbol OZM. Its public-market profile and acquisition-led growth made it one of the more prominent Australian Internet businesses of the period. Malcolm Turnbull served as chairman during this phase and sold his investment to WorldCom as part of the 1999 takeover. The company's growth also brought legal exposure. In 1996, OzEmail was an unsuccessful respondent in proceedings brought by the creators of Trumpet Winsock. The dispute concerned intellectual-property and trade-practices issues surrounding the distribution of the Trumpet Winsock 2.0B software package, including allegations that OzEmail had removed or obscured information about the software's shareware status and registration requirements. The court found that Howard had been closely involved in the relevant project stages. The matter reflected the uncertain licensing practices common among Internet providers during the early commercial expansion of the World Wide Web. WorldCom launched a takeover bid for OzEmail on 14 December 1998. The transaction was completed on 24 February 1999, making WorldCom the company's 100 percent owner and resulting in the removal of OzEmail from both NASDAQ and the ASX. Under WorldCom and later MCI, OzEmail continued an acquisition-oriented business approach for a period, but the parent company's later corporate crisis and retreat from consumer Internet services weakened the international platform around the brand. On 28 February 2005, Perth-based iiNet acquired OzEmail's operating assets. The business was transferred into iiNet (OzEmail) Pty Ltd and the OzEmail brand was discontinued for new customer acquisition. Existing subscribers generally retained their OzEmail usernames, but new customers were marketed under the iiNet name. OzEmail therefore survives mainly as a legacy email identity and as an important historical brand in the development of Australian consumer Internet services rather than as an active standalone ISP.

OzEmail originated in the early 1990s, when Sean Howard established an electronic-mail venture after a career in Australian technology publishing and online services. Howard had edited Australian Personal Computer magazine and had previously founded Microtex 666, which became a major provider on Telecom Australia's Viatel network. After selling his interest in Computer Publications in 1992, he created the original Oz-E-mail business. Rather than beginning solely as a consumer dial-up brand, the venture initially worked on interoperability between several corporate messaging systems, including Lotus cc:Mail, Microsoft Mail and Novell MHS. Its first Australian network contained 16 points of presence and was staffed by a small team. The company was relaunched as OzEmail in 1994 after investment from Malcolm Turnbull and Trevor Kennedy. The relaunch aligned the business with the commercial Internet-service market, which was beginning to grow rapidly as personal computers and modem access became more common. OzEmail expanded its network, developed consumer and business email services, and grew through acquisitions. During 1997 and 1998 it pursued an aggressive expansion policy while competing with an estimated 850 Australian Internet service providers. OzEmail also established Voyager Internet in New Zealand in 1995. Voyager was among the early providers to operate on a nationwide basis in that market. Its consumer business later declined after WorldCom's withdrawal from consumer Internet services, and by 2002 much of its customer base had been acquired by Telecom New Zealand's Xtra. The Australian parent became a prominent public Internet company. On 28 May 1996, OzEmail listed on NASDAQ under OZEMY, described in company history as the first Australian technology stock to list there. The offering raised more than A$50 million in capital. In 1998, OzEmail added an ASX listing under OZM. The company was chaired by Malcolm Turnbull during this period. Turnbull had invested in the business in 1994 and sold his stake to WorldCom in 1999. The same period brought a significant legal dispute. The creators of Trumpet Winsock brought proceedings involving intellectual property and trade-practices issues. The case concerned OzEmail's distribution of Trumpet Winsock 2.0B in 1995 and allegations that the company had failed to preserve or adequately communicate information that the product was shareware requiring registration. The court found that Howard had been closely involved in the relevant stages. The dispute illustrated the unsettled software-distribution and licensing environment of the early Internet industry. WorldCom launched its takeover bid on 14 December 1998 and completed the acquisition on 24 February 1999. OzEmail became wholly owned by WorldCom, later MCI, and its public listings were cancelled. The business continued to acquire other companies for a time, but the collapse and restructuring of its parent changed the strategic environment. WorldCom subsequently withdrew from consumer Internet services, affecting related operations such as Voyager. On 28 February 2005, iiNet purchased OzEmail's assets. The assets were operated through iiNet (OzEmail) Pty Ltd, but iiNet discontinued OzEmail as a customer-facing acquisition brand. Legacy subscribers retained their OzEmail usernames, while new customers were offered iiNet services. The brand is consequently defunct as an independent ISP, although its email identities and historical role remain associated with Australia's early Internet industry.

• 2005

  iiNet acquires OzEmail assets

  [1]OzEmailen.wikipedia.org

  iiNet purchases the operating assets and retires the OzEmail brand for new customer sign-ups.

• 2002

  Voyager consumer customer base is largely transferred

  [1]OzEmailen.wikipedia.org

  After WorldCom's retreat from consumer Internet services, much of Voyager's customer base is acquired by Telecom New Zealand's Xtra.

• 1999

  WorldCom acquisition completed

  [1]OzEmailen.wikipedia.org

  WorldCom becomes the sole owner of OzEmail and the company leaves NASDAQ and the ASX.

• 1998

  ASX listing

  [1]OzEmailen.wikipedia.org

  OzEmail lists on the Australian Securities Exchange under OZM.

• 1996

  NASDAQ listing

  [1]OzEmailen.wikipedia.org

  OzEmail lists on NASDAQ under OZEMY and raises more than A$50 million in investment capital.

• 1995

  Voyager Internet is established in New Zealand

  [1]OzEmailen.wikipedia.org

  OzEmail creates a New Zealand subsidiary that becomes one of the country's early nationwide Internet providers.

• 1994

  Business relaunch as OzEmail

  [1]OzEmailen.wikipedia.org

  Investment from Malcolm Turnbull and Trevor Kennedy supports the relaunch of the business as an Internet service provider.

• 1992

  Oz-E-mail is founded

  [1]OzEmailen.wikipedia.org

  Sean Howard establishes the early email-service venture after selling his interest in Computer Publications.

A pioneering, technology-led Australian Internet service provider that combined email, dial-up connectivity and business messaging integration, and later competed through national scale and acquisitions.

• Internet service · 1994

  OzEmail Internet access

  OzEmail's core consumer and business offering was Internet connectivity in Australia's early commercial ISP market. The service was associated with dial-up access, national network points of presence and email accounts, and was expanded through acquisitions as the company competed with a large field of Australian providers.

• Email · 1992

  OzEmail email services

  Email was the brand's original focus. The early business worked on integrating Lotus cc:Mail, Microsoft Mail and Novell MHS environments before OzEmail became a broader Internet service provider. Legacy customers retained OzEmail usernames after iiNet acquired the assets, although new customers were no longer marketed under the brand.

• Internet service · 1995

  Voyager Internet

  Voyager Internet was OzEmail's New Zealand offshoot, established in 1995. It was among the early providers to offer nationwide Internet service in New Zealand. Its consumer customer base was later largely acquired by Telecom New Zealand's Xtra after WorldCom withdrew from consumer Internet operations.

• 1996

  Trumpet Winsock distribution litigation

  OzEmail was an unsuccessful respondent in a case brought by the creators of Trumpet Winsock. The dispute involved intellectual-property and trade-practices allegations concerning distribution of the 2.0B software version and the handling of information about its shareware registration requirements. The court found that Sean Howard was closely involved in the relevant project stages.

  Source

Read more

• 2005

  Sell operating assets to iiNetM&A

  Background

  Following WorldCom's retreat from consumer Internet services, OzEmail's assets were available for transfer to an Australian ISP.

  Action taken

  iiNet purchased the assets on 28 February 2005 and operated them through iiNet (OzEmail) Pty Ltd.

  Aftermath

  The OzEmail brand was discontinued for new customers, while existing customers generally retained their OzEmail usernames.

  Source

• 1998

  Accept WorldCom takeoverM&A

  Background

  OzEmail had expanded rapidly through acquisitions and was competing in a crowded Australian ISP market.

  Action taken

  WorldCom launched a bid in December 1998 and completed the acquisition in February 1999.

  Aftermath

  OzEmail became wholly owned by WorldCom, and its NASDAQ and ASX listings were removed.

  Source

• 1995

  Expand into New Zealand through Voyager InternetStrategy

  Background

  OzEmail sought growth beyond Australia while Internet access markets were developing across the region.

  Action taken

  The company established Voyager Internet as a New Zealand operation.

  Aftermath

  Voyager became an early nationwide provider, but its consumer customer base was later largely acquired by Telecom New Zealand's Xtra.

  Source

• 1994

  Relaunch as an Internet service providerStrategy

  Background

  The original email venture operated in a market moving toward consumer Internet connectivity and commercial online services.

  Action taken

  Following investment from Malcolm Turnbull and Trevor Kennedy, the business was relaunched under the OzEmail name as an ISP.

  Aftermath

  The relaunch supported rapid expansion, acquisition activity and eventual public listings in the United States and Australia.

  Source

1. 1OzEmailen.wikipedia.org