Zamano

Zamano plc was an Irish mobile technology company headquartered in Dublin. Founded in 2000, it built its business around mobile communications and interactive messaging, especially SMS-based services, premium-rate short codes, mobile games, and related technology for commercial partners. Its early development reflected the rapid expansion of mobile-phone usage and text-message services in Ireland and the United Kingdom, where businesses and media organizations used SMS for entertainment, competitions, information services, and paid customer interactions. In 2002, Zamano partnered with RTÉ Interactive on mobile and SMS-based games. Later that year, it acquired Avoca's interactive SMS business, obtaining ten premium-rate SMS short codes across four UK mobile networks. These activities gave Zamano access to the infrastructure and commercial relationships needed to operate paid mobile-content services at scale. The company subsequently expanded through acquisitions, purchasing Red Circle Technologies and Eirborne in 2007. It was also listed on the Irish Stock Exchange during 2007. Zamano's strategy included both mobile-content operations and investment in adjacent digital businesses. In 2011, the company announced an investment in Newsworthie, but ended that investment in October of the same year, stating that its limited investment capacity would be concentrated on opportunities related to its mobile expertise. Chief executive John O'Shea left in November 2011 and was replaced temporarily by Pat Landy as interim chief executive. The company continued to develop business-facing communications products. In November 2013 it launched Message Hero, an online business SMS service for customers in Ireland and the United Kingdom. In April 2015, Zamano agreed with Three to make its technology available as a conduit for e-commerce providers, extending the company's role beyond consumer premium-rate messaging into commercial mobile infrastructure. Zamano also faced regulatory problems connected with premium-rate SMS practices. In 2010, the UK regulator PhonepayPlus fined and reprimanded the company for unsolicited reverse-charge premium-rate text messages and ordered refunds. A further fine followed in 2012. A later case concerning the Play2Win competition service involved hundreds of consumer complaints about unsolicited reverse-billed messages or unclear charging conditions. A PhonepayPlus tribunal found breaches relating to fairness and misleading conduct and imposed an increased fine in light of Zamano's previous breaches. In February 2017, Zamano decided to close its premium-rate SMS business lines by the end of that year. Later in 2017, reports indicated that, following a management buyout, the company was considering investment in oil and gas exploration companies, suggesting a possible move away from its historic mobile-technology focus. In November 2018, Zamano announced that it was entering voluntary liquidation. A liquidator was appointed in early 2019, marking the end of the company's operations as an active mobile technology business.

Zamano was established in Ireland in 2000 as a mobile technology business. Its initial activities centered on mobile and SMS services, a sector that was expanding rapidly as mobile phones became a mass-market communications and entertainment platform. In 2002, Zamano worked with RTÉ Interactive to launch mobile and SMS games. It also acquired Avoca's interactive SMS business, a transaction that provided ten premium-rate SMS short codes operating across four UK mobile networks. The company expanded its technology and operating base through acquisitions in 2007, when it acquired Red Circle Technologies and Eirborne. That year it also became listed on the Irish Stock Exchange. Zamano's business model combined the operation of mobile-content services with the provision of technical infrastructure and messaging capabilities to commercial partners. In 2011, Zamano invested in Newsworthie, a new entity outside its core mobile focus. The investment was discontinued in October 2011, with chief executive John O'Shea explaining that the company intended to focus its limited investment capacity on opportunities related to mobile expertise. O'Shea left the chief executive role in November 2011, after which Pat Landy served as interim chief executive. Zamano launched Message Hero in November 2013. The service provided online business SMS functionality to customers in Ireland and the UK and represented an effort to develop a business-to-business communications offering alongside the company's consumer and premium-rate activities. In April 2015, Zamano entered into an arrangement with Three under which its technology could be used by e-commerce providers as a communications conduit. The company encountered significant regulatory scrutiny over its premium-rate SMS operations. In February 2010, PhonepayPlus fined Zamano £15,000 and issued a formal reprimand in connection with unsolicited reverse-charge premium-rate SMS messages. The regulator also required refunds. In March 2012, Zamano received another £35,000 fine for related breaches. A subsequent investigation concerned Play2Win, a competition service that generated 587 consumer complaints between May 2012 and September 2013. Consumers reported receiving unsolicited reverse-billed messages, or said that they had not understood that participation involved charges. A PhonepayPlus tribunal determined that the service breached provisions concerning fairness and misleading conduct and imposed a £40,000 fine, increased because of the company's previous regulatory history. In February 2017, Zamano announced that it would close its premium-rate SMS business lines by the end of the year. Later accounts indicated that, after a management buyout, the company was considering investment in oil and gas exploration companies, potentially representing a major departure from mobile technology. In November 2018, Zamano announced its entry into voluntary liquidation. A liquidator was appointed in early 2019, and the company ceased to operate as an active mobile technology business.

• 2019

  Liquidator appointed

  [1]Zamanoen.wikipedia.org

  A liquidator was appointed following the company's voluntary liquidation process.

• 2018

  Voluntary liquidation announced

  [1]Zamanoen.wikipedia.org

  Zamano announced that it was entering voluntary liquidation.

• 2017

  Premium-rate SMS services wound down

  [1]Zamanoen.wikipedia.org

  Zamano decided to close its premium-rate SMS business lines by the end of the year.

• 2013

  Message Hero launched

  [1]Zamanoen.wikipedia.org

  The company launched an online business SMS service for Ireland and the UK.

• 2011

  Newsworthie investment discontinued

  [1]Zamanoen.wikipedia.org

  Zamano ended its investment in Newsworthie and refocused its investment capacity on mobile-related opportunities.

• 2007

  Acquisitions and stock-market listing

  [1]Zamanoen.wikipedia.org

  Zamano acquired Red Circle Technologies and Eirborne and was listed on the Irish Stock Exchange.

• 2002

  RTÉ Interactive collaboration and Avoca acquisition

  [1]Zamanoen.wikipedia.org

  Zamano partnered with RTÉ Interactive on mobile and SMS games and acquired Avoca's interactive SMS business, including ten premium-rate short codes across four UK networks.

• 2000

  Zamano founded

  [1]Zamanoen.wikipedia.org

  Zamano was established as an Irish mobile technology company.

A mobile-technology and messaging-services company serving media, entertainment, consumer-interaction, and business-communications use cases, with a historical emphasis on premium-rate SMS infrastructure.

• Business SMS · 2013

  Message Hero

  Message Hero was an online business SMS service launched in November 2013. It was offered to customers in Ireland and the United Kingdom and reflected Zamano's effort to build a business-facing messaging product in addition to its consumer mobile-content operations.

• Mobile games and entertainment · 2002

  Interactive SMS games

  Zamano developed and operated mobile and SMS-based games, including services created through its 2002 partnership with RTÉ Interactive. These products used text messaging as the participation and interaction channel.

• Premium-rate mobile services

  Premium-rate SMS services

  Premium-rate SMS was a core part of Zamano's historical business. The company operated paid short-code services and related mobile-content offerings in Ireland and the UK. The relevant business lines were scheduled for closure by the end of 2017.

• 2013

  Play2Win regulatory case

  A PhonepayPlus tribunal reviewed 587 complaints relating to Play2Win and found that the service breached fairness and misleading-conduct requirements. The tribunal imposed a £40,000 fine, taking the company's previous breaches into account.

  Source

• 2012

  Second PhonepayPlus fine

  Zamano was fined a further £35,000 for additional breaches involving unsolicited reverse-charge premium-rate SMS messages.

  Source

• 2010

  PhonepayPlus action over unsolicited premium-rate messages

  PhonepayPlus fined Zamano £15,000 and formally reprimanded the company for breaching rules concerning unsolicited reverse-charge premium-rate SMS messages. It also ordered Zamano to provide refunds.

  Source

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• 2018

  Voluntary liquidationOther

  Background

  Zamano announced the termination of its corporate activities after winding down its principal mobile business lines.

  Action taken

  The company entered voluntary liquidation.

  Aftermath

  A liquidator was appointed in early 2019.

  Source

• 2017

  Closure of premium-rate SMS business linesStrategy

  Background

  Zamano's historic premium-rate SMS activities faced regulatory pressure and changing market conditions.

  Action taken

  The company decided to bring its premium-rate SMS business lines to a close by the end of 2017.

  Aftermath

  Later reports described possible investment in oil and gas exploration companies following a management buyout, before the company entered voluntary liquidation in 2018.

  Source

• 2015

  Technology agreement with ThreeStrategy

  Background

  E-commerce providers required mobile communications infrastructure for customer interactions.

  Action taken

  Zamano signed an agreement with Three allowing its technology to be used as a conduit by e-commerce providers.

  Source

• 2013

  Launch of Message HeroProduct launch

  Background

  Zamano sought to extend its messaging expertise into business communications.

  Action taken

  It launched Message Hero, an online business SMS service for Ireland and the UK.

  Aftermath

  The launch broadened Zamano's stated product scope beyond consumer premium-rate messaging.

  Source

• 2011

  End investment in NewsworthieStrategy

  Background

  Zamano had invested in Newsworthie but reassessed its allocation of investment resources.

  Action taken

  The company suspended further investment and said it would focus its limited investment capacity on opportunities related to mobile expertise.

  Aftermath

  John O'Shea left as chief executive in November 2011 and Pat Landy became interim chief executive.

  Source

1. 1Zamanoen.wikipedia.org