Freshtel

Freshtel Holdings Limited is an Australian telephony company developing and marketing Voice over IP products and services. Freshtel Holdings Limited offers VoIP solutions to wholesale customers globally through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Voicedot and Virbiage, and has a direct-to-market retail channel through Freshtel Pty Ltd.


Freshtel Holdings Limited
TypePublic (ASX: FRE)
IndustryTelecommunications
FoundedJanuary 2004
HeadquartersMelbourne, Victoria
Key people
Rhonda O'Donnell, CEO
Kenneth V Loughnan, Chairman
ProductsVoice over Internet Protocol service, software and hardware
Number of employees
30 (2009)[1]
Websitefreshtel.net

In December 2005 Freshtel signed an agreement with Tesco to provide a white label Internet telephony solution for the UK market.[2] In late December 2005 Tesco acquired a 6% stake in Freshtel,[3] increased to 12% in November 2006.[4]

Due to significant losses on its UK activity (including transfer costs), which contributed over 70% of revenue, Freshtel announced in February 2010 that an agreement had been reached with Tesco to terminate the VOIP services it had provided.[5] In May 2010 Freshtel announced that it had sold its UK operation for $150,000.[6]

Structure

The Freshtel Holdings business is structured into three separate channels and an internal research and development arm. Each channel has its own brand and performs a different business function.

Virbiage is a manufacturer and distributor of VoIP hardware such as Internet telephones and analogue telephone adaptors. Virbiage retails these products through its own web site and through distribution agreements with international partners.

Voicedot Networks (formerly VoiceStream Networks) runs the Internet telephone network used to route data for Freshtel's customers. Voicedot provides a wholesale version of the Freshtel Australia retail offering.

Both of these companies supply services to Freshtel Pty Ltd, the retail provider of these services.

Freshtel R&D undertakes all of Freshtel's product research and development. Freshtel R&D is currently part of the Australian Government R&D initiative.

References
  1. "Freshtel Holdings Limited Annual Report 2009". Freshtel Holdings Limited. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  2. "Tesco launches net call service". BBC News. 19 January 2006. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
  3. "UK Tesco to take stake in Freshtel". Australian Associated Press. 29 December 2005. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
  4. Jenkins, Chris (22 November 2006). "Freshtel finds every little helps". Australian IT. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
  5. "Freshtel Restructures Business and Upgrades VoIP Platform". Freshtel Holdings Limited. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
  6. "Freshtel Business Update". Freshtel Holdings Limited. 11 May 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2010.
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