Fongo’s latest release set to turn mobile on its head

fongo_logoFongo’s Mobile Application Used by Hundreds of Thousands of Canadians Just Got Much, Much Better!

Fongo Users Spoke and Fongo Listened – Free Mobile Application Upgrade 3.0 Released

CAMBRIDGE, ONTARIO–(Aug. 22, 2013) – Canada’s fastest growing mobile telecommunication company by subscriber, Fongo Inc., is pleased to announce the release of the upgraded version of their hugely popular free smartphone application on both iOS and Android platforms. Already installed in hundreds of thousands of smart phones and devices, Fongo’s apps feature a free Canadian phone number allowing for free local and long distance calling, free voicemail and free call display. It is available in all provinces.

Fongo works by routing calls over the user’s Wi-Fi or data connection, eliminating the need for expensive voice minutes. Fongo users have reported saving between $10 and $80 a month on their mobile bills by eliminating the costs for domestic, long distance, local airtime minutes, and voicemail fees.

Fongo 3.0 was developed utilizing the input from Canadians coast-to-coast who are currently using the application. Their feedback inspired a complete reworking of the design, augmenting the existing rich feature set while adding new custom settings, producing a simple, intuitive user-friendly mobile experience.

Upgrades Include:

  • New UI eliminates the need for a home screen
  • Dial pad on launch
  • Social media inspired left-side menu configuration
  • Full voicemail and text message lists

fongo_on_iphoneFongo 3.0 also coincides with a network augment and upgrade to prepare for the next tier of growth. In conjunction with the development path for Fongo 3.0, the company is planning a Q4 international release, bringing Fongo’s free mobile telephony to markets worldwide.

“With the phenomenal adoption numbers experienced here in Canada, we feel the international market will be very excited to have access to the Fongo services.” said Fongo President and CEO Jody Schnarr.

“Not only will this latest version of Fongo continue to save Canadians hundreds of dollars on their mobile bills, the ease of use and clean look should drive growth exponentially.”

Fongo chief architect Joe Preiditsch said, “We listened to our users, and we used that to redesign and rebuild the app. Their feedback was invaluable and already we are hearing from them on our Facebook page how great an experience they are having using Fongo.”

About Fongo Inc.

Fongo Inc. is a next generation digital communication platform that delivers the end of voice costs for smartphones in Canada. Fongo’s application works on any iPhone or Android based phone or device. Users receive a new Canadian telephone number, free long distance calling to most Canadian cities, unlimited airtime, voice mail, caller ID and many more free features. The Fongo voice platform is supported with a sophisticated ad media delivery platform and in-house intellectual property that ensures a content rich user experience while potentially saving the user hundreds of dollars per year on voice costs. Fongo enjoys privileged access to Fibernetics, a Canadian CLEC that owns and operates its own coast-to-coast network in Canada. For more information visit:

http://www.fongo.com/

http://www.fibernetics.ca/

Worldline CMO John Stix Looks Forward to Working with Verizon

John Stix

John Stix – CMO

Interviewed on CBC, John Stix, who also is the CMO of Fongo, our affiliated mobile company,explains in detail why he not only isn’t against an American company like Verizon coming into Canada, he sees it as a great opportunity.

He believes that more competition in the Canadian wireless market will be beneficial because the big three telecommunications providers are needlessly overcharging wireless consumers.

Further, from a business perspective, he looks forward to working with a new provider in providing data only plans for mobile customers, something the Big Three won’t even consider.

“We are really excited about a new entrant coming in. We’ve been in negotiation and talks with the Incumbents but again they put this brick wall up. They don’t want the competition.”

Listen to the entire interview HERE.

We’re Hiring! If you’re into marketing, have we got a job for you…

ErinA great opportunity to join one of the fastest growing telecoms in Canada

As you probably know, Worldline has a sister division catering to businesses called NEWT™.

NEWT™ is currently experiencing exponential growth delivering affordable high-tech voice and data solutions to companies across the country. Due to this rapid growth we’re all having trouble keeping up with the demand. Erin Wagner, who had the role previously just accepted a sales opportunity with NEWT™, so we need someone to fill her shoes.

It’s a terrific opportunity, in a great company that is going places fast, so if you’re got the marketing chops, have we got a job for you…

The Role

We are looking for a new member for the marketing team.  Fibernetics will fill your time with a wide variety of responsibilities so your desire for variety, creativity, and spontaneity in a role will be met.

Knowledge and Experience:

  • A thorough understanding of the B2B sales cycle from lead generation to sales conversion, preferably in the telecommunications marketplace.
  • A B2B market analytical skill set to provide insights into current marketing programs and to assist in the development of future projects.
  • Experience in executing B2B marketing campaigns – and the production of reports, ongoing metrics, scoring and post-analysis.
  • Experience working with and supporting an outside sales team
  • Education in Sales and/or Marketing is considered an asset

Desired Skills & Experience

Personal Qualifications:

  • Strong communication skills both oral and written.
  • Comfortable with CMS for Hubspot, Salesforce etc.
  • Enjoys fun on the job
  • Comfortable in  client facing role
  • Collaborative in nature

Company Description

We are one of Canada’s fastest growing telecommunications companies and one of Waterloo Region’s start-up success stories. We were also one of the top five finalists for the Junior Achievement Business of the Year Award in 2012. Our rapid success enables us to continually grow our team in order to support our wide range of services. As a result we have many new career opportunities and are always looking for talented people just like you!

We offer a high energy, professional yet casual work environment with the opportunity to make a difference every day. It’s an environment where everyone’s contribution is valued and rewarded. We take pride in our ability to have fun and celebrate our successes together. In return, we are looking for people who are creative and passionate about their work. Successful employees have an entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for technology. If we are describing you, then consider becoming a part of the Fibernetics team!

Huffington Post: Cable Cord-Cutting – These Companies Are Bleeding TV Subscribers

cut_cable_250px1The Huffington Post Canada  |  By Daniel Tencer Posted: 08/14/2013 9:28 am EDT

Five of Canada’s largest cable and satellite TV providers saw a drop in subscribers in the second quarter of 2013, Ottawa-based Boon Dog Professional Services says.

The research backs growing evidence that Canadians, frustrated at high telecom bills, are ditching their TV subscriptions in ever greater numbers, opting instead for online streaming and over-the-air options.

Canada’s publicly-traded TV providers, who account for 90 per cent of the market, lost a total of 19,624 subscribers in the second quarter of 2012. That’s more than triple the rate of loss seen in the first quarter, Boon Dog reported.

Cogeco, Rogers, Shaw, Shaw Direct and Videotron all same their subscriber numbers fall, Boon Dog reported.

In the same period of last year, TV providers added some 3,600 subscribers “so there was a swing from growth to decline year-over-year,” Boon Dog co-founder Leila Goldberger said in an email.

Admittedly, these numbers are relatively small: Boon Dog says there are about 11.8 million TV subscriptions in Canada. But the consultancy says there now have been three consecutive quarters of declining subscriptions — mirroring almost exactly a trend seen in the U.S.

Worldline BundleBoon Dog’s data back up other research over the past year that has shown cord-cutting becoming a growing phenomenon in Canada. Convergence Consulting estimated earlier this year that one in 50 Canadians has ditched their cable TV subscription, and audience measurement firm ComScore recently reported that 16 per cent of Canadians no longer watch any conventional TV, getting their video online.

And so far the trend hasn’t done much to hurt the TV providers’ bottom lines. The CRTC reported this spring that cable and satellite TV revenue jumped 4.2 per cent in the year ending in August, 2012.

However, those numbers covered a period before the cord-cutting phenomenon started turning subscriber numbers negative. And some of the revenue increase can be accounted for through higher cable TV prices.

Beyond telecom.

Last week we posted a video titled Who Are We? which illustrated in less than three minutes our operating philosophy. It was intended to be an in-house video used as a reminder to our employees on what we are all about – but it was such a great message we decided to simply put it “out there.”

It ended with two simple words:

Beyond Telecom

What does that mean exactly?

We are a telecommunications company. It’s what we do. But it’s what telecommunications allows people to do now, not telecommunications itself, that drives us.

We live in an information driven world. We all rely on the ability to connect to learn, to work and for play. Telecom has become an absolute necessity for us all to live and operate in today’s reality – and in the future it will be even more so.

The thing is, other telecom companies see this increased connectivity as a license to gouge. They see this dependency on telecom as a method to extort the maximum dollars possible out of their own customers.

We here at Worldline are against that. We’ll never do that.

  • That’s why have no contracts.
  • That’s why our Internet is unlimited, with no extra charges if one of our customers goes over some arbitrary “cap.”
  • That’s why we have the lowest priced High Speed Internet in the country.

Telecom is no longer about telecom. It’s about the way we all live now, and we have decided that we want to be the company that provides our customers with:

SEWTWCH    That’s “Beyond telecom.”