j2 Global

j2 Global, Inc.
Public
Traded as NASDAQ: JCOM
Industry Digital media
Founded December 1995 (1995-12) (as JFax)
Headquarters Hollywood, California, U.S.
Area served
 Worldwide
Key people
 Richard Ressler
(Chairman)
Hemi Zucker
(CEO)
Scott Turicchi
(President & CFO)
Harmeet Singh
(President, Cloud Connect)
Jeremy Rossen
(General Counsel)
Services eFax
eVoice
Onebox
KeepItSafe
FuseMail
Campaigner
Number of employees
 over 1600 (2015)[1]
Subsidiaries Ziff Davis
IGN
PC Mag
Askmen.com
Geek.com
Website j2global.com

j2 Global, Inc. is an American publicly traded technology company based in Los Angeles, California. The company provides Internet services through two divisions: Business Cloud Services and Digital Media.[2]

History

j2 Global was founded in December 1995 as JFax.[3] The company changed its registered name to j2 Global Communications, Inc. on August 2000,[4] and again to j2 Global on December 7, 2011, dropping "Communications" from its official name to reflect "...expansion from phone number-centric services ... into complementary lines of non-phone number-centric services."[5]

On November 12, 2012, j2 Global launched its digital media division with the acquisition of digital publisher Ziff Davis Inc. for $167 million in cash.[6] On February 4, 2013, j2 Global announced that it had more than doubled the size of its digital media division's business with the acquisition of IGN Entertainment from News Corp.[7] Terms of the IGN acquisition were not announced.

On March 18, 2013, the company announced it had acquired MetroFax, a Bellevue, Washington provider of Internet faxing services.[8] On April 17, 2013, the company acquired Backup Connect BV, a Dutch provider of online backup services.[9] On 19 November 2013, its media division Ziff Davis announced it acquired electronics aggregating website TechBargain.com.

In February, j2 Global announced the acquisition of several companies: City Numbers, a UK-based worldwide provider of inbound toll-free numbers in over 80 countries;[10] LiveDrive, a UK-based provider of online backup;[11] and Australian companies OzeFax and Faxmate.[12] On 3 April[13] 2014 j2 Global announced that it acquired Business Critical Software (also known as iCritical), a UK-based email security and management company.[14]

As of 2014, j2 Global has a network that covers 49 countries on six continents. As of December 31, 2013, j2 Global reported 18 consecutive fiscal years of revenue growth.[15]

Brands and subsidiaries

j2 Global, Inc. provides Internet services through its two divisions: Business Cloud Services and Digital Media. Business Cloud Services brands include eFax, Onebox, eVoice, Fusemail, Campaigner, KeepITsafe, VaultLogix, Callstream, Yotta280, Mailout Interactive, GDV, BackUp Solutions, SugarSync, Nuvotera, UnityFax, Firstway Digital, Excel Micro, Web24 Group, MXSweep, City Numbers, LiveDrive, MetroFax, TrustFax, RapidFax, Send2Fax and Fax.com. The Digital Media division delivers various content through its digital properties, including Ziff Davis (Including PC Magazine, ComputerShopper, ExtremeTech, Toolbox.com and Geek.com) IGN Entertainment (including AskMen, 1UP.com and UGO.com), Offers.com, and NetShelter (including AndroidCentral.com, MacRumors.com, Neoseeker.com, SlashGear.com and TechSpot.com).[16]

MyFax

MyFax is an Internet business communication tool which had been provided by the Ottawa-based software company Protus IP Solutions.[17] The company was acquired by j2 Global in December 2010.

Internet faxing is a service that permits the sending and receiving of faxes using the Internet rather than the traditional public switched telephone network (PSTN), also known as the plain old telephone service (POTS) or a traditional fax machine. Faxing online eliminates problems with traditional faxing, including connection issues, busy signals and loss of data. Internet faxes can be delivered to multiple email addresses and forwarded to multiple recipients rather than to one machine at a time.[18]

History

MyFax was launched by Protus IP Solutions in 2009 as an alternative to fax machines, as it enables users to send and receive faxes from any location.[19] MyFax has grown to over 400,000 subscribers,[20] with approximately 20,000 new customers subscribing to the service each month.[21]

On December 6, 2010, MyFax announced that it had been acquired by j2 Global Communications, Inc, owners of eFax.[22]

Features

Some of the features of MyFax include the ability to send and receive faxes by email and through the internet, as well as send faxes directly from Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook, and Microsoft Windows-based applications including Google Docs, OpenOffice.org, and Intuit QuickBooks.[23] Recently, a program has been released that allows for iPhone and BlackBerry applications to make it fully compatible with smartphones.[24]

In 2009, TMCnet claimed that “MyFax is the fastest-growing Internet fax service used by individuals, small, medium and large businesses to send and receive faxes using existing email accounts or the web. MyFax offers services to industries in North America and Europe that are recognized as some of the fastest-growing adopters of Internet fax including healthcare, finance, insurance, real estate, transportation and government.”[25]

MyFax is now owned by j2 Global, which has imposed very restrictive terms and conditions restricting the client's right to local number portability. Among the restrictions is a $40 US charge per number if j2 permits the number to be ported out; the company imposes many arbitrary restrictions on portability and has attempted to claim the numbers as its own property, in some cases imposing inflated penalties and unilaterally taking numbers back after they've been ported to another provider by clients.[26]

Reviews

Before its acquisition by j2 Global, MyFax had received a few favourable reviews[27] including an Internet Telephony magazine product of the year for 2009.[28]

While the impact of the j2 Global acquisition is unknown, other companies acquired by j2 have been the target of frequent consumer complaints regarding sales tactics,[29] inflated fees to cancel the service[30] and toll-free number portability issues.[31][32]

Awards

In September 2012, j2 Global was recognized on the InformationWeek 500 list of technology companies.[33]

In 2013, j2 Global was ranked number 40 in Forbes' list of "America's Best Small Companies".[34]

Criticism

Some j2 Global companies have been the target of complaints ranging from number portability to issues with its contract providing no refunds on early termination.

It has targeted various competing providers with patent litigation, including CallWave,[35] Comodo, EasyLink Services International Corporation,[36] Open Text, Packetel, Protus, Venali and Vitelity. Many of these companies have filed counter-claims, some of which allege antitrust violations of Section 2 of the Sherman Act and California’s Business and Professions Code §§ 16720 and 17200.[37] j2 Global has also received complaints for making it difficult for subscribers to leave the service through high cancellation fees and lack of toll-free number portability in certain cases.[38] Clients of companies acquired by j2 Global (such as eFax and Onebox) have complained that toll-free number portability, which was provided before the companies were acquired, has been removed, and that j2 Global (or its newly acquired subsidiaries) claim that it owns the telephone numbers associated with the service.

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.j2global.com/company
  2. ↑ "j2 Global Communications Hoovers Overview". Hoovers www.hoovers.com. 2011-12-13. Retrieved 2011-12-13.
  3. ↑ http://www.forbes.com/2004/02/04/cx_ah_0204j2global.html Arik Hesseldahl at Forbes.com: The Fax Of Business Life. 02.04.04.; Retrieved at May 23, 2012.
  4. ↑ http://investor.j2global.com/releasedetail.cfm?ReleaseID=197687 j2 Press Release: JFAX.COM Evolves to Become j2 Global Communications; Company is Launching New Business Services, New Website, and New Name. August 10, 2000, Retrieved on May 23, 2012.
  5. ↑ "j2 Global Communications, Inc. Becomes j2 Global, Inc.". Yahoo News - finance.yahoo.com.com. 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2011-07-11.
  6. ↑ "j2 Global Acquires Ziff Davis, Inc.". 2012-11-12. Archived from the original on 2014-02-09. Retrieved 2012-11-12.
  7. ↑ "IGN Entertainment Sold to j2 Global". 2013-02-04. Retrieved 2013-02-04.
  8. ↑ "j2 Global Acquires MetroFax". 2013-03-18. Retrieved 2013-03-18.
  9. ↑ "j2 Acquires Dutch Online Backup Business Backup Connect BV". 2013-04-17. Retrieved 2013-04-17.
  10. ↑ "j2 Global Acquires UK-Based Phone Number Provider City Numbers". Yahoo! Finance. 6 February 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  11. ↑ "j2 Global Acquires LiveDrive; j2's Online Backup Annualized Monthly Run-Rate Exceeds $40M". Yahoo! Finance. 10 February 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  12. ↑ "j2 Global Acquires Australian Companies OzeFax and Faxmate". Yahoo! Finance. 11 February 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  13. ↑ VCPost Staff Reporter (21 November 2013). "Ziff Davis acquires TechBargains.com". Venture Capital Post. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  14. ↑ "j2 Global Acquires UK Email Security and Management Business Critical Software Ltd.". Yahoo! Finance. 3 April 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  15. ↑ "j2 Global Reports Q4 and Year End 2013 Results and Provides 2014 Outlook". Yahoo! Finance. 13 February 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  16. ↑ "j2Global Acquires SugarSync - FindAFax.com". 2015-04-05. Retrieved 2016-07-13.
  17. ↑ 2009 INTERNET TELEPHONY Product of the Year Awards - Tmcnet.com,http://www.tmcnet.com/voip/0210/2009-internet-telephony-product-of-the-year-awards.htm
  18. ↑ Working from Home (Without Looking Like It) - Gigaom.com, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-12-06. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  19. ↑ Protus Launches MyFax, an Internet-based Fax Service for SOHO Market - Protus Press release, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2011-07-15. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  20. ↑ Putting 400,000 Subscribers into Perspective - Inside MyFax blog, http://blog.myfax.com/2009/11/putting-400000-subscribers-into.html
  21. ↑ 2009 INTERNET TELEPHONY Product of the Year Awards - Tmcnet.com,http://www.tmcnet.com/voip/0210/2009-internet-telephony-product-of-the-year-awards.htm
  22. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-11-06. Retrieved 2013-03-18.
  23. ↑ MyFax features, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-12-05. Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  24. ↑ New iPhone Application Gives MyFax Customers Access to Faxes at Their Fingertips,http://www.allbusiness.com/technology/software-services-applications-internet/14924706-1.html
  25. ↑ 2009 INTERNET TELEPHONY Product of the Year Awards - Tmcnet.com,http://www.tmcnet.com/voip/0210/2009-internet-telephony-product-of-the-year-awards.htm
  26. ↑ From "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-10-31. Retrieved 2014-10-31. : "IF YOU FAIL TO SATISFY ANY OF THE FOREGOING REQUIREMENTS, j2 GLOBAL SHALL REMAIN THE CUSTOMER OF RECORD OF THE NUMBER(S) AND YOU ARE EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED FROM CAUSING OR ATTEMPTING TO CAUSE SUCH NUMBER(S) TO BE TRANSFERRED TO ANY OTHER SERVICE PROVIDER, TELEPHONE CARRIER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY. j2 GLOBAL ALSO RETAINS THE RIGHT TO RECLAIM THE NUMBER(S) FROM YOU AFTER THE NUMBER(S) ARE PORTED OUT IN CONTRAVENTION WITH THESE REQUIREMENTS AND TO CHARGE YOUR CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD THE U.S. $500 (WHICH AMOUNT MAY VARY OUTSIDE OF THE U.S.) IN LIQUIDATED DAMAGES SET FORTH ABOVE."
  27. ↑ MyFax Recognized as Top Internet Fax Service by TopTenREVIEWS, http://faxing-service-review.toptenreviews.com/myfax-review.html
  28. ↑ MyFax and my1voice Receive INTERNET TELEPHONY Magazine's Product of the Year Award, "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2010-11-21. Retrieved 2010-12-03.
  29. ↑ http://www.consumeraffairs.com/cell_phones/efax.html lists 35 consumer complaints against eFax, another j2 Global subsidiary
  30. ↑ A client claims to have incurred $130 in cancellation fees at www.ripoffreport.com/r/EFax-J2-Global-Communications-Inc/internet/EFax-J2-Comm-eFax-J2-Global-Communications-Inc-account-never-cancelled-130-in-extra-c-469614
  31. ↑ A complaint from an outside RespOrg at tollfreenumbers.com/onebox indicates problems porting numbers out of the service.
  32. ↑ Number portability has also been an issue in consumer complaints: www.ripoffreport.com/r/J2-Communications-Dba-Evoice-Plus-Evoice-Receptionist/Hollywood-California/J2-Communications-Evoice-Plus-Evoice-Receptionist-j2-claims-inability-to-port-internal-n-373786
  33. ↑ InformationWeek 500 award
  34. ↑ Badenhausen, Kurt (9 October 2013). "America's Best Small Companies". Forbes. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  35. ↑ "j2 Global Files Patent Infringement Suit Against CallWave, Inc.".
  36. ↑ "j2 Global Files Patent Infringement Suits Against Protus IP Solutions, Inc, Captaris, Inc. and EasyLink Services International Corporation".
  37. ↑ http://www.getfilings.com/sec-filings/100223/J2-GLOBAL-COMMUNICATIONS-INC_10-K/
  38. ↑ "BBB Complaints".

External links

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