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Taking instant messaging in Asia to the next level
[October 28, 2014]

Taking instant messaging in Asia to the next level


(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) - New Call Telecom announces an agreement to acquire mobile messaging powerhouse Nimbuzz with 200 million registered users and growing fast - Deal marks one of the first big successes, outside of ecommerce, in the India Internet space New Delhi - New Call Telecom, the fast growing International telecom company with a growing presence in India has announced an agreement to acquire the leading global mobile technology brand Nimbuzz. The acquisition marks one of the first pure mobile Internet based successes out of India and signals the emergence of Internet technology based global consumer brands coming out of the country. Nimbuzz has a significant niche and loyal subscriber base in Asia, particularly in India and the Middle East Currently similar to Whatsapp and LINE, with this deal Nimbuzz has entered a new era of accelerated and differentiated growth as part of the 'my digital life' platform New Call are assembling.



Nimbuzz has rapidly growing revenues, that have doubled every year for the last 3 years and has a current run rate revenue of $15 million per annum. It offers a range of award winning mobile messaging, voice over IP and mobile advertising services. The Company today has over 200 million users across the globe, in 210 countries with a significant and rapidly growing user base in India, throughout South Asia and MENA. Dutch based Nimbuzz processes over 1 Billion VoIP call minutes per month, 100+ billion messages per month and operates one of the largest mobile advertising platforms in South Asia and MENA region. In most recent industry recognition, Nimbuzz was awarded by Mobile Marketing Association's (MMA) The Smarties 2014 as the 'Enabling Technology Company of the Year on Mobile'.

Announcing the acquisition, Mr. Nigel Eastwood, CEO, New Call Telecom said, I am extremely excited to welcome Nimbuzz to the growing New Call International family, the business will become a key part of our 'my digital life' ecosystem. Nimbuzz' significant loyal user-base allows for a rapid adoption of OTT/Apps relating to Wi-Fi and Home Broadband in India and eventually in other parts of the world. Its technology and advertiser connect will be key to monetization of any Wi-Fi network getting rolled out in India." Chairman Dr Jerome Booth commented " We see huge potential in India's nascent Internet, broadband, instant messaging/data sharing markets. With e-commerce newly arrived in India and Government focus on broadband access, we hope to generate and expand a number of new/traditional revenue streams across our growing International telecoms business." According to Mr Vikas Saxena, CEO, Nimbuzz. "We are excited to be part of the New Call group which is quickly building a global telecom conglomerate based on promising new technologies that the Smartphone era is bringing. Nimbuzz has played a pioneering role in shaping consumer habits on messaging and voice services in a smartphone and data centric telecom world. It's a great opportunity for us to play the central role in New Call's vision of building and monetizing Asia's smartest Wi-Fi based data network, starting from India. ." About New Call Telecom New Call Telecom recently established a company in the Netherlands as a platform for it's International acquisitions. The business is planning further acquisitions in India and the UK, group revenues are projected to pass $200m during 2015. New Call Telecom in the UK is based in London and part of the New Sparta Group of companies. New Call has it's contact centre in Nelson Lancashire, and business support service centre in New Delhi, India, New Call Telecom was founded in 2010 when its chief executive Nigel Eastwood led a management buyout of the business from its US parent PTGi. With over 750,000 annual subscribers, New Call Telecom today is a price leader in the UK residential telecom market through its newly renamed product Fuel Broadband, offering great value phone and broadband packages, and Planet Talk, Just Dial and Rate Buster, the low cost international calls services.


About Nimbuzz Nimbuzz. is a multi-award winning technology company offering proprietary cross-platform instant messaging , VoIP Calling & Advertising platform for smartphones, tablets and personal computers. Nimbuzz has been backed by Mangrove Capital Partners, one of the world's leading Venture Capital Funds within the telecommunications sector - the first investor in Skype, and current lead investor in FreedomPop, the fastest growing free mobile data service in the US. Mangrove becomes a shareholder in the new venture.

About New Sparta New Sparta is the private office of Dr. Jerome Booth, economist, entrepreneur, investor, commentator and leading expert on emerging markets. The name encapsulates the passion and focus of New Sparta's business philosophy. New Sparta has invested in a range of businesses in telecoms, film, journalism, publishing and insurance. Synergies exist between several of the business sectors, in particular between telecoms/broadband and film/media. The New Sparta portfolio of companies is currently expanding further within the existing business sectors, including into emerging markets, where group executives have particular experience.

Media contact: Mitali Darbari Prakash/Ruby SinhMobile- Tel: 9871983483/9811639657 [email protected]/[email protected] MHP Communications: Andrew Leach/Vicky Watkins Tel: 020 3128 6334 / 8770 [email protected] MHP is a trading division of Engine Partners UK LLP, a limited liability partnership registered in England & Wales with registered number OC365812. Our registered office is at 60 Great Portland Street, London W1W 7RT, United Kingdom. A list of our members is open for inspection at our registered office.

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(c) 2014 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

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