SMS.ac
SMS.ac Why It's Fierce: SMS.ac is quite possibly the most controversial company ever to make the FierceWireless Fierce 15, and that's saying something. Regardless of what you think of this mobile community and messaging firm, one thing is certain: When it comes to numbers of registered users, no other mobile service comes close. SMS.ac claims over 30 million registered users in more than 180 countries, making it the largest community of registered mobile users in the world. The company claims more than 300,000 user-created mobile clubs that provide messages and updates on a variety of subjects, all through SMS messages. What about carrier partnerships? SMS.ac has relationships with 400 carriers around the world and claims over 100 premium billing relationships. Profitability? They nailed that too. In short, SMS.ac is the closest thing the mobile market has to a Yahoo. If they can't make mobile communities work, we don't know who can. What To Look For: Look for SMS.ac to continue its strong growth with users around the world. One note of caution: In the next few years SMS.ac could find itself forced to rethink some of its user acquisition strategies if they expect their service to move into the mainstream market. |