NDO

NDO Limited

Former type	Private (was public)
Industry	Internet
Fate	Taken over by Namesco
Predecessor	NetDirect Limited
Founded	November 1995 (as NetDirect)
Founder(s)	Chris Anderson
Defunct	June 2005
Headquarters	Woodford, Essex, UK
Key people	Steve Wainwright, Managing Director Sam Hill, Development Director Mark Tayor, Technical Director
Products	Internet Services
Employees	40 (at takeover 2005)
Website	http://www.ndo.com

NDO Limited was an Internet Service Provider (ISP) in the United Kingdom. Originally established in 1995, originating from NetDirect which was one of the first ISPs in the UK.

History

Originally founded as NetDirect Internet Ltd in November 1995 ^[1] by Chris Anderson from a back bedroom in New Cross, London early expansion saw the business move to Greenwich, London. In February 1999 74% of NetDirect was purchased by Distefora Holding A.G ^[2] and it became one of the First Internet Service Providers to be acquired as UK ISP market consolidation began.

NetDirect subsequently became the UK division of ISION AG. When ISION was formed from Distefora's acquired Internet businesses including IS Internet Services AG in Germany. At the time of floating in March 2000, ISION Internet became the largest e-business group to list on the Neuer market, with a valuation of $1 billion. Chris continued as managing director until September2000. At its height ISION Internet employ more than 800 people throughout Europe, with over 100 based in the UK offices in London Docklands.

ISION grew to have over 30,000 businesses and hosting thousands of complex websites in data centers across Europe. The business was then sold to energis in December 2000 for $719million ^[3] however July 2002 saw energis go into Administration.

ISION was then taken over from the energis administration receivers in November 2002 by Steve Wainwright the former Finance Director of Ision AG, Sam Hill and Mark Taylor ^[4] the company was renamed to NDO to avoid legal complications associated with the Ision and NetDirect brands. NDO then subsequently expanded to offer ADSL broadband solutions, with the emphasis on customer service and not necessarily cheap and cheerful.

In June 2005, NDO was sold again (for the fifth time) to the Namesco Group but didn't survive until its 10th anniversary as an Internet company.

NDO now remains only as a trading brand of Namesco, all original servers, hosting platforms and connectivity services have been retired. Amazingly 3 original staff members are still employed by Namesco - Mark Taylor (Sysad), Andrew Snowball (Sysad) and Chirag Patel (Tech Support).

Awards

Won the Best business broadband ISP at the Future UK Internet Awards in 2003.

Won the Which Magazine best Buy for dialup in 2003.

Finalist for Best Consumer ISP and Best Hosting Provider at the ISPA Awards in 2004.

Finalist for Best Business ISP and Best Hosting Provider at the ISPA Awards in 2005.

Trivia

NDO stood for NetDirect Online and is a throwback to one of the original NetDirect brands.

External links

• NDO
• NAMESCO
• Energis
• Interview with Sam Hill about NDO ISP Review, February 1, 2005
• NAMESCO acquires NDO (sum undisclosed), ISP Review, June 22, 2005.
• ENERGIS acquires ISION for $719million, Internet News, December 19, 2000.
• DISTEFORA expands across Europe, Computergram International, October 4, 1999.

References

1. ^ http://opencorporates.com/companies/gb/03124377
2. ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0CGN/is_3760/ai_55988426/
3. ^ http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/539421
4. ^ http://www.ispreview.co.uk/ispnews/archives2003/arc9.shtml