Freshtel

Infobox_Company
company_name = Freshtel Holdings Limited
company_type = Public (asx|FRE)
foundation = January 2004
location = flagicon|AUS Melbourne, Victoria
key_people = Rhonda O'Donnell, CEO
Kenneth V Loughnan, Chairman
industry = Telecommunications
products = Voice over Internet Protocol service, software and hardware
num_employees = 68 (June 2007) [ [http://finance.google.com/finance?q=ASX:FRE Google Finance] ]
homepage = [http://www.freshtelholdings.com/ www.freshtelholdings.com]

Freshtel Holdings Limited (asx|FRE) is an Australian telephony company developing and marketing Voice over IP products and services. Freshtel Holdings Limited offers end-to-end white label VoIP solutions to wholesale customers globally through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Voicedot and Virbiage, and has a direct-to-market retail channel through Freshtel Pty Ltd.

In December 2005 Freshtel signed an agreement with Tesco to provide a white label Internet telephony solution for the UK market. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4627250.stm BBC News, 2006-01-19] ] In late December 2005 Tesco acquired a 6% stake in Freshtel, [ [http://www.theage.com.au/news/Business/UK-Tesco-to-take-stake-in-Freshtel/2005/12/29/1135732686987.html The Age, 2005-12-29] ] increased to 12% in November 2006. [ [http://australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,20802038%5E15316%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html Australian IT, 2006-11-22] ]

Structure

The Freshtel Holdings business is structured into three separate channels and an internal research and development arm. Each channel has its own brand and performs a different business function. [ [http://www.freshtelholdings.com/ Freshtel Holdings home page] ]

Virbiage is a manufacturer and distributor of VoIP hardware such as Internet telephones and analogue telephone adaptors. Virbiage retails these products through its own web site and through distribution agreements with international partners.

Voicedot Networks (formerly VoiceStream Networks) runs the Internet telephone network used to route data for Freshtel's customers. Voicedot provides a wholesale version of the Freshtel Australia retail offering.

Both of these companies supply services to Freshtel Pty Ltd, the retail provider of these services.

Freshtel R&D undertakes all of Freshtel's product research and development. Freshtel R&D is currently part of the Australian Government R&D initiative.

References