[WXC/VFX] Vodafone acquires WorldxChange

Forums › One New Zealand (including Vodafone, WxC, Farmside) › [WXC/VFX] Vodafone acquires WorldxChange

freitasm

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#174911 10-Jun-2015 14:25

Just received

Vodafone acquires WorldxChange to bring enhanced benefits to customers

Vodafone has today announced the acquisition of WorldxChange, a New Zealand based telecommunications business delivering high reliability IP-based voice and converged services, in a move that brings complementary skills together to deliver enhanced solutions to Enterprise customers.

Vodafone’s Chief Executive Officer, Russell Stanners, said, “This is a really exciting move for us. WorldxChange is a world-class kiwi company specialising in converged unified communications services and its deep experience and 15-year proven history of delivering high-quality innovative solutions is a great complement to our existing business.

“Our focus is on delivering the best possible solutions to our customers and this deal allows us to enhance our total communications offering. We’re proud to be investing in this strong, kiwi company and to bring the benefits of its highly skilled technical capability to our customers.”

WorldxChange currently delivers communications services to a large customer base including Government, Corporate and business customers; as well as providing fixed and fibre solutions to high-end residential customers. Its model includes capability for provision automation and self-service, offering flexibility and increased transparency for customers.

WorldxChange Chief Technology Officer and major shareholder, Paul Clarkin, said the company felt proud to be joining the Vodafone NZ group.

“This is a strong, positive move for us. Vodafone has seen the value in our expertise and what we offer to customers, and the decision will see WorldxChange become a Unified Communications Centre of Excellence for Vodafone, showcasing our design and development know-how.

“We’re combining our existing product set, technical capability and pre-sales expertise with Vodafone’s sales and marketing competence and highly-skilled Technology Team, to deliver leading products and services to Enterprise customers,” he said.

News of the acquisition has been welcomed by the industry. Broadsoft CEO, Mike Tessler congratulated Vodafone on the deal today: "We congratulate Vodafone on today's acquisition of WorldxChange - a longstanding BroadSoft channel partner that has built up significant expertise in next generation telephony and unified communications.

“By bringing WorldxChange's exceptional team into the fold, Vodafone is now strongly positioned to offer our superior UC-One platform and further differentiate its offering from competitors."

WorldxChange will become a wholly-owned Vodafone subsidiary, governed by a combined Board of representatives from both WorldxChange and Vodafone NZ.

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#1322219 10-Jun-2015 14:51

One way to get a supported consumer VOIP network.!

That can't have been cheap....

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#1322228 10-Jun-2015 14:58

Well bum right in the middle of a 24 month contract. Not sure I want to deal with Vodafone given there history with acquired ISPs.

Geoff E

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#1322231 10-Jun-2015 15:07

I've had a voip line with WxC before, worked very well. Looking forward to the new options this might give us.

The full press release is now on our site - http://www.vodafone.co.nz/press-release/vodafone-acquires-worldxchange-to-bring-enhanced-benefits-to-customers/

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#1322232 10-Jun-2015 15:07

The consolidation of the market is interesting, and probably not that great for consumers longer term.

Andib

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#1322233 10-Jun-2015 15:07

Annnnd a 4th billing system to add to the mix.
Vodafone Mobile, iHug, Telstraclear and now WXC

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Lias

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#1322235 10-Jun-2015 15:12

Yes.. Can we stop buying new toys and give me unified billing and account login between my ex TelstraClear and Vodafone mobile services.. Thanks :-P

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup.

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#1322237 10-Jun-2015 15:14

Andib: Annnnd a 4th billing system to add to the mix.
Vodafone Mobile, iHug, Telstraclear and now WXC

The thing about VF is that they tend to get rid of the brands, so they are just buying customers. Other buyouts from other companies tend to keep the brands, and the goodwill the brand has.

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#1322240 10-Jun-2015 15:18

From the press release

WorldxChange will become a wholly-owned Vodafone subsidiary, governed by a combined Board of representatives from both WorldxChange and Vodafone NZ.

Are VF intending to keep the WxC brand seperate, or run it the same way as iHug, TC etc.?

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#1322241 10-Jun-2015 15:19

mattwnz: The consolidation of the market is interesting, and probably not that great for consumers longer term.

Yeah I think by now its fairly safe to say we won't see anything to benefit consumers until the government changes.

timbosan

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#1322242 10-Jun-2015 15:20

Bugger.

I was a Vodafone customer (mobile and broadband) and couldn't leave fast enough. It took Vodafone 2 years (yes, 2 years) to fix a fault on my landline, even though I called them almost every single month. I now use WXC for their VOIP product, and they are a FANTASTIC company to deal with - they answer the phone quickly, they know what they are talking about, they are quick to get answers, and they call you back. I am seriously concerned WXC will turn into Voda and yet again fail on each of these.

I think its time to look at another VOIP provider......

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#1322248 10-Jun-2015 15:27

mattwnz:
Andib: Annnnd a 4th billing system to add to the mix.
Vodafone Mobile, iHug, Telstraclear and now WXC

The thing about VF is that they tend to get rid of the brands, so they are just buying customers. Other buyouts from other companies tend to keep the brands, and the goodwill the brand has.

Callplus has kept Orcon brand (so far), but 2Degrees has announced they are getting rid of the Snap brand and just calling it '2Degrees broadband'.

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dimsim

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#1322249 10-Jun-2015 15:29

R * I * P WxC

Looks like VoIP goodtimes are soon to be over.

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#1322258 10-Jun-2015 15:42

So I guess they will just be slapping vodafone logos onto the billing platform and making customers try to remember exactly which login form they have to use but providing no indication to them if they use the wrong one like all the other acquisitions?

Richard rich.ms

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#1322261 10-Jun-2015 15:51

Lias:
mattwnz: The consolidation of the market is interesting, and probably not that great for consumers longer term.

Yeah I think by now its fairly safe to say we won't see anything to benefit consumers until the government changes.

the weather will be bad until then

mattwnz

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#1322262 10-Jun-2015 15:55

BigPipeNZ:
mattwnz:
Andib: Annnnd a 4th billing system to add to the mix.
Vodafone Mobile, iHug, Telstraclear and now WXC

The thing about VF is that they tend to get rid of the brands, so they are just buying customers. Other buyouts from other companies tend to keep the brands, and the goodwill the brand has.

Callplus has kept Orcon brand (so far), but 2Degrees has announced they are getting rid of the Snap brand and just calling it '2Degrees broadband'.

Snap probably doesn't have the brand awareness to retain it. To be fair neither would WxC. But I think Orcon does, and is probably better known than the callplus or slingshot brand. Ihug though was a really well know brand.

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