Fonix announces intention to float on AIM

Fonix Mobile plc (“Fonix”), the UK focused mobile payments and messaging company enabling businesses to charge users’ mobile bills and send users SMSs via their Carrier today announces that it has undertaken a secondary placing and sought admission of its entire issued ordinary share capital to trading on AIM, the London Stock Exchange’s growth market.

Founded in 2006, Fonix allows mobile network operators to provide additional services in the form of Carrier Billing, SMS Billing, Messaging and Voice Shortcodes. Fonix has over 100 Clients including ITV, Bauer Media, BT, Global and BBC Children in Need across a range of multi-billion pound sectors such as media, gaming, charity, ticketing and digital services.  

The company will be admitted to trading on AIM at 8.00am on Monday 12th October 2020.

Rob Weisz, Chief Executive of Fonix Mobile plc commented:

“We are delighted to announce the proposed Admission to AIM of Fonix. Admission to AIM will help raise the profile of the Company as we look to deliver on our growth ambitions.

We continue to deliver on our growth strategy by supporting our clients to drive transactions that occur on the platform and expanding on the content and services provided from both existing and new Clients.

We would like to thank our existing shareholders for their ongoing support and welcome our new shareholders at this exciting time for the Company

We would also like to thank all of our staff and partners who have supported the business over the last few years. This is a really exciting step for the business which will further our ability to provide high quality products and support to our partners.”

Alchimie’sTVPlayer switches on direct carrier billing with Fonix

Fonix, the mobile payments and messaging specialist, announced its partnership with Alchimie’s UK based OTT service, TVPlayer today.

TVPlayer offers a monthly premium subscription service with access to live television channel streams, catchup and on demand. As part of this partnership Fonix has introduced carrier billing specifically for premium TVPlayer subscribers who join through social media channels.

Fonix’s carrier billing solution is being used on the service to seamlessly charge the monthly subscription straight to the consumers’ mobile phone bill, without the need to enter credit card details.

Stephen George, Commercial Director, Fonix, said: “We are very happy to help TVPlayer grow and monetise their user base. Providing consumers with a carrier billing payment experience to access content is proving to be an essential part of the payment mix for OTT providers, which is why Fonix and TVPlayer are such natural partners.”

Kieran Knight, Commercial Director, TVPlayer, added: “The Fonix service provides an additional fast and easy payment option enabling our viewers to purchase a subscription with just a couple of taps, and allowing TVPlayer’s premium customers to watch their TV shows, on demand, and offline, without interruption from ads.”

The Big Night In Appeal raised more than £10.3m via mobile donations

Fonix has announced today that more than £10.3m has been processed in mobile donations for The Big Night In Appeal.

The three-hour show took place on 23rd April and saw BBC Children in Need and Comic Relief join forces for the first time. The £10.3m processed through text donations helped contribute to the £27.3m raised on the night of the Appeal. Funds raised will be split equally between BBC Children in Need and Comic Relief and will go on to support vital local charities and projects in the UK who are providing essential help to those most in need.

The show promoted text-to-donate, allowing donors to donate via text at a range of price points: £5, £10, £20 and £30. Three competitions were also promoted on the night including the David Walliams prize draw, Little Mix prize draw and a chance to win a Morgan car. The Morgan prize draw was the top competition for the night and was sourced by Fonix.

Donations for the competitions were charged to the entrants mobile phone bill. Using Fonix’s delayed donation technology entrants had the choice to opt-out without being charged within 60 minutes of entering.

Clare Charles, Director of Media and Charity at Fonix, said: “It’s been such an honor to work with Comic Relief and BBC Children in Need for this great cause. It’s also amazing to see the impact of running competitions – the money donated was rather astonishing!”

Kerry Howard, Head of Operations Appeal for BBC Children in Need, said: We’re so thankful to Fonix for enabling mobile donations so quickly and to the generous public whose donations will go on to make such a difference. A huge amount of money has been raised to help projects around the country that are doing vital work to support people throughout the pandemic.”

Jules Thorne, Campaign Co-director at Comic Relief, said: “Thanks to Fonix’s support and the enormous generosity of the public, both our charities will now make sure that this desperately needed funding supports vulnerable people, as quickly and efficiently as possible.”

Fonix to power mobile donations for The Big Night In Appeal

23 April 2020, London – Fonix has announced that it will be providing the mobile payment mechanic for tonight’s Big Night In Appeal on BBC One.

Two of the BBC’s biggest charitable partners, Comic Relief and BBC Children in Need are coming together for the first time, for a night of live entertainment. The Big Night In will raise funds to help support vulnerable people across the UK who may be significantly affected by the current Covid-19 crisis.

Fonix will be working with Comic Relief and BBC Children in Need to provide a text-to-donate platform, enabling donors to send a text message to donate either £5, £10, £20 or £30 which will be charged to their mobile phone bills.

Clare Charles, Director for Media and Charity at Fonix, comments: “We’re so very proud to be working with Comic Relief and BBC Children in Need during these troubled times. We’re looking forward to seeing the results and the difference that it makes to people all across the UK.”

Jules Thorne, Campaign Co-director at Comic Relief, said:“The Big Night In is an amazing way for us as charities to join forces and show how much of an impact we can make on the lives of those who need our support. Fonix’s experience within the charity sector has been invaluable to helping us get up and running quickly with mobile donations for the campaign.”

Kerry Howard, Head of Operations Appeal for BBC Children in Need, said:“It’s in unprecedented times like these that it’s more important than ever to collaborate and look to support this situation in the best way we can; coming together with Comic Relief will help us achieve just that. Through the power of TV, mobile technology and the public’s generosity, it’s going to be a brilliant night for a great cause.”

The Big Night In will air tonight on BBC One on at 7pm.

Member Spotlight: Meet Fonix

We are on a mission to help our members and their businesses. One the ways we are doing this is to give them an opportunity to tell us more about their business and the services they offer, and promote them however we can. Supporting our members is supporting business, and future growth across the industry.

Our first spotlight interview is with Fonix, who is a mobile payments and messaging services provider. Please feel free to reach out to them if you are interested in what they do and want to learn more.

Read the full interview: Fonix Spotlight Member Feature April 2020