The SMS market looks like it is hotting up again.
It was arguably Esendex, the Nottingham based business SMS experts, that started this trend with its MBO and acquisition of Text Marketer last year. Well, it looks as if Esendex might be one of the last ones standing at the end too as it has strengthened its position with another acquisition – this time of a business called Collstream.
Collstream’s technology perfectly complements Esendex’s as the predictions of using this acquisition for growth seem to be well founded, especially as since purchasing Text Marketer that company has grown by 50% and Esendex itself by 40%.
The Esendex CEO, Geoff Love has said of the acquisition:
“This acquisition is all about growth. The intelligent multi-channel messaging services that Collstream offers customers is something that over 7,000 Esendex customers around the world can now benefit from.”
What Esendex has bought is a company that offers SMS messaging, but also combines it with email and IVR. Currently Collstream specialises in working with debt collection agencies, but if Esendex can include those channels for it customers like Ocado and Virgin Media it could be very cool and open up a whole new set of opportunities.
Let’s hear from Geoff Love, CEO of Esendex:
“We will be looking to take Collstream’s multi-channel messaging technology out to our international offices, as well as to our UK customers. Our online sales and marketing expertise complements Collstream’s enterprise sales model, meaning these opportunities can be very quickly realised.”
I’ve said before that this is a market that people ignore at their peril. Another acquisition, a new company with combined revenues of £25m and a proven track record of growth – it could be getting very interesting again.