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WorldCell is a provider of international wireless service for federal agencies, international businesses, and individual travelers.
| Company type | Privately-owned |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | 1996 as International Mobile Communication, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Washington DC metro area |
Key people | Carmen Faciobenne, President and Chief Executive Officer Ruben Creus, Chief Marketing Officer Jeffrey Simpson, Chief Financial Officer Jeffrey Stark, Chief Executive Officer of IMC Island |
| Website | www.worldcell.com |
History
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WorldCell was formed in 1996. The privately owned company was originally founded as International Mobile Communications, Inc.[1], and began primarily as a retail mobile phone service, renting international cell phones to travelers for limited periods of time.[2]
After 2000, the company shifted its focus to providing wireless management services to corporations and transitioned the rental service to its TravelComm division. In 2002, IMC Inc launched the Viking Wireless GSM network through its subsidiary IMC Island ehf, allowing IMC to be officially categorized as a wireless carrier (as opposed to a "reseller.")[3] In 2005 the company was re-branded as WorldCell[4]. Two years later, in 2007, WorldCell signed several agreements with international mobile technology companies, such as Aicent, Inc [5] and Accuris Networks.[6]
WorldCell currently administers managed wireless services to the federal government and commercial organizations, using agreements with overseas carriers such as Vodafone, O2, KPN, and Docomo.[7]
WorldCell's headquarters are based in Silver Spring, Maryland, a few miles outside of Washington DC. In addition to its corporate headquarters, WorldCell has offices in Reykjavík, Iceland and Tokyo, Japan.
Services
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Managed Services: WorldCell refers to its managed services as its “Global Enterprise Managed Services” (GEMSTM). When a company signs a contract with WorldCell, WorldCell provides wireless service (including voice, data, international roaming etc) to the client through the Viking Wireless GSM network or agreements with international carriers, then generates a consolidated invoice in US dollars.
WorldCell Platform Services: WorldCell recently created a customizable portal through which its clients can view, analyze and track international mobile usage and costs, as well as download call detail records and invoices.
Mobile VoIP (m-VoIP): Allows users to transfer their domestic mobile number to an international one, so callers in the US can continue to reach them while they travel internationally.
Satellite Services: Allows travelers to communicate in remote locations. Typically used by the military, humanitarian services, or travelers on cruise ships. WorldCell offers satellite services through partnerships with carriers such as Iridium, Thuraya, and Inmarsat.
International Cell Phone Rental: Through its TravelComm division, WorldCell offers prepaid and pay-per-minute international phones, satellite phones, and Blackberries. TravelComm recently added domestic service to its list of products.[8]
Subsidiaries
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WorldCell is the parent company of three additional entities: TravelComm, IMC Island, and Alterna.
TravelComm is a retail service that rents cell phones to United States customers traveling abroad. TravelComm offers pre-paid cell phones as well as pay-per-minute plans. TravelComm’s services are most often used by international business travelers, vacationers, and college students studying abroad. TravelComm has recently added US Domestic service to its list of products.[9]
IMC Island is a licensed Iceland-based mobile operator. IMC uses the Viking Wireless GSM network and has access to multiple international GSM networks. WorldCell is able to offer international wireless service through IMC’s networks, as well as through roaming agreements and SIM cards.[10]
IMC Island launched Alterna Telecom, a new company that will provide mobile service to local users in Iceland, in late 2009. IMC and Alterna also announced recently that they will be cooperating with Siminn, a mobile provider with the largest 3G network in Iceland. Alterna began testing its service with a group of beta customers in 2009 and will transition these trial subscriptions to paid plans in 2010.[11]
References
edit- ^ http://www.linkedin.com/companies/worldcell
- ^ http://www.worldcell.com/HTML/History.php
- ^ http://www.allbusiness.com/media-telecommunications/5991008-1.html
- ^ http://www.linkedin.com/companies/worldcell
- ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2007_Oct_17/ai_n27415430/?tag=content-inner;col1
- ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2007_Feb_27/ai_n27307366/?tag=content-inner;col1
- ^ http://www.worldcell.com/HTML/About_Us.php
- ^ http://www.worldcell.com/HTML/Products_Services.php
- ^ http://www.worldcell.com/HTML/Consumer.php
- ^ http://www.gsmworld.com/roaming/gsminfo/net_isim.shtml
- ^ http://alterna.is/
External links
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