fring

About fring

fring was a mobile VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) application that enabled users to make free or low-cost voice and video calls, as well as send instant messages, over internet connections such as 3G, GPRS, or Wi-Fi. The company was founded in Israel in 2005 as a spin-off from UsefulApp Ltd. by Avi Shechter and two partners, with Alex Nerst also identified as a founder and the CTO. Shechter later co-founded the Spinach Angel Fund.

The service operated as a peer-to-peer mobile application, bypassing traditional mobile carrier voice and SMS services by routing communications through a VoIP gateway. This model allowed users to make free calls to other fring users and connect with various other VoIP services like Skype, Google Talk, and MSN Messenger from a single, integrated contact list. Its key value proposition was the significant cost savings on calls, particularly international ones, by using a device's data connection instead of cellular minutes. The application supported a wide range of smartphones, including those running Symbian, iPhone/iPod touch, Android, and Windows Mobile operating systems.

fring's business model included a freemium component, offering free calls between fring users and to other supported internet-based services. Revenue was generated from "fringOut" credits, which allowed users to make calls to traditional landline and mobile numbers at reduced rates compared to standard carrier charges. In September 2013, fring was acquired by GENBAND, a US-based developer of cloud communications solutions, for an estimated $50 million. The acquisition was intended to expand GENBAND's consumer offerings and provide service providers with a white-label Over-the-Top (OTT) solution to compete with other disruptive communication apps. Following the acquisition, the service was later integrated into GENBAND's Kandy communications platform. GENBAND subsequently merged with Sonus Networks in 2017 to become Ribbon Communications.