Pinger

About Pinger

Founded in 2005 by former Palm executives Greg Woock and Joe Sipher, Pinger, Inc. operates in the telecommunications sector, providing mobile communication applications. The founders' journey began after an unsuccessful attempt to create MP3 players for Virgin Group, leading them to establish Pinger with initial funding from Kleiner Perkins and DAG Ventures. After their initial voice messaging concept did not gain traction, the company pivoted its strategy following the release of the iPhone SDK, focusing on mobile apps. A significant milestone was the launch of the Textfree app in December 2009, which quickly gained popularity.

Pinger's business model centers on a dual-product strategy. The company generates revenue through a combination of advertising, subscriptions, and paid in-app features. Its services cater to two main client segments: individual consumers looking for cost-effective communication and small business professionals needing a separate business line. The first flagship product, TextFree, is a freemium application that provides users with a real phone number for free texting and calling over an internet connection. The free version is ad-supported, and while incoming calls are free, outbound calls to non-TextFree users are limited, requiring users to purchase minutes or earn them by completing tasks like watching ads. A subscription option is available to remove ads and unlock additional features.

The second key product, Sideline, targets professionals, entrepreneurs, and small businesses by offering a second phone number on their existing smartphone. This allows users to separate work and personal communications without needing a second device. Sideline operates on a subscription-based model, with plans that include features like customizable voicemail, team messaging, and auto-reply functionalities. It primarily utilizes the user's existing cellular network for calls, which enhances reliability compared to services that rely solely on VoIP. For enterprise clients, Sideline offers features such as an auto-attendant and the ability to manage multiple lines under one account.