United Internet

About United Internet

The story begins in 1988 in Montabaur, Germany, where Ralph Dommermuth and Wendelin Abresch founded 1&1 EDV-Marketing GmbH. Initially, the company wasn't an internet provider but a marketing service for software companies. They found early success, even winning a German direct marketing prize. As the internet grew in the 1990s, 1&1 shifted its focus, becoming an internet service provider offering web hosting and dial-up access. This pivot set the stage for a major turning point. In March 1998, the company went public on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange as 1&1 Internet AG, becoming the first German internet company to do so. The capital from the IPO fueled a series of acquisitions, including brands like GMX. By 2000, the holding company was renamed United Internet AG. The strategy was clear: growth through acquisition. Over the years, United Internet snapped up numerous companies, including Web.de, united-domains, and Strato, expanding its portfolio of internet services. This created a powerhouse of brands in webmail, hosting, and access. A significant recent event was the 2023 IPO of its web hosting subsidiary, IONOS, a move to further capitalize on its strong market position. Today, founder Ralph Dommermuth still holds a majority of the shares, controlling a European internet giant that started as a small marketing firm.