Tuesday, February 12, 2013
TeleSign Acquires Routo Telecommunications
Telesign, the provider of Internet security and authentication services and tools, said today that it has acquired global SMS provider Routo Telecommunications. Financial terms of the move were not disclosed. Los Angeles-based Telesign, which is headed by serial entrepreneur Steve Jillings, said that the acquisition will help it improve its fraud prevention services.
TeleSign said the acquisition means that it now owns and manages its own, GSMA-licensed mobile messaging network, which will help it provide high performance, transparency, and long term stability in cost and service availability. TeleSign sends millions of SMS messages internationally every day as part of its authentication services, which are used for two-factor authentication by a large number of tier one, Internet services firms. The firm has not disclosed the names of its customers, but the firm's services are used by a large number of very well known search engine, online e-commerce, and other Internet services firms to help prevent fraud and security issues with their services.
TeleSign is backed by Summit Partners. The firm said that Routo will become TeleSign Mobile, the messaging services division of the company.