Press room

Telecommunications franchisees are a reasonably recent phenomena in the Southern Hemisphere, but in a short period of time they have revolutionised the Telco industry in Australia - and thanks to small enterprises like Kingfisher Connexions, New Zealand is next.

Telecommunications wholesaler and franchisor, Telcoinabox New Zealand has signed 13 new service providers in less than 4-months.   

According to CEO Shannon Fisher this is a reflection of business buyers increased understanding of the benefits of operating in telecommunications. 

“Our release of mobile voice and data via NZ Telecom Wholesale, W-CDMA network has definitely proven to buyers that telecommunications is no longer an unreachable industry category. 

 “What’s interesting is that the people who like the concept of being their own telecommunications business owner are families, mother and son and husband and wife teams. 

“Many don’t have any telecommunications experience yet come from management and customer service backgrounds.
“They like the idea of being able to offer a personalised service to their customers without worrying about the complexities of running the backend operations of a complicated industry.”

The latest telecommunications providers to join the fold include NZCU in Dunedin, Procomm in Auckland, Necto Communications in Hibiscus Coast, Kingfisher Connexions in Pakuranga and Easytel in Wellington.

 “The feedback that we have been getting from our new service providers is that this is their opportunity to create an investment by building an asset rather than buy a job. 

“It’s more than just work / life balance New Zealanders seek, which used to be the catch-cry of the early naughties,  working is now about creating a safety net for the family to ensure you earn even when you aren’t working, similar to an insurance policy. 

“As a Telcoinabox service provider you can achieve this.  The more customers you accumulate the higher the recurring revenue. You can upsize the potential as far and beyond as you are motivated to do. It’s that easy.”

Telcoinabox is currently in discussions with additional 11potential service providers, which will bring the company’s sign on target beyond their forecasts for this 2010/11 financial year.
Telcoinabox is on track to becoming the largest telecommunications aggregator in New Zealand.

ENDS.

For information, contact Andreina Garofali on +61 (0)410 434 227 for comment, contact Shannon Fisher on +64 (0)21 686 230.

About Telcoinabox New Zealand Telcoinabox is a telecommunications wholesaler, reseller and franchisor which packages telephony products that are distributed through its service provider network. To become a service provider all you need is a phone, laptop, internet connection and entrepreneurial spirit.  Telcoinabox has over 150 service providers worldwide which are individually branded, owned and operated. www.telcoinabox.co.nz

Financial cooperative New Zealand Credit Union (NZCU) South has signed a major telecommunications partnership agreement with Telcoinabox.

This partnership, the first of its kind for a banking institution in New Zealand, will give all 25,000 South Island based members access to more affordable fixed, broadband and mobile phone plans.

“As a co-op we are about offering our members financial support and reducing their telecommunications’ bills is just one way we can help,” says NZCU South CEO Andrew Leys.

“In the wake of the Christchurch disaster we believe more New Zealanders will be seeking ways to consolidate their spending so they can put money towards relief efforts.

“To encourage members to take up the offer we are stopping all transaction fees on any of their accounts with us. If the take up is great, the same offer will be extended to all 180,000 members nationwide.”
Telephone packages will be released to South Island members this April.

Member to member mobile call rates will be as little as 15 cents/minute and 35 cents/minute to non-members.
Telcoinabox NZ CEO Shannon Fisher says that since they opened the doors to organisations to become their own telecommunications reseller late last year, more companies like NZCU are realising the immediate win-win benefits.

“We focus on the customer, that’s what we do best and Telcoinabox looks after the backend support and billing. It really couldn’t be easier,” says NZCU South CEO Andrew Leys.

“Our philosophy is about creating a community support network and to continue on this path we are currently exploring power packages for our members based on the same arrangement we have with Telcoinabox.”

To support the Christchurch relief efforts, New Zealand Credit Union nationally has set up the Credit Union Earthquake Appeal which distributes funds through grants to affected members. Loan payment freezes have also been placed on Christchurch based members.
ENDS.

For information, contact Andreina Garofali on +61 (0)410 434 227 for comment, contact NZCU South CEO Andrew Leys +64 (0)29 211 39 53 or Telcoinabox NZ CEO Shannon Fisher on +64 (0)21 686 230.


About NZ Credit Union South is a mutual organisation offering a large range of services especially identified by customers to meet their financial needs. All profits (after providing for necessary reserves and operating costs) are returned to customers through top interest rates on savings, low cost loans, and reasonable fees.
www.nzcusouth.co.nz/about-nzcu-south

About Telcoinabox New Zealand Telcoinabox is a telecommunications wholesaler, reseller and franchisor which packages telephony products that are distributed through its service provider network. To become a service provider all you need is a phone, laptop, internet connection and entrepreneurial spirit.  Telcoinabox has over 150 service providers worldwide which are individually branded, owned and operated. www.telcoinabox.co.nz

MEDIA RELEASE                       
21 February 2011

Telcoinabox New Zealand on track for expansion with Auckland office opening and two new appointments

Telecommunications wholesaler and franchisor, Telcoinabox New Zealand has opened a new office in Auckland this month to support their current growth and prepare for further business expansion.

With this opening come two new appointments, ex-TelstraClear Wholesale account director, Greg Theron, as business manager and telecommunications entrepreneur and deputy chair/vice president for CanTeen New Zealand, Guy Alexander, as business development executive.

“We are now ready for our next phase of growth to build upon our current success. By adding to the team with strong industry experience and practical hands on knowhow puts us in an advantageous position to further expand into the New Zealand market,” says Telcoinabox New Zealand CEO, Shannon Fisher.  

“Enquiries to become a Telcoinabox service provider are pouring in thick and fast and in two-months we have already signed ten new service providers.

“If we continue to grow at this pace we could potentially become the largest telecommunications aggregator in New Zealand which would be a phenomenal achievement.”

Greg Theron has over 11 years experience in the telecommunications industry and joined Telcoinabox because of the simplified business model.

“Telcoinabox for me has it all. It’s set up for success. After years of talking about developing systems with other industry players and then finding a business that has done it, is incredible.

“Telcoinabox is the only telecommunications company that hides the complexity of the industry and simplifies the infrastructure.”

Greg and Guy joined the company this week and have been at the Australian and New Zealand Operations Centre (ANZOC) in Sydney for training.

Greg will be in charge of setting up the service providers on the Telcoinabox network, ensuring they are executing their business plans and achieving their goals and Guy will lead the marketing of new recruitment.

Within two years Guy built a telecommunications company from nothing and sold it to an NZX listed company. CEO Shannon Fisher believes Guy’s savvy and contagious enthusiasm will be a positive influence for potential service providers. 

“My goal this year is to sign on 20 new service providers by the end of the year. Based on the number of enquiries pouring in we are definitely on track to meet it,” says Guy Alexander.

Shannon is particularly excited about the future but would like to continue to see more female interest.

“We recently signed a mother and son team. They joined because it gives them the freedom to juggle family with business and manage their work life balance at their own pace. This is the perfect combination for most women and our aim is to help more women see that they can have the cake and eat it too.”

Greg and Guy will be full-time and based at the new Takapuna office.

ENDS.

For information, contact Andreina Garofali on +61 (0)410 434 227 for comment, contact Shannon Fisher on +64 (0)21 686 230.

About Telcoinabox New Zealand Telcoinabox is a telecommunications wholesaler, reseller and franchisor which packages telephony products that are distributed through its service provider network. To become a service provider all you need is a phone, laptop, internet connection and entrepreneurial spirit.  Telcoinabox has over 150 service providers worldwide which are individually branded, owned and operated. www.telcoinabox.co.nz

Australia first, Europe next. Telecommunications franchisor Telcoinabox has opened the doors to its flagship operations centre for Australia and New Zealand in Sydney.

Telecommunications wholesaler and franchisor, Telcoinabox is leading the way in mobile wholesaling
through its new ‘mobile-in-a-box’ product offering to existing telecommunications resellers and
customers looking for a wholesale mobile only solution.

To date Telcoinabox only offered mobile as part of a full suite of telecommunications services. Due to high
market demand for mobile, Telcoinabox has created this off-the-shelf mobile package. The new product
launches prior to Christmas.

Up until now resellers only had access to mobile data and voice through the two major carriers, Telecom
New Zealand and Vodafone directly.

Telcoinabox New Zealand CEO, Shannon Fisher, says: “The costs to buy direct from the carriers are often
well beyond resellers reach, in excess of $250,000.

“Purchasing through Telcoinabox allows resellers to spend substantially less to access mobile giving them
more time to concentrate on customer acquisition and, at the same time, gain access to competitive
rates, automated customer billing and account management support. “

Mobile wholesaling has only been available to the New Zealand market for a short time.

“We saw an opportunity to break down the barriers to entry and let resellers be in a position to
complement their businesses with much needed mobile so they can offer their customers the full
spectrum of telecommunications services.

“With over eight years of global mobile market experience this is a great opportunity for service providers
to access our expertise.”

Telcoinabox is already in discussion with several organisations keen to add on mobile.

Earlier this year Telcoinabox signed a 3-year deal with Telecom Wholesale to wholesale mobile voice and
data services on the W-CDMA network.

Telcoinabox anticipates the company is on track to generate $30 million in revenue over the next three
years.

ENDS.

For information, contact Telcoinabox PR Andreina Garofali on +61 (0)410 434 227

For comment, contact CEO Shannon Fisher on +64 (0)4 381 2960 or +64 (0)21 686 230

About Telcoinabox www.telcoinabox.co.nz
Telcoinabox is a telecommunications wholesaler and franchisor which packages telephony products
and distributes them through its wide franchisee and wholesale service provider network. Established
in Australia in 2002, the company has over 120 service providers worldwide which provide telephony
services, including fixed wire, mobile, Toll Free, VoIP and broadband to more than 50,000 business and
residential customers. The company has offices in London, Sydney, and Wellington. Today it is known
as one of the top 10 telecommunications resellers in the market and is expanding rapidly turning over
approximately $80 million a year globally.

The 3-year deal will enable Telcoinabox to wholesale mobile voice and data services on the W-CDMA network, NZ’s fastest 3G network.

“This is an exciting time for us as we know from our global experience and industry trends that mobile and mobile data are the big growth opportunities. We have seen strong growth in mobile data and voice with mobile substitution for landlines, and with an expected growth in excess of $400 million over the next 2 years this makes mobile a key product for our service provider’s success,” says Telcoinabox NZ CEO Shannon Fisher.

This deal is expected to appeal to SMEs, associations and unions, resellers and corporations that see the commercial potential in offering telecommunication packages under their own brands to existing customers.

“We have been in discussions with Telecom New Zealand about rolling out mobile since we launched Telcoinabox in New Zealand in April 2009 and we were keen from the outset to jump on the W-CDMA network but we wanted to wait until the initial network start up problems were ironed out, which are usual with any new system. We believe that Telecom’s W-CDMA network is the best solution for our service providers and that’s why we selected Telecom Wholesale as our mobile partner.”

Fisher says that it was critical to the business that they didn’t rush in and go with any product just so Telcoinabox’s service providers had something to offer. They wanted to do the research and be sure they had gone with the right solution.

“Timing is everything and customers demand the best. By expanding our product portfolio combined with our support, our service provider network achieves wide network coverage and the highest Internet speeds in the country.”

The new deal adds further capability to Telcoinabox’s existing portfolio in New Zealand and provides extra leverage for service providers to penetrate into the SME, corporate markets and their existing customer bases.
“By partnering with Telcoinabox we hope to broaden the availability of our W-CDMA network to more markets. “said Nick Clarke, Telecom Wholesale General Manager Marketing.

“We are excited by the potential of Telcoinabox based on the success of its massive growth in Australia servicing more than 50,000 residential and business customers.

“We also see a great future in wholesale customers. As companies realise that offering telecommunication services to their existing customers can create an additional profit centre for their businesses, we see ourselves as the ideal network partner for Telcoinabox to reach this market.”

The mobile soft-launch commences this week through Telcoinabox’s service provider network with a full launch expected in July.

The deal is projected to generate $30 million in revenue over the next three years.

Telcoinabox has an established service provider network and is in discussions with several potential wholesale customers who want to become their own telco.

Telcoinabox NZ is based in Wellington.

For information, contact Telcoinabox PR Andreina Garofali on +61 (0)410 434 227

For comment, contact CEO Shannon Fisher on +64 (0)4 381 2960 or +64 (0)21 686 230

About Telcoinabox

www.telcoinabox.co.nz

Telecommunications reseller and franchisor, Telcoinabox has appointed CEO Shannon Fisher to head the New Zealand operations.

Since officially opening its office in Wellington one month ago the new telecommunications entrant has already signed two franchisees, YLT and Creative Telcom.

Mr Fisher says demand to enter the telecommunications space as a reseller and franchisee in New Zealand is high.

“We have in excess of 30 serious enquiries in the pipeline and we haven’t even started a concerted marketing effort yet.”

Mr Fisher says there is a strong trend of ex-pats moving back from the UK who are feeling the squeeze of the global recession and are looking for ways to reinvent themselves.

“The majority of enquiries are coming from males between their 30s and mid-40s. Some are looking for a seachange like managing director of YLT Steven Brimblecombe who has moved from Brisbane to Wellington to start the business.

“What people are saying is that they really like the fact that all they need to do is just add a customer and you secure a recurring revenue stream. No other business model does that.

Also, they don’t need a shop front to operate or assume someone else’s brand. They can create their own brand name, look and feel, which is nothing like a traditional franchise system.

“We would, however, like to see more female interest. There have been some incredible success stories in Australia and we would like to duplicate the same success in New Zealand.

“We really see an opportunity for females – owning their own telco gives them the freedom to juggle a family and business and manage their work life balance at their own pace.”

A typical franchisee in Australia turns between approximately A$500 - $700,000 (NZD $600 - $800,000) per annum and system costs NZ$65,000 + GST.

Telcoinabox signed deals with Telecom NZ and TelstraClear late last year.

Telcoinabox Group CEO Damian Kay says partnering with these major players has given the business a competitive edge while providing new franchisees with a sense of security that they are selling recognised brands and quality products.

“In this recessionary environment people are looking for a business model that will get them through this downturn while at the same time secure a strong margin and guaranteed return on investment.”

Telcoinabox NZ has replicated its full-service Australian wholesale-to-resale business model to business customers, including individuals, ISPs, utilities and other large organisations.

Shannon Fisher has over 20 years experience in Telecommunications. He owns Creative Telcom in Australia, which is part of the Telcoinabox network of service providers. Prior to which, he worked in management, sales and solutions at Alcatel for 16 years, a multinational telecommunications company. He held positions through New Zealand, Australia, AsiaPac and Europe.

ENDS.

For information, contact Andreina Garofali on +61 (0)410 434 227

For comment, contact Damian Kay on +61 (0)2 8248 9002 or +61 (0)413 888 655 or

Shannon Fisher on +64 (0)4 381 2960 or +64 (0)21 686 230

About Telcoinabox: www.telcoinabox.com About Telecom Wholesale: www.telecomwholesale.co.nz