As part of a Global Growth Strategy, Oxygen8’s international expansion continues with acquisition of one of Australia’s largest voice and mobile services providers.

Oxygen8 Communications, the global mobile, voice and billing specialist, continues its global expansion with the acquisition of Information Dialling Services (IDS), one of the longest established providers of voice and mobile services in Australia. The acquisition strengthens Oxygen8’s foothold in the Australian market and gives the company access to a range of major brands that IDS is currently working with including SonyBMG, Sydney Airport and Edge 96fm.

Oxygen8 is continuing to expand its international business activities and turnover during 2010 was up. Oxygen8’s development as one of the global leaders in mobile, voice and billing services has been boosted by acquisitions in the last 12 months in the Caribbean, Africa and now in Australia.

Shane Leahy, Group CEO of Oxygen8 Communications, says, “We are very excited about the acquisition of IDS as the company is one of the longest standing providers of voice and mobile services in Australia with a very well established customer base. For IDS customers, they will now benefit from working with a global business provider that has the infrastructure, technical skills and depth of resource to take new products to market quickly and easily, whilst still having the benefit of ‘on-the-ground’ local knowledge and support.”    

Leahy continues, “There is tremendous opportunity for business growth in the Australian market. We are already working with brands such as McDonalds, Pepsi, Woolworths and Jack Daniels, who are all exploiting the potential of mobile and voice technology to increase customer engagement and drive new revenues. We also see real potential for growth in the corporate sector as businesses now readily accept that messaging for simple communication - such as reminders, alerts and notifications – is both cost-effective and efficient.”

Oxygen8 Communications now has a developed network offering premium domestic mobile and phone billing in over 110 countries – supported by international billing covering 200 countries. With offices in the UK, Ireland, Australia, USA, South Africa, Canada, Tanzania, Kenya and Mozambique, and the Caribbean, the company has a true international presence. Moving forward Oxygen8 is also planning further acquisitions and investments to strengthen its position. Leahy concludes, “We remain the largest privately owned, ‘one-stop-shop’ interactive communications company in the industry. We intend to stay at the very forefront of the market, enabling our customers to benefit from our global reach whilst still giving them the personal service they would expect from a local provider. The Group will continue to extend its geographical reach in 2011 with a number of acquisitions and investments targeted especially in the first half of the year. We plan to increase our staff, enhance our technology offering and broaden our coverage in order to support ongoing business growth.”