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Followap develops and provides mobile Messenger, offering Instant Messaging and Presence solutions tailored for mobile operators. The company builds core infrastructure, including its Instant Messaging Service Center (IMSC) and an Interoperability Platform (ICP), alongside its iFollow Presence Server, which supports standards such as OMA IMPS. This technological foundation enables mobile networks to deliver sophisticated, real-time communication capabilities, often integrated with features like "Instant Voice" to enhance user interaction.
The company was founded in 1999 by Ben Volach, Dan Volach, and Benny Yashinovsky. Their foundational insight was the untapped potential for real-time communication on mobile devices beyond traditional SMS. This led to Followap launching the world's first commercial mobile Messenger service in 2000, in partnership with Eircell, Ireland's largest mobile network, effectively pioneering mobile instant messaging for the telecommunications industry.
Followap's clientele primarily consists of major mobile network operators across the globe. Notable customers have included the Vodafone Group, Hutchison 3G Group, BT Group, Turkcell, Telecom Italia, Wind, and Vimpelcom. The company's long-term vision centers on fostering interconnected mobile communication environments, allowing diverse communities to engage through presence-aware and seamless instant messaging services, thereby shaping the future of mobile connectivity.
Followap has raised $16.0M across 1 funding round.
Key people at Followap.
Followap was founded in 1999 by Meir Barel (Managing Partner & Founder).
Followap has raised $16.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Followap was founded in 1999 by Meir Barel (Managing Partner & Founder).
Followap has raised $16.0M in total across 1 funding round.
Followap's investors include S Capital VC.
Key people at Followap.
Followap was a pioneering technology company that developed mobile instant messaging (MIM) and presence software platforms for mobile network operators.[1][2][4] It enabled interoperable messaging services across operators and internet portals, solving early challenges in mobile communication by supporting standards like OMA IMPS, 3GPP, IETF (including XMPP), and Wireless Village.[1][5] Serving major telecoms such as Vodafone Group, Hutchison 3G, BT Group, Turkcell, Telecom Italia, Wind, and VimpelCom, Followap launched the world's first commercial mobile messenger in 2000 with Eircell (now Vodafone Ireland) and achieved strong early traction before its acquisition by NeuStar for approximately $140 million in cash in November 2006.[1]
Backed by investors like Sequoia Capital and Carmel Ventures, Followap's growth momentum peaked in the mid-2000s with partnerships including handset makers like LG and deployments like TurkcellMessenger, positioning it as a leader in telecom messaging infrastructure.[1]
Followap was founded in 1999 in the United Kingdom by brothers Dan Volach and Ben Volach.[1][6] The idea emerged during the explosive growth of mobile telephony and the internet, addressing the need for operator-controlled instant messaging and presence services before consumer apps like WhatsApp dominated.[1][2]
Early traction came swiftly: in 2000, Followap partnered with Eircell to launch the first commercial mobile messenger service globally.[1] This pivotal moment led to expansions with European operators like Bouygues Telecom and certifications such as iFollow v2.2 under the OMA IMPS standard in 2003, humanizing its story as a family-led innovator bridging mobile operators and emerging digital standards.[1]
Followap stood out in the early mobile messaging space through:
Followap rode the 3G rollout wave and the shift from SMS to data-driven mobile internet in the early 2000s, when operators sought to retain control over messaging amid rising internet portal threats.[1][5] Timing was critical: pre-smartphone era (before iPhone in 2007), its standards-based platforms filled a void for interoperable services, influencing OMA and 3GPP ecosystems that shaped modern RCS and IP messaging.[1]
Market forces like exploding mobile subscriptions in Europe and emerging markets favored Followap, as operators like Vodafone and Turkcell needed proprietary-yet-open tech to compete with web giants.[1] It influenced the ecosystem by proving operator-hosted IM viability, paving the way for today's carrier messaging standards and acquisitions that consolidated telecom software.
Followap's legacy as a mobile messaging trailblazer ended with its 2006 NeuStar acquisition (now part of TransUnion's NeuStar Israel operations), but its tech DNA persists in evolved telecom standards.[1][4] Post-acquisition, no independent activity is evident, with minimal revenue ($195K reported) and zero employees noted in recent profiles, signaling full integration.[3]
Looking ahead, Followap exemplifies how early movers shaped RCS and 5G messaging trends, where operators reclaim ground from OTT apps via interoperable platforms. Its influence endures in standards it helped certify, potentially fueling AI-enhanced presence in next-gen networks—tying back to its origin as the first commercial mobile messenger that kickstarted the always-connected mobile era.[1]
Followap has raised $16.0M across 1 funding round. Most recently, it raised $16.0M Series C in February 2005.
| Date | Round | Lead Investors | Other Investors |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 1, 2005 | $16.0M Series C | S Capital VC |
