London: 14th November 2007 – ZYGO Communications, the UK-based mobile social networking service today announces the completion of a second round of business angel funding.
The Company’s ZygoHubs™ service is designed to allow groups of people in the real world to stay in touch. It uses a dedicated phone number to allow a group of people to communicate easily with each other by SMS and the web. Messages sent direct to a group’s ZYGOHub™ number are instantly and simultaneously received by every person in the group and everyone in the group can send messages back to their group in exactly the same way. It is extremely simple to set up and use. Within minutes messages can be sent between groups of friends and colleagues as easily as if they were in the same room together.
ZYGO provides brand owners with a mobile social advertising platform to reach clearly defined groups of consumers – whether they are 18-24 year old males with a shared interest in football or groups of music festival goers meeting up to see their favourite bands. For advertisers seeking a way to communicate with their consumers via the mobile, there are few simple channels. ZYGO has developed an advertising engine that inserts targeted communication, links, promotions, content, whatever into each message that the group sends. ZYGO therefore offers a different mobile marketing opportunity which is about engaging with consumers and not being intrusive, for example, through push SMS. ZYGO means that brands can really be a part of an interactive conversation.
The angel funding will enable ZYGO to launch its new consumer facing ZygoHubs™ BETA service and expand its current platform. The Company will be actively engaging with brands to deliver targeted group advertising and will continue to grow its customer base and gain traction and insight with its core target audiences.
Marc Mendoza, ZYGO Communications investor and managing partner at leading media buying agency, MPG commented: “At a time when advertisers and marketers are seeking new ways to engage with audiences through mobile marketing, ZYGO offers a way to extend the brand interaction to highly targeted groups. I am very excited to be one of a number of investors who see the potential offered by this service both for brands and consumers.”
“ZYGO has created a new social advertising platform in the mobile space, offering consumers what they want – free communication services for their real-world groups every month – supported by brands and sponsorship.” said ZYGO Chief Executive, Jeremy Krantz.
This round of angel funding comes from seven investors drawn from a range of backgrounds in advertising, telecommunications, new media and business. It includes a second round of investment from Richard Brennan, a former Executive Vice President of Global Brand Marketing & Products for the Orange Group, and current chairman of ZYGO.
ZygoHubs uses a standard telephone number to enable individuals to communicate with their entire team or a group of friends, with just one SMS. Once the message has been received, group members can reply to all the team with the same simplicity. The service which works on any GSM phone and requires no additional installed applications and can be set up from the mobile or via a web interface. ZYGO has developed a group text facility, group voicemail and conference calling.
ZygoHubs is easy to use and generates significant volumes of group traffic. It offers advertisers an opportunity to engage with highly defined groups of consumers through their real world social communities. Consumer trials conducted by a major internet service provider, a UK network operator and others have demonstrated the appeal of ZygoHubs with groups finding the service simple to set up and easy to use.
ENDS
For further information contact:
Lydia Oakes
Public Relations for ZYGO Communications
T: +44 (0)1799 543909
M: +44 (0)7710 244573
E : lydia@zygocommunications.com