EarthLink

EarthLink Holding Corp.
Public
Traded as NASDAQ: ELNK
Industry Managed network and cloud services provider, and ISP
Founded 1994
Founders Sky Dayton, Reed Slatkin[1][2]
Headquarters Atlanta, Georgia
Key people
Joseph F. Eazor
Products Full suite of managed network, plus Consumer ISP
Revenue IncreaseUS$1.2 billion (2013)
Increase $4.98 million
Number of employees
 2,100+ (2015)[3]
Website EarthLink Business, EarthLink.net

EarthLink is an IT services, network and communications provider headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. The company serves more than 150,000 businesses and 1 million U.S. consumers.[3] On November 7, 2016, Windstream Holdings announced a merger with Earthlink for about $1.1 billion in stock. The combined company, which will retain the Windstream name, will be headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas.[4]

Business

EarthLink was formed in 1994. As of November 2016, it was promoting two service groups: Residential Solutions and Business Solutions.

Business Solutions sells communications, IT and virtualization, cloud computing, IT security, colocation, hosted applications and support services. The company owns and operates a U.S. network including 29,421 route miles of fiber, 90 metro fiber rings, and eight data centers. The group reports having more than 150,000 customers.[5]

EarthLink's Residential Solutions sell broadband (DSL/freestanding DSL, cable internet, 4G Internet, Satellite Internet), dial-up Internet, Web hosting and commerce, and related services. It also sells spamBlocker, Anti-virus and Online Back-up. Earthlink Internet services claim over 1 million customers.[5]

EarthLink transformed itself from an ISP and municipal wireless company into a Managed Service Provider (MSP).[6]

History

Early years

EarthLink was co-founded in March 1994 by Sky Dayton then 23, investor Reed Slatkin and Kevin M. O'Donnell. Dayton reportedly was inspired to start the dial-up Internet service provider (ISP) in Pasadena, CA after spending an entire week trying to configure his own computer for Internet access. Dayton’s experience convinced him that there was a market for a simple, user-friendly ISP.[7]

Co-founder Kevin M. O'Donnell helped raise capital for the venture and urged a number of significant old friends from his government technology days to join the Board. He recruited numerous Vice Presidents for the company, and brought in the first major round of funding, from Greg B. Abbott, a successful entrepreneur and former CEO of Ithaca Industries. He also hired CEO Garry Betty.

By 1995, EarthLink offered dial-up service in 98 cities, and was one of the first U.S. ISPs to offer unlimited Internet access for a flat rate.[8]

In 1996, EarthLink began to offer Internet services for businesses, including ISDN and frame relay Internet access[9] and web hosting.[10]

Initial public offering

EarthLink went public on NASDAQ in January 1997. Later that year, the company began to provide 56K dial-up access, doubling the speed of its dial-up service. EarthLink also teamed up with Charter Communications to offer high-speed cable Internet access.[11]

In 1998, EarthLink entered partnerships with Sprint, Apple, CompUSA, and other companies that helped it reach 1 million members by the end of the year.[8]

In 1999 EarthLink launched its TotalCommerce ecommerce solution for small business Web hosting and also became the first ISP to offer nationwide high-speed Internet access via DSL.[8]

MindSpring merger and other acquisitions

On February 4, 2000, the company, then based in Pasadena, California, merged with Atlanta-founded MindSpring, making it the second-largest ISP in the U.S., after AOL.[12] Later that year, the company launched EarthLink Biz DSL service.[13] EarthLink also acquired OneMain.com, a large, rural ISP,[14] and Rural Connections in 2001.

In 2001, EarthLink partnered with DirecPC to offer a 2-way satellite Internet service.[15] The company also introduced a fixed-IP DSL service for the SOHO business market.[16]

On June 10, 2002, EarthLink acquired PeoplePC, a low-priced dial-up ISP.[17]

EarthLink launched a VoIP phone service for broadband users called Unlimited Voice in April 2003.[18] The company also released several free tools for its members to block spam, viruses, and spyware.[19]

New ventures

At the start of 2005, EarthLink and SK Telecom, the largest mobile phone company in South Korea,[20] announced a new joint venture called SK-EarthLink, later renamed Helio mobile phone company.[21] Helio, a new mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), targeted young, tech-savvy consumers with advanced wireless devices and services common in Korea but not the U.S. Helio launched a total of 7 phones (Kickflip, Hero, Drift, Heat, Ocean, Fin and Mysto) and had 170,000 subscribers before it was sold to Virgin Mobile USA in June 2008.[22]

In July 2005, EarthLink closed its in-house call centers to reduce costs.[23]

In September 2005, Earthlink acquired Aluria Software, LLC-a seller of Anti-Spyware software, based in Lake Mary, Florida.

In October 2005, Philadelphia, PA,[24] and Anaheim, CA, selected EarthLink to build their municipal Wi-Fi networks.[25] EarthLink's Municipal Networks division would launch public wi-fi networks in Anaheim, Philadelphia, New Orleans, and Milpitas, CA,[26] and win several more municipal contracts before EarthLink decided to exit the muni wi-fi business by the end of 2007.[27]

EarthLink launched two new voice services between late 2005 and early 2006: a VoIP service called EarthLink trueVoice[28] and a high-speed Internet and voice bundle called EarthLink DSL & Home Phone Service.[29]

In April 2006, EarthLink acquired New Edge Networks, a provider of network and communication services for businesses.[30] In June, the EarthLink’s Municipal Networks division launched the company’s first citywide Wi-Fi network in Anaheim, CA.[31]

In September 2014, the company partnered with Tech Data to provide a Desktop as a Service cloud offering.[32]

New business acquisitions

In October 2010, EarthLink acquired ITC Deltacom, a telecom service provider with 32,000 customers.[33]

In December 2010 EarthLink acquired One Communications, one of the largest privately held integrated telecom solutions providers in the U.S.[34]

In March 2011 EarthLink also acquired STS Telecom, a privately held business in Florida and Georgia.[35] STS Telecom was integrated into the new EarthLink Business division, along with the recently acquired One Communications and Deltacom, New Edge Networks, and EarthLink’s legacy Business Solutions.

In May 2011 the company created a new EarthLink Carrier division for wholesale customers with fiber-based transport, voice and data service, and switched services.[36]

Also in May, EarthLink acquired LogicalSolutions.net, an enterprise data center solution and cloud services provider.[37]

In August EarthLink acquired Business Vitals, a provider of IT security and professional services.[38] EarthLink also acquired xDefenders, a managed IT security company.[39]

EarthLink also purchased IT Solution Center and cloud-based application business from Synergy Global Solutions in 2011.[40]

In July 2013, EarthLink acquired CenterBeam, Inc., a provider of remote managed IT services—with an IT Support Center providing help desk, desktop technical support and application support services.[41]

Business network and data center expansion

In July 2013, EarthLink completed its previously announced plans to open four new data centers in San Jose, Chicago, Dallas and Miami on its next-generation cloud platform. This brought its total to eight.

Leadership

On November 21, 2006, EarthLink reported that its CEO, Garry Betty, was diagnosed with a serious form of cancer which would have required him to take an undetermined leave of absence. The company's Board of Directors named Mike Lunsford, Vice-President of Voice and Access, as interim CEO. Betty died on January 2, 2007.[42][43] On June 25, 2007, EarthLink named Rolla Huff its President and CEO. On January 29, 2008, EarthLink announced that Rolla Huff would replace Robert Kavner as Chairman of the Board.[44] In January 2014, Joseph F. Eazor replaced Rolla Huff as President and CEO.[45]

Criticism

In February 2016 a journalist from USA Today wrote that his EarthLink E-Mail account got compromised during a flight while using the in-flight WLAN.[46] This was possible because EarthLink does not use Transport Layer Security (TLS) encryption for the login on its POP3 services. As an alternative, the company recommended customers to use encryption services on IMAP or through EarthLink’s Web Mail.[47]

Awards and recognition

Notes

  1. ↑ Staff (March 27, 2002). "Earthlink co-founder charged with fraud, money laundering". CNN. Time Warner. Retrieved June 12, 2008.
  2. ↑ Tkacik, Maureen (March 27, 2002). "EarthLink Co-Founder Slatkin Admits to Fraud in Ponzi Scheme". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved June 11, 2008.
  3. 1 2 "Corporate Profile". About Earthlink. EarthLink. Retrieved August 25, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Windstream and EarthLink to merge in $1.1 billion transaction". Windstream. Windstream Holdings. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
  5. 1 2 "About Us". EarthLink. Retrieved January 7, 2012.
  6. ↑ "EarthLink Inc. Overview by Bizofit".
  7. ↑ Borland, John. "The ultimate ISP survivor faces a crossroads in broadband". Cnet.
  8. ↑ "EarthLink Inc". Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  9. ↑ "REPEAT/EARTHLINK CUTS UNIQUE DOMAIN WEB SITE HOSTING SET UP FEE BY MORE THAN $800". Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Earthlink Inc". Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  11. ↑ Kaplan, Karen. "EarthLink, MindSpring Agree to Merge : Technology: The combination would create 2nd-largest Internet service provider.". LATimes.com. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  12. ↑ "EarthLink Offers B2B DSL Services in Three States". internetnews.com. 2000-04-12. Retrieved 2016-08-08.
  13. ↑ "EarthLink to Acquire OneMain.com; Deal Will Help Compete With AOL". wsj.com. 2000-06-09. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  14. ↑ "EarthLink launches satellite Internet service". CNN Tech. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  15. ↑ "EarthLink offers DSL users fixed IP address option". Macworld. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  16. ↑ "EarthLink Agrees to Buy PeoplePC for $10 Million". wsj.com. 2002-06-10. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  17. ↑ "EarthLink Introduces EarthLink Unlimited Voice Broadband Telephone Service; EarthLink Becomes First Major Nationwide ISP to Deploy Full-Scale Voice-over- IP Solution to End-Users". The Free Library. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  18. ↑ "EarthLink Launches Virus Blocker". PR Newswire. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  19. ↑ "South Korea: SK Telecom Goes LTE". DailyWireless.org. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  20. ↑ "EarthLink announces joint venture with SK Telecom". Wireless Industry News. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  21. ↑ Reardon, Marguerite. "Virgin Mobile USA buys Helio for $39 million". Cnet. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  22. ↑ Husted, Bill (July 26, 2005). "EarthLink to cut 180 customer service workers Work to be outsourced overseas". Atlanta Journal Constitution.
  23. ↑ "Philadelphia Picks EarthLink for Wi-Fi". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  24. ↑ "EarthLink wins second muni Wi-Fi contract". Connected Planet. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  25. ↑ Reardon, Marguerite. "EarthLink rolls out more citywide Wi-Fi". Cnet. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  26. ↑ "Philadelphia Wi-Fi project now in jeopardy, EarthLink may back out". Beta News. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  27. ↑ "Earthlink launches trueVoice a national broadband VoIP service". Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  28. ↑ "Earthlink Launches DSL, VOIP". Light Reading. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  29. ↑ "EarthLink Acquires Virtual Private Network Company, New Edge Networks". The Hosting News. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  30. ↑ "EarthLink Launches The City Of Anaheim Municipal Wireless Network". PR Newswire. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  31. ↑ "Tech Data and EarthLink Form Cloud Partnership". Retrieved September 16, 2014.
  32. ↑ "EarthLink to Acquire Deltacom for $516M". Fox Business. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  33. ↑ "EarthLink Buys Telecom Services Company One Communications For $370 Million". Techrunch. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  34. ↑ "EarthLink Completes Acquisition of STS Telecom Adds Hosted VoIP Expertise to EarthLink Business Product Portfolio". Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  35. ↑ "EarthLink launches EarthLink Carrier". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  36. ↑ "EarthLink Acquires LogicalSolutions.net". Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  37. ↑ "Earthlink Buys Business Vitals". telecomramblings.com. 2011-08-03. Retrieved 2016-11-09.
  38. ↑ "EarthLink acquires xDefenders". TelecomPaper. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  39. ↑ "EarthLink Completes Acquisition of IT Solution Center from Synergy Global Solutions". Yahoo Finance. Retrieved January 12, 2012.
  40. ↑ Couret, Jacques. "EarthLink acquires CenterBeam". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  41. ↑ Keefe, Bob. "EarthLink: Illness Drives Leader Shuffle." Atlanta Journal-Constitution. November 22, 2006. Business Section 1C.
  42. ↑ Roberts, Paul F (January 3, 2007). "EarthLink CEO Betty dead at 49". InfoWorld. Retrieved January 3, 2007.
  43. ↑ Gaffikin, Brigid (January 28, 2008). "EarthLink names CEO Rolla Huff board chair". Tradingmarkets.com. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
  44. ↑ Matthew Daneman, Staff writer (December 23, 2013). "EarthLink CEO Rolla Huff retires". Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved June 3, 2015.
  45. ↑ Steven Petrow (February 23, 2016). "I got hacked mid-air while writing an Apple-FBI story". Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  46. ↑ Robert Graham (February 24, 2016). "Early Internet services considered harmful". Retrieved March 9, 2016.
  47. ↑ "EARTHLINK NETWORK SELECTED AS INTERNET COMPANY OF THE YEAR". Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  48. ↑ "IDG's PC World Announces 2000 World Class Award Winners". PR Newswire. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  49. 1 2 "EarthLink's History". Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  50. ↑ "J.D. Power and Associates Reports: EarthLink Ranks Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Dial-Up Internet Service Providers.". All Business. Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  51. ↑ "EarthLink High Speed Internet Service Ranked Highest in Customer Satisfaction By J.D. Power and Associates". Retrieved January 11, 2012.
  52. ↑ "J.D. Power: Customers rank EarthLink as top ISP". CED. Retrieved January 11, 2012.

References

External links

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