20 May 2008:
align="center">GO-SIM in its second round
We are delighted that MyDealMaker member GO-SIM which provides pre-paid global SIM cards for international travellers from around the world has recently received it’s second stage of investment; a further £250, 000. Having made a successful push into the US outbound traveller market, GO-SIM are now looking for distribution into Asia. With an exciting product development road map ahead, the future is very interesting indeed.
In November 2006, GO-SIM business proposition was to have their products used overseas and required extra financial backing. David Agar, chief executive of GO-SIM was an enthusiastic participant of Connect’s Yorkshire Investor Readiness Programme.
David Agar, chief executive of GO-SIM commented: “Connect Yorkshires early involvement enabled us to meet key contacts that subsequently assisted in raising investment and I would highly recommend Connect’s Investor Readiness Workshops and Investment Forums. Now in our second stage of investment we are set to become one of the leading providers of smart, low-cost international mobile solutions’’.
GO-SIM was formed by the directors of Hirefone after recognizing an opportunity to address a significant target market whose needs could not easily be met by Hirefone – the international leisure traveler. As millions of travellers discover each year, the cost of using a mobile phone abroad can be over ten times the rate you would normally pay at home.
Customers face expensive charges when using mobile phones outside the UK due to costly roaming charges. The GO-SIM Global SIM works in 175 countries and unlike standard UK network providers, incoming calls and texts are free in many countries, enabling travellers to save up to 85% on the bill that would normally await them. To use GO-SIM, customers simply swap their existing SIM card with the GO-SIM Global SIM card each time they travel abroad.
Since the original investment by Yorkshire and Humber Equity Fund (YHEF), GO-SIM has increased human resources, developed new voice, messaging products and its customer base increased by 214%. Their client portfolio includes airport and airlines supplier, Alpha Retail, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, British Red Cross, Visa International and US-based retailer, Best Buy.