Primo Connect, a mobile communications company incubated by sister company Ultra Mobile, announced on Monday that its global communications app, which is still in Beta form, has received over one million downloads. The app attracted users from 50 countries and has over 50% retention for continued monthly use.
The company reported to date 92% of communications through the Primo app has consisted of outgoing calls to landline and mobile phone numbers, with many users working or living abroad and connecting with family and friends at home. Primo Connect chief product officer and co-founder, Chris Furlong, stated:
“Apps like WhatsApp are great for connecting to other app users but there are billions of people around the world that have a phone and no data. We have been able to leverage our background in telecommunications to make Primo work seamlessly between phones and apps. This enables us to provide an immediate solution to connect users with loved ones for free or extremely affordably across different technological infrastructures. It’s allowed us to spur rapid organic growth from day one while our quickly expanding user base amplifies the strength and value of our app-to-app capabilities.”
Primo Connect general manager, Jonathan Lin, added:
“We’re living at the height of the information age and telecom is still playing catchup. Neglecting the need to bridge the new with the old is just avoiding the inevitable. Founded by a team with decades of experience in telecom, Primo has a unique edge in solving an obvious problem largely ignored by both the telecom industry and development community. It’s why the beta version has seen such viral popularity out the gate and what has drawn me back to the startup world after years of leadership roles at a top-two carrier company.”
The app is officially set to launch next month for both iOS and Android and Primo noted additional operating system and features to be announced later this year. Besides English, the app will be available in several languages including Arabic, Mandarin Chinese, French, Hindi, Portuguese, Spanish, and Urdu.
Meanwhile, Primo has launched a campaign on StartEngine to raise a minimum of $300,000 (max $1 million). The company “tested the waters” for investor interest on the crowdfunding platform earlier this year. It was revealed:
“Primo Connect plans to generate revenue through its premium usage plans, and pay-as-you-go credit. While a majority of app use will be free, users who want additional reach will be able to purchase additional credits, to make additional calls (once free minutes have been exhausted) or to call outside of the 33 eligible (free minute) countries. Premium plans are available offering additional monthly minutes to call over 4 billion people around the world. Future plans include low-cost data plans for Primo users when they cannot connect to Wi-Fi. If Primo Connect’s assumption of the market size and its business plan execution are correct, it currently projects a $1.2 billion annual revenue in just 5 years.”
So far, the initiative has raised over $85,000 from near 50 investors. It is set to close in late October.
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