Tellme Networks has a fascinating history that spans over a decade. The company was founded in 2000 by Mike McCue and Lee Boyd.
Tellme Networks started as a voice services company, focusing on providing voice-activated directory assistance to mobile phone users. This innovative approach revolutionized the way people accessed information on-the-go.
Tellme Networks' growth was rapid, with the company expanding its services to include mobile search and other voice-enabled applications. By 2005, Tellme was already serving over 100 million subscribers.
The acquisition of Tellme Networks by Microsoft in 2007 marked a significant milestone in the company's history, providing access to new resources and expertise that further accelerated its growth.
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History
Tellme Networks was founded in April 1999 by a team of visionary individuals in Mountain View, California.
The founding team was a large and diverse group, consisting of 16 individuals with a shared passion for innovation.
In 2000, Tellme launched an internet platform that delivered content to telephones, a concept known as voice portals.
This pioneering effort was met with competition from at least 10 other companies that emerged in the same year, all vying for a piece of the market.
Tellme's early success was featured in the 2001 documentary Wild at Start, showcasing the company's rapid growth and innovative spirit.
The company's recruiting strategies were also highlighted in a 2000 article by Malcolm Gladwell, who noted the company's unique approach to attracting top talent.
Business Growth
Microsoft's mobile division could get a boost from acquiring Tellme Networks. Licensing Tellme's applications to service providers or building Windows Mobile applications on top of the Tellme platform could give Microsoft's mobile division a significant boost.
Tellme's mobile business search application, which lets cellphone users text-message or say what they're looking for, could help Microsoft edge ahead of web search leaders Google and Yahoo.
Microsoft has made its own forays into voice recognition, but the acquisition might be a tacit admission that some of their own voice technologies were falling short.
Raikes and McCue hope to improve the system's ability to understand natural language, rather than relying on limited voice commands.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does Tell Me still exist?
Tell Me was rebranded and revamped multiple times, but its current status is unclear. The service's phone numbers have changed several times, with the most recent toll-free number being deactivated in July 2020.
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