J2 Global

J2 Global, Inc.

Company type	Public
Industry	Technology holding company
Predecessor	JFax.com
Founded	December 1995 (1995-12)
Founder	Jaye Muller, Jack Rieley
Fate	Renamed Ziff Davis Inc. in September 2021 after spinning off cloud services segment
Successor	Ziff Davis Inc.
Headquarters	Los Angeles , United States
Area served	Worldwide
Key people	Richard Ressler (Chairman), Vivek Shah (CEO), Scott Turicchi (President and CFO), Nate Simmons (Cloud Services Head), Steve Horowitz (Ziff Davis Head), Dan Stone (Everyday Health Group Head)
Products	eFax, eVoice, KeepItSafe, FuseMail, Campaigner, VIPRE, Livedrive, SMTP, SugarSync, Speedtest, MyFax, StrongVPN, and others
Number of employees	4,000+ (2020)

J2 Global, Inc. was a technology holding company based in Los Angeles, California, United States. Its operations were divided into two primary segments: Business Cloud Services and Digital Media. The company’s offerings included a range of services such as eFax, eVoice, KeepItSafe, FuseMail, Campaigner, VIPRE, Livedrive, SMTP, SugarSync, and Speedtest.

Established in 1995 by Jaye Muller and Jack Rieley, J2 Global achieved revenues of US$1.372 billion in 2019, with operating income reaching US$277.08 million and net income at US$218.81 million. At that time, the company held assets valued at US$3.505 billion and equity amounting to US$1.311 billion. By 2020, its workforce exceeded 4,000 employees.

Leadership included Chairman Richard Ressler, CEO Vivek Shah, President and CFO Scott Turicchi, along with division heads Nate Simmons (Cloud Services), Steve Horowitz (Ziff Davis), and Dan Stone (Everyday Health Group). Among its subsidiaries were Excel Micro, Salesify, SMTP, VIPRE, IPVanish, and StrongVPN.

J2 Global’s corporate strategy centered on growth through acquisitions and providing a broad spectrum of digital services aimed at both individual consumers and business clients on a global scale.

History

Originally founded as JFax.com in December 1995 by Jaye Muller and Jack Rieley, the company rebranded to J2 Global Communications, Inc. in August 2000. Later, in December 2011, it adopted the name J2 Global to better represent its expansion beyond traditional phone-number-related offerings.

On November 12, 2012, J2 Global established its digital media division by purchasing digital publisher Ziff Davis for $167 million in cash. Subsequently, in February 2013, it acquired IGN Entertainment from News Corporation, although the financial details were not publicly disclosed.

Throughout 2013, J2 Global expanded its cloud services portfolio through several acquisitions including MetroFax (internet fax services), Backup Connect BV (a Dutch online backup provider), and TechBargain.com under Ziff Davis. In February 2014, it further acquired City Numbers (a UK toll-free number provider), Livedrive (UK-based online backup service), as well as Australian companies OzeFax and Faxmate. April 2014 saw the acquisition of Business Critical Software (iCritical), a UK firm specializing in email security solutions. In July 2019, the company bolstered its consumer VPN offerings by adding the SaferVPN brand to its portfolio.

In April 2021, J2 Global announced plans to spin off its cloud services segment into a separate publicly traded entity called Consensus while maintaining ownership of its media businesses under the J2 Global name. Following approval by the board in September 2021, the company was renamed Ziff Davis Inc.

Brands and subsidiaries

The organization is structured into two principal divisions: "Business Cloud Services," which encompasses services such as eFax, Onebox, eVoice, VIPRE, FuseMail, Campaigner, KeepItSafe, VaultLogix, Callstream, Yotta280, Mailout Interactive, GDV, BackUp Solutions, SugarSync, Nuvotera, UnityFax, Firstway Digital, Excel Micro, Web24 Group, MXSweep, City Numbers, IPVanish, Livedrive, Moz, MetroFax, FoneBox, TrustFax, RapidFax, Send2Fax, SFax, SRFax, and Fax.com; alongside the digital media division Ziff Davis that includes brands like Mashable, PCMag, IGN, and Everyday Health.

MyFax

Launched in 2009 by the Ottawa-based software firm Protus IP Solutions, MyFax serves as an online communication platform designed to replace traditional fax machines. It allows users to send and receive faxes via the internet from any location. The service seamlessly integrates with applications such as Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google Docs, OpenOffice.org, and QuickBooks. Additionally, it offers mobile support through dedicated apps for iPhone and BlackBerry devices.

MyFax expanded its user base to exceed 400,000 subscribers, attracting roughly 20,000 new clients each month. Before being acquired by J2 Global Communications in 2010—the parent company of eFax—MyFax received favorable industry accolades, including the Internet Telephony magazine’s product of the year award in 2009.

Following its acquisition, J2 Global implemented stringent conditions regarding local number portability for MyFax users. These policies include a $40 fee per number when porting out and impose several restrictions on transferring numbers. The company has been criticized for asserting ownership over numbers and enforcing penalties or reclaiming numbers after customers attempted to port them out.

StrongVPN

Established in 2005 and acquired by J2 Global from StackPath in 2019, StrongVPN ranks among the longest-standing commercial VPN providers. It supports major protocols such as IPsec, OpenVPN, and WireGuard, catering primarily to users seeking secure internet connections, especially when accessing public networks.

Industry evaluations commend StrongVPN for its intuitive interface and reliable performance. ZDNet identified it as well-suited for use in environments like coffee shops, while Tom's Hardware recognized its robustness and ease of use despite limited clarity regarding its no-logging policy. PC World regarded it as a dependable option for the majority of users.

Although StrongVPN does not explicitly disclose comprehensive logging details, it maintains the ability to associate IP addresses with customer accounts, a factor relevant to users prioritizing privacy.

As part of J2 Global’s cybersecurity and digital privacy offerings, StrongVPN enhances the company’s portfolio by leveraging its longstanding market presence and technical strengths to sustain a competitive edge within the VPN sector.

Awards

• In 2012, featured on the InformationWeek 500 list highlighting top technology firms.
• In 2013, ranked 39th on Forbes "America's Best Small Companies" list.

Litigation

J2 Global has pursued patent infringement actions against entities including CallWave, Comodo Cybersecurity, EasyLink Services International Corporation, OpenText, Packetel, Protus, Venali, and Zayo Group. Several defendants responded with counterclaims alleging antitrust violations under both the Sherman Act and California’s Business and Professions Code.