Italy first in Blueface Mobile European expansion plan

Irish telecommunications company Blueface Mobile is lining up a potential acquisition in Italy.

The move would kickstart an ambitious three-year plan for expansion in mainland Europe.

According to chief executive Alan Foy, the company, which also has a presence in Britain, is looking to grow across a number of territories in Europe in the next two to three years, most probably starting with Italy. Mr Foy added that the company is hopeful of boosting revenues by over 20% this year, following on from a 22% increase last year.

The company, which claims to be Ireland’s first dedicated business mobile telephony service, offers companies the chance to bundle their landline and mobile phone services into one consolidated service.

Blueface started life, in 2004, as an alternative landline service for residential customers, but grew into the business sector three years ago. It will keep its residential offering in Ireland, but will be solely a provider to the corporate sector in overseas markets, as it develops further.

Yesterday saw the launch of its bundled business offering here, with the Taoiseach on hand to lend support.

Enda Kenny heralded Blueface Mobile as being part of the emerging generation of Irish entrepreneurs, adding that the company “can ride the wave of new confidence and investment in Ireland”.

Blueface is set to invest €1m in R&D over the next 18 months; of which around €450,000 is set to come from Enterprise Ireland. The state agency has already invested €300,000 in the company and has the right to take up a 10% stake if Blueface ever seeks a stock exchange listing.

Mr Foy bought Blueface, as part of a management buy-in team that included Lord Iveagh of the Guinness family, a couple of years ago. “We will deliver a truly unified telecoms proposition and will manage business communications across landline and mobile in a fully converged, unified way — one voicemail, one call management portal and one bill are just for starters.

“We have really exciting development plans in the next 12 months and we are committed to rolling out further business grade features, products and services to customers.”