Metro One Telecommunications

Metro One Telecommunications, Inc. (OTC: WOWI) is a publicly traded company that has undergone significant transformation since its inception. Founded in 1989 by Patrick M. Cox, Russell V. Davis, and Kevin Anderson, the company initially focused on telecommunications services, including enhanced directory assistance. It achieved notable success, becoming a public company in 1996 and reaching a market capitalization of $1 billion during the dot-com bubble. After liquidating its original operating business in 2008, the company was acquired in December 2018 by the Everest Fund, an investment firm owned by special situations investor Elchanan Maoz, who now serves as Chairman.

This acquisition marked a strategic pivot towards acquiring and operating innovative technologies with global potential. In March 2021, Metro One acquired the assets of Israeli tech company Royal App Ltd. and appointed Bianca Meger as CEO to lead its new direction. The company's focus shifted to the mobile commerce (mCommerce) sector. In late 2023, Metro One announced a non-binding term sheet for a proposed reverse merger with Inception XR Inc., a virtual and augmented reality EdTech software house, signaling a potential new phase of evolution for the company.

Currently, Metro One's core business revolves around its subsidiary, Stratford Ltd., which operates Shelfy. Shelfy is a mobile commerce platform that enables retailers, from small businesses to large enterprises, to launch their own branded mobile applications. The service is designed as a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) solution, allowing retailers to quickly create an interactive shopping experience without needing to code. The platform includes features like a Mobile Commerce Merchant Platform, an Enterprise Platform, and an in-store engagement suite with capabilities for scan-and-go and loyalty programs. Revenue is generated through these platform services, which aim to help retailers increase customer retention, engagement, and lifetime value.

Keywords: mobile commerce platform, mCommerce as a service, SaaS for retailers, public company, retail technology, Shelfy platform, in-store engagement, scan and go, customer retention solutions, digital loyalty programs, reverse merger, Elchanan Maoz, Bianca Meger, WOWI stock, Stratford Ltd, retail app development, e-commerce solutions, online retail, mobile shopping, augmented reality retail, virtual reality education, Inception XR, Patrick M. Cox, telecommunications history, directory assistance services