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Whitepages (company)

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Whitepages is a provider of online directory services, fraud screening, background checks and identity verification for consumers and businesses. It has the largest database available of contact information on residents of the United States.[3]

Whitepages
Type of businessPrivate
Type of site
Contact Data
Founded1997; 27 years ago (1997), in Stanford, California, U.S.
HeadquartersSeattle, Washington, U.S.,
U.S.
Country of originUnited States
Area servedUnited States
Founder(s)Alex Algard
Key peopleLeigh McMillan, CEO (2019–present)[1]
IndustryInformation Technology
Search Engines
ProductsPeople Search
Phone Search
Home Address Search
Background Check
ServicesSpeed Search
People Search App
Reverse Phone App
Employees32 (2019)[2]
URLwhitepages.com
Current statusActive

Whitepages was founded in 1997 as a hobby for then-Stanford student Alex Algard. It was incorporated in 2000 and received $45 million in funding in 2005. Investors were later bought-out by Algard in 2013. From 2008 to 2013, Whitepages released several mobile apps, a re-design in 2009, the ability for consumers to control their contact information, and other features. From 2010 to 2016, the company shifted away from advertising revenue and began focusing more on selling business services and subscription products.

History

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The idea for Whitepages was conceived by Alex Algard, while studying at Stanford in 1996. Algard was searching for a friend's contact information, and the phone company gave him the wrong number.[4] He thought of an online email directory as an easier way to find people.[5][6] Algard bought the Whitepages.com domain for $900,[7][8] which he says was all of his savings at the time.[5] He continued operating the website as a hobby while working as an investment banker for Goldman Sachs.[9] He expanded the database of contact information using data licensed from American Business Information (now a part of Infogroup).[8] Eventually, Whitepages was producing more ad-revenue than Algard was earning at Goldman Sachs.[8] In 1998, Algard left his job to focus on the website; he incorporated Whitepages in 2000.[9]

The site grew and attracted more advertisers. The company brokered deals with Yellowpages and Superpages, whereby Whitepages earned revenue for sending them referral traffic. By 2005, $15 million in annual revenues was coming from these contracts.[8] In 2003, Algard stepped down as CEO to focus on CarDomain.com, which he had also founded[4] and Max Bardon took his place as CEO temporarily.[8] In 2005, Technology Crossover Ventures and Providence Equity Partners invested $45 million in the company.[8][10] That same year, MSN adopted Whitepages' directory data for its "Look it up" feature.[11] Algard returned to the company in 2007.[4] By the end of that year, the Whitepages database had grown to 180 million records[12] and the company was listed as one of Deloitte's 500 fastest growing technology companies in North America three times.[5][13] By 2008 the company had $66 million in annual revenues.[8]

In 2008, Whitepages said it would start working on options for users to control their information on the site.[14] That same year, it acquired VoIP developer Snapvine[10] in order to add features where users could be called through the website without giving out their phone number.[15] It also introduced an api, which gave third-party developers access to Whitepages' data.[16] Whitepages released an iOS app that August, followed by the Whitepages Caller ID app for Android devices in February 2009[17] and for Blackberry that May.[18]

The app displayed information on callers, such as their latest social media posts, local weather at the caller's location and the identity of the caller.[19][20][21] The ability for consumers to add themselves to the directory was added in the summer of 2009 and being able to edit existing entries was added that October.[22]

Whitepages.com underwent a re-design in 2009.[23] According to VentureBeat reporter Matt Marshall, the redesign made the advertising "cleaner" and made it more obvious when someone was going to a third-party website like US Search.[3] Marshall had previously criticized Whitepages, because website users that clicked on US Search ads and purchased data from US Search were sent through perpetual advertisements for other services that made it difficult to access the information they paid for.[3][24] A local business lookup feature called "Store Finder" was added in June 2010.[25] The following month, Whitepages.com launched a deal site, Dealpop.com,[26] which differed from Groupon by offering short-term deals on nationally available products.[27] Dealpop was sold to Tippr the following year.[28]

In 2010, Superpages and Yellowpages cut back spending with Whitepages from $33 million to $7 million, causing a substantial decline in revenues and a tense relationship with investors. Algard spent $50 million in cash the company had on-hand and $30 million from a bank loan, to buyout the investors in 2013. He also used his personal house, savings account and personal belongings as collateral for the loan.[8] Algard began shifting the company's business model to reduce its reliance on advertising and instead focus on business users and paid subscriptions.[8][29]

Whitepages released the Localicious app in July 2011. The app was released on Android first, because Whitepages was frustrated with Apple's approval process for iPhone apps.[30] Whitepages PRO was also introduced that same year.[31] An updated Android app called Current Caller ID was released in August 2012.[19] Within a year of its release, 5 billion calls and texts had been transmitted using the app. It was updated in July 2013 with new features, such as the ability to customize the layout of caller information for each caller and the ability to "Like" Facebook posts from within the app.[32] In June 2013, Whitepages acquired Mr. Number, an Android app for blocking unwanted callers.[33]

In August 2013 Whitepages purchased all the interests in the company owned by investors for $80 million.[34][35] In 2015, Whitepages acquired San Francisco-based NumberCorp to improve the database of phone numbers used for scams in the Caller ID app.[36] In April 2016, Whitepages spun-off its caller ID business into a separate company called Hiya[37] with a staff of 40 in Seattle.[38] In September 2016, Alex Algard stepped down as CEO of Whitepages, in order to focus on the mobile spam-blocking spin-off Hiya. He appointed Rob Eleveld as the new Whitepages CEO.[39]

Privacy

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As of August 2020, users can remove their information from Whitepages by following the tutorial on Whitepages homepage.[40]

Whitepages and similar services have been criticized because of the danger caused by listing the personal information and physical addresses of unwitting people openly online, and for profiting off the exploitation of personal data.[41][42]

Lawsuits

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On February 1, 2017, Kevin Klingler, identified only as a resident of Illinois, filed suit in Cook County Circuit Court, alleging the behavior of Seattle-based Whitepages violates the Illinois Right of Publicity Law.[43]

Services

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Whitepages has the largest database of contact information on Americans.[3] As of 2008, its data base covered about 90 percent of the US adult population,[44] including 200 million records on people and 15 million business listings.[5] Whitepages' data is collected from property deeds,[45] telecom companies, and public records.[46] Privacy is a common concern regarding Whitepages' publishing of personal contact information.[47] The Whitepages.com website has features that allow users to remove themselves from the directory or correct and update information.[45][47] Whitepages.com has about 50 million unique visitors per month[48] and performs two billion searches per month.[31]

Whitepages started developing features for business users around 2010.[8] Whitepages Pro is used for things like verifying the identity of a sales lead, find fake form data in online forms and to check form data from consumers making a purchase against common indicators of fraud, like shipping to a mailbox at an unoccupied building.[8][31][49] In 2016, advertising on Whitepages.com was turned off in favor of selling monthly subscriptions that give users access to background checks and other records.[8]

As of 2013, Whitepages provides its data and related services through multiple web properties and mobile apps,[50] including 411.com, PeopleSearch.com and Switchboard.com.[51] The Hiya app (previously known as Whitepages Caller ID) checks incoming calls against a database of phone numbers known for spam or scam calls and helps users report scams to the Federal Trade Commission.[52][53] Hiya mobile app replaces the Android user interface for making and receiving phone calls.[32]

References

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  1. ^ Soper, Taylor (29 June 2019). "Whitepages splits into two separate entities, forms new enterprise-focused company Ekata". Geekwire. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
  2. ^ Whitepages splits into two separate entities, forms new enterprise-focused company Ekata, Geekwire, retrieved June 12, 2019
  3. ^ a b c d Marshall, Matt (July 14, 2009). "WhitePages, now the largest database of American people, cleans up act". VentureBeat. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  4. ^ a b c Broberg, Brad (September 30, 2007). "Founder returns to WhitePages.com". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  5. ^ a b c d Kim, Paul (February 2, 2011). "A Directory of Success: WhitePages CEO Alex Algard". Examiner.
  6. ^ "WhitePages.com has number for fast growth". The Seattle Times. October 13, 2003. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  7. ^ Carlson, Nicholas (January 24, 2007). "WhitePages.com: Reach out and search someone". InternetNews. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Feldman, Amy (August 23, 2016). "Alex Algard Risked Everything To Turn His Struggling Firm, Whitepages, Into A Growing Tech Company". Forbes. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
  9. ^ a b WhitePages.com: From hobby to number one people search destination (PDF), Private Equity Growth Capital Council, retrieved August 6, 2013
  10. ^ a b Gonzalez, Angel (June 5, 2008). "WhitePages.com to buy Snapvine". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  11. ^ Gupta, Shankar (April 5, 2005). "MSN Replaces InfoSpace with WhitePages.com". MediaPost. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  12. ^ "WhitePages.com coverage expands from 40 to 80 percent". The Seattle Times. December 10, 2007. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  13. ^ Collins, Rebecca (November 17, 2010). "WhitePages hires new CTO". Puget Sound Business Journal. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  14. ^ Vaughan-Nichols, Steven (May 19, 2008). "WhitePages.com grapples with privacy in Web 2.0 world". Computerworld. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  15. ^ Arrington, Michael (June 4, 2008). "WhitePages.com to buy Snapvine for around $20 million". TechCrunch. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  16. ^ Gunderloy, Mike (March 31, 2008). "Open Phone Data from WhitePages.com". Giga Om. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  17. ^ Siegler, MG (February 27, 2009). "Caller ID: A paid Android app to better screen my phone calls". VentureBeat. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  18. ^ Marshall, Matt (May 7, 2009). "The background-check scams: Is WhitePages really better than Intelius?". VentureBeat. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  19. ^ a b Carr, Austin (August 7, 2012). "WhitePages Launches Caller ID for the Social, Mobile Age". Fast Company. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  20. ^ Aamoth, Doug (December 4, 2012). "Current Caller ID (Android)". Time Magazine. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  21. ^ Hardawar, Devindra (August 8, 2012). "WhitePages' new Current Caller ID App is the future of smartphone calling". VentureBeat. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  22. ^ Schonfeld, Erick (October 14, 2009). "WhitePages Now Lets you control your own listings". TechCrunch. Retrieved August 8, 2013.
  23. ^ Dudley, Brier (July 14, 2009). "WhitePages launches $2.5 million overhaul". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  24. ^ Marshall, Matt (May 7, 2009). "The background-check scams: Is WhitePages really better than Intelius?". Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  25. ^ Dudley, Brier (June 24, 2010). "WhitePages upgrades business search, adds "store finder"". The Seattle Times.
  26. ^ Allison, Melissa; Amy Martinez (July 1, 2010). "Local shops join forces with coupon websites to sweeten sales". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  27. ^ Martinez, Amy (October 20, 2010). "WhitePages' DealPop to try national approach as it takes on Groupon, other coupon websites". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  28. ^ Woodward, Curt (July 1, 2011). "Tippr Grabs Sales & Tech Talent in DealPop Acquisition, Continuing Daily Deals Dogfight for Third Place". Xconomy. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  29. ^ Carlson, Nicholas (October 21, 2013). "With Buyback, 16-Year-Old Startup WhitePages Is Doing Something Very Rare With $80 Million". Business Insider. Retrieved August 18, 2016.
  30. ^ Fried, Ina (July 13, 2011). "WhitePages goes Android first with latest app". All Things Digital. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  31. ^ a b c Murphy, D.J. (October 24, 2012). "WhitePages PRO Taps Phone Data and More to Identify CNP Fraud" (PDF). CNP Report. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  32. ^ a b Hardawar, Devindra (July 25, 2013). "WhitePages' Current Caller ID app powers more than 5B calls & texts, adds new customization features". VentureBeat. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  33. ^ Fried, Ina (June 1, 2013). "WhitePages Scoops up Mr. Number, an Android App for Blocking Unwanted Calls". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  34. ^ Carlson, Nicholas (October 21, 2013). "With Buyback, 16-Year-Old Startup WhitePages Is Doing Something Very Rare With $80 Million". Business Insider. Retrieved October 30, 2014.
  35. ^ Dickey, Jeff (April 5, 2014). "Nextcast: WhitePages CEO Alex Algard on the distraction of outside investors and keeping your startup zeal". Geekwire. Retrieved May 2, 2014.
  36. ^ Perez, Sarah (June 10, 2015). "Whitepages Acquires NumberCop To Improve Its Scam-Detecting Caller ID App". TechCrunch. Retrieved August 12, 2016.
  37. ^ Lunden, Ingrid (April 27, 2016). "Whitepages spins out its caller-ID business as Hiya to take on TrueCaller". TechCrunch. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  38. ^ Flynn, Kerry (April 27, 2016). "Meet Hiya: Whitepages Spins Off Caller ID Business With Mission To Fight Robocalls, Spam Texts Worldwide". International Business Times. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  39. ^ "Whitepages Founder Alex Algard Gives Up CEO Slot To Focus On Caller ID Startup Hiya". Forbes. September 16, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2016.
  40. ^ https://support.whitepages.com/hc/en-us/articles/115010106908-How-do-I-edit-or-remove-a-personal-listing- help page
  41. ^ Waddell, Kaveh (17 January 2017). "How FamilyTreeNow Makes Stalking Easy". The Atlantic. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  42. ^ Graham, Jefferson. "Reselling your personal data pays off for Spokeo". USA TODAY. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  43. ^ "Whitepages latest people search site hit by class action alleging wrongly uses people's names for ads". February 6, 2017.
  44. ^ Belic, Dusan (May 8, 2012). "WhitePages' iOS app gets nearby search capability". IntoMobile. Retrieved September 24, 2013.
  45. ^ a b Kaplan, Dan (December 28, 2007). "Connecticut may let residents remove directory information". SC Magazine.
  46. ^ Woodward, Curt (August 20, 2012). "WhitePages IDs Growth in the Explosion of Personal Data". Retrieved August 7, 2013.
  47. ^ a b Ralph M. Stair; George Reynolds; George Walter Reynolds (December 2008). Fundamentals of Information Systems. Cengage Learning. pp. 253–. ISBN 978-1-4239-2581-1. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  48. ^ Koetsier, John (May 31, 2013). "WhitePages acquires Mr. Number, the phone-spam Android app with 7M downloads, to reduce phone spam". VentureBeat. Retrieved December 2, 2013.
  49. ^ "Whitepages Pro – Mobile Identity Data for Businesses". Whitepages Pro. Retrieved August 15, 2016.
  50. ^ About Us, WhitePages, retrieved December 2, 2013
  51. ^ Daniel Zhi Sui; Sarah Elwood; Michael F. Goodchild (10 August 2012). Crowdsourcing Geographic Knowledge: Volunteered Geographic Information (VGI) in Theory and Practice. Springer. pp. 267–. ISBN 978-94-007-4587-2. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  52. ^ Stern, Joanna (June 28, 2016). "How to Stop Robocalls … or at Least Fight Back". WSJ. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  53. ^ Lerman, Rachel (April 27, 2016). "Whitepages spins out mobile caller-ID startup Hiya". The Seattle Times. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
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