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CSF Acquires Aerialink to Enhance SaaS Capabilities in Text Communications
[March 21, 2017]

CSF Acquires Aerialink to Enhance SaaS Capabilities in Text Communications


CSF Corporation, the leader in toll-free provisioning and LCR, today announced that it had acquired Aerialink, Inc., a leading SaaS (News - Alert) provider of mobile messaging and location services based in Bettendorf, Iowa.

This Smart News Release features multimedia. View the full release here: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20170321006108/en/

CSF acquired Aerialink to enhance its toll-free texting capabilities while adding text enablement for non-toll-free landline numbers as well as the support of short codes and MMS picture messaging. The combined offering will now be able to deliver RespOrgs and carriers a more robust solution to meet their enterprise customer needs. Aerialink's innovative real-time mobile messaging platform is robust, flexible, easy-to-use, and supports a range of SMS, MMS, and location services via APIs and applications. As a wholly-owned subsidiary of CSF, Aerialink's customers will benefit from the expanded resources and efficiencies gained through the financial backing of Alpine Investors and support of CSF's leadership and advisory teams.

Accelerating text messaging for SMBs and enterprises

As businesses continue to broaden the use of text messaging services for their employees and customers, robust messaging platforms and applications that support toll-free and non-toll-free texting across the entire mobile ecosystem are adopted rapidly. Businesses are looking for solutions that enable them to quickly deliver new products and services based on the ever-changing mobile industry and evolving customer needs.

"Aerialink ws one of the first US aggregators to provide an alternative to short codes by offering an API for messaging that runs on a 10-digit number. We've been developing core technology and customer-driven features that provide tangible benefits over competing solutions since our founding," said Chris Currie. "We see great potential in combining Aerialink's product portfolio with CSF's management expertise and gaining the scale that will provide a platform for exceptional offerings and accelerated growth."



Chris Currie is the founder and former CEO of Aerialink, Inc., a company he started in 2002, and in 2009, formally launched Aerialink's first messaging gateway platform. Chris has now joined the CSF leadership team as president of the Aerialink subsidiary, and also sits on the company's board.

"We couldn't be more excited, both for CSF and our customers, to have Chris and his team join the CSF family. The capabilities of the Aerialink platform are second to none and will enable us to offer an enhanced product suite to our customers. We are always looking to improve and broaden our offering to provide a one-stop shop for our customer's needs," said Rich Scanlon, president and CEO of CSF Corporation.


Investing in leading SMB SaaS players in voice and text communications

With the 2016 acquisition of CSF by Alpine Investors V, LP ("Alpine V"), advised by Alpine Investors ("Alpine"), a values-driven private equity firm, and the recent acquisition of Aerialink, Alpine V is investing into a growing portfolio of SMB software companies in voice and text communications aimed at delivering market-leading solutions in their core markets.

Bob Potter, an Alpine CEO-in-Residence and chairman of the CSF board, explained, "We pride ourselves in evaluating companies we acquire based upon our PeopleFirst principles and stringent business metrics. Aerialink has scored very high on each of our scales, and I am delighted that they are teaming up with CSF to grow our business rapidly."

About Alpine Investors

Alpine Investors is a values-driven private equity firm with a mission to build enduring companies by working with, learning from and developing exceptional people. Alpine specializes in middle-market companies in the software, online and business services industries. For more information, visit www.alpine-investors.com.

About Aerialink

Aerialink, a CSF Corporation subsidiary, is a leading mobile communications company providing a powerful messaging and location services platform via cloud APIs and applications to businesses worldwide. Aerialink's carrier-grade network and application platform provide enterprise-class capabilities and global message delivery. For more information, visit www.aerialink.com.

About CSF Corporation

CSF is the leading SaaS provider for toll-free provisioning, texting, and least cost routing (LCR). With over 100 carrier and independent RespOrg customers, CSF's flagship offering, 8MS® Cloud, helps its clients save time and money by simplifying and automating toll-free voice and text provisioning and reducing carrier costs through optimized LCR. For more information, visit www.csfcorp.com.


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