Helio

Helio is a mobile provider that targets a younger, tech-savvy demographic in the United States. It offers proprietary phones that combine stylish design with advanced features. Helio is a joint venture between American and Korean companies.

Fast Facts

1. Joint venture between SK Telecom (South Korea) and Earthlink (US)
2. Annual revenue (2007): $171 million
3. Established: January 26, 2005
4. Industry: Mobile virtual network operations
5. Phone: 888-88-HELIO
6. HQ: Los Angeles, California
7. CEO & Director: Sky Dayton
8. CFO: Todd Tappin
9. Products: Helio Ocean, Helio Mysto, Helio Heat, Helio Fin

Key Dates

• January 26, 2005: Company founded as a joint venture between SK Telecom and Earthlink
• February 16, 2006: Establishes an advertising and phone content partnership with MySpace
• July 13, 2006: Multimedia ad campaign featuring slogan: "Don't call us a phone company; don't call it a phone"
• September 21, 2007: SK Telecom increases investment, effectively taking over operational control
• March 19, 2008: Becomes first US mobile phone carrier to sign a deal with the Opera web browser; adds support for Opera Mini on the Helio Ocean

Categories