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==Foundation==
==Foundation==


In March 1996, former Microsoft executive [[Naveen Jain]] founded [[InfoSpace]], an early online search engine and directory. From 1996-2002, he served as CEO of InfoSpace. At the end of 2002, he began making plans for a new company. In December of 2002, he was asked to leave InfoSpace by the board of directors, amidst a series of lawsuits. He resigned as CEO, although he remained on the board through June, 2003.<ref name="dotcon">
In March 1996, former Microsoft executive [[Naveen Jain]] founded [[InfoSpace]], an early online search engine and directory. From 1996-2002, he served as CEO of InfoSpace. Jain co-founded Intelius with co-worker [[Kevin Marcus]]<ref name="InternetNews03">
{{cite web
|title=Seattle Times: The Dot-Con Job Part 2: Cashing Out
|url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2002199042_dotcon2main07.html
|accessdate=2007-04-13
}}</ref>In January 2003, while still on the board at InfoSpace, Jain co-founded Intelius with co-worker [[Kevin Marcus]]<ref name="InternetNews03">
{{cite web
{{cite web
|title=Intelius founders win lawsuit
|title=Intelius founders win lawsuit

Revision as of 02:33, 1 May 2008

Intelius, Inc.
Company typecorporation
Industryonline data broker
Genreelectronic commerce
FoundedJanuary 2003
FounderNaveen Jain, John Arnold, Edward Petersen, Kevin Marcus, Niraj Shah, Chandan Chauhan
HeadquartersBellevue, Washington,
 United States
Area served
United States
Key people
Servicesbackground checks, identity theft protection
Revenue$55,000,000 (2006)
Number of employees
113
Websitehttp://www.intelius.com

Intelius, Inc. is a United States corporation with headquarters in Bellevue, Washington specializing in public records information and offering service to consumers and businesses which include background checks and identity theft protection.[1][2][3][4][5] Founded in 2003 with origins in Microsoft and InfoSpace[2][4][6] and employing a staff of 113,[4] Intelius owns more than 50 percent of the online people search market[3] and is ranked as one of the top 100 electronic commerce sites on the Internet.[1][3] It had $55 million in revenue in 2006 and has been profitable since 2004.[7]

Foundation

In March 1996, former Microsoft executive Naveen Jain founded InfoSpace, an early online search engine and directory. From 1996-2002, he served as CEO of InfoSpace. Jain co-founded Intelius with co-worker Kevin Marcus[6] as well as John Arnold, Edward Petersen, Niraj Shah and Chandan Chauhan.[1] Setting up shop in 3 stories of a building right across the street, Intelius began offering background checks with online access to court records, property holdings, address histories, and less reliably, "relatives and associates", for a charge of $50 to a credit card.[4][5] InfoSpace sued both Jain and Marcus for violating the non-compete clauses in their contracts. Jain and Marcus prevailed in May of that year.[6][7]

Market and traffic

Intelius has over half the market share of online people searches with links from major portals such as Yahoo and AOL.[3] Advertising is important to all electronic commerce sites, and Intelius consistently ranks in the top ten B2B (business to business) advertisers.[8] Intelius claims more than 4 million unique hits[4] and also receives more than one million hits daily.[3] Overall it ranks as one of the top 100 Ecommerce sites on the internet.[1][3]

Target markets

A majority of Intelius' revenue comes from selling background reports.[7][9]

Background checks for dating

Intelius targets marketing for consumers and businesses with an interest in dating, especially online dating. It provides background checks for potential relationships and verification of identity under the InteliSign branding.[1][10] Critics point out the advertising campaign's reliance on "scare tactics".[4][11]

Employer background checks

On December 5, 2006, Intelius enlarged its employment screening market with its acquisition of Bothell, Washington's IntelliSense Corporation, integrating an infrastructure capable of international background information, fingerprinting, and drug screening, and complementing its previous capabilities for small and medium businesses. Naveen Jain said that Intellisense had experience serving Fortune 100 companies.[12][13]

Direct marketing leads

Intelius also provides direct marketing leads for direct mail and telemarketing.[14]

Possible IPO

In late 2006, Intelius began advertising for an executive whose main responsibility would be relations with the Securities and Exchange Commission, according to Bloomberg. CFO Paul Cook told Bloomberg this was a step towards a possible Initial Public Offering. Cook also told Bloomberg that they were weighing the benefits of increased exposure and reputability against the costs of going public, which he estimated at about $1 million per quarter.[7] Intelius filed a registration statement on January 10, 2008 for an initial public offering to raise up to $143.75 million.[15][16]

Controversy

Cellular Phone Directory

In early 2008, Intelius came under scrutiny for providing access to private cellular phone numbers culled from a variety of sources, including pizza delivery companies.[17] In response, Verizon threatened a lawsuit over posting consumer phone numbers without consent. A few days later, on February 1, 2008, the cellular phone directory was taken down.[18][19]

However since then, Intelius has apparently begun publishing private cellular numbers once more on their website by performing a phone search.

Opt-Out Policy

There has been criticisms for the difficult nature of "opting out" of being listed on Intelius. The website states, "Intelius does not usually offer individuals the opportunity to permanently remove their publicly available information from our public records databases." [20] The site states, "as a courtesy", that personal information may be suppressed by a user's request, provided they mail or fax a notarized letter and a copy of their driver's license.[19][21]

Awards

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Intelius, Inc". Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  2. ^ a b "Intelius - profile". Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "If in doubt, check it out : Profile of Naveen Jain". Retrieved 2007-04-13.
  4. ^ a b c d e f Nina Shapiro (April 11, 2007). "Intelius Says it's Capable of Conducting a Full Background Check on Anyone". Seattle Weekly. Retrieved 2007-04-13. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  5. ^ a b John Swartz and Byron Acohido (April 1, 2007). "Who's guarding your data in the cybervault?". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-04-07. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  6. ^ a b c "Intelius Founders Win Lawsuit". Retrieved 2007-04-13. Cite error: The named reference "InternetNews03" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  7. ^ a b c d Tim Mullaney (December 26, 2006). "Intelius, Founded by InfoSpace's Jain, Considers Going Public". Bloomberg. Retrieved 04-17-2007. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ "iMedia Connection: Advanced Site Search". Retrieved 2007-04-14.
  9. ^ Sara Kehaulani Goo (February 1, 2007). "Dinner, Movie, Background Check for Online Daters". The Washington Post. Retrieved April 17, 2007. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ^ Sara Kehaulani Goo (February 1, 2007). "Dinner, Movie, Background Check for Online Daters". The Washington Post. Retrieved 04-17-2007. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  11. ^ Mandy Stadtmiller (September 27, 2006). "Check Mate". The New York Post. Retrieved 04-17-2007. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  12. ^ "IntelliSense Sold". Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  13. ^ "Intelius Expands Applications for Fortune 500 Customers Through Acquisition of IntelliSense Corporation". Retrieved April 17, 2007.
  14. ^ "The world doesn't stop, why should your data?". Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  15. ^ Julie Vorman (2008-01-10). "Intelius plans IPO of up to $143.75 mln - SEC filing". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-01-10.
  16. ^ sv1
  17. ^ "Cell phone directory rings alarm bells". Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  18. ^ "Verizon To Sue Intelius? Spotlight on Local Mobile Privacy". Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  19. ^ a b "Company shuts down cell phone directory". Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  20. ^ "Intelius Privacy FAQ". Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  21. ^ "Opt-out of the Intelius database and affiliated brands". Retrieved 2008-02-29.
  22. ^ dBusinessNews :: Daily Business News Delivered to Your Desktop
  23. ^ "Finalist Showcase - The 22nd Annual SIIA Codie Awards". Retrieved 2007-04-17.
  24. ^ The American Business Awards: The Stevies
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