Telegate

Telegate was a German communications-services company best known for telephone directory assistance. Founded in August 1996 and headquartered in Martinsried, the business entered the German market in December of that year. Its initial German service operated through the number 01199 before moving to the 11880 number, which became closely associated with the company’s consumer directory-enquiry offering. The company developed during a period when liberalization and changing telecommunications practices were creating opportunities for independent directory-assistance providers. Rather than operating only as a conventional telephone carrier, Telegate focused on helping callers obtain business and residential contact information through call-centre services. Its model combined telephone enquiries with directory information and related communications support, placing the company at the intersection of telecommunications, call-centre operations, and local-search services. Telegate expanded beyond Germany during the late 1990s and early 2000s. It operated directory-assistance services in Spain and Italy and also attempted to establish positions in the United Kingdom and the United States. The United States entry took place in 2000 through the acquisition of CFW Information Services, formerly associated with CFW Communications. Telegate subsequently closed the former CFW call centres in 2001 and 2002 and ultimately withdrew from the US market. Its UK operation was sold to Croftacre Holdings Ltd in September 2004. That business was initially known as 118866 Ltd., later operated under the RingTrue Solutions name, and was wound up in 2008. Telegate became a publicly traded company when it was admitted to the Neuer Markt of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on 22 April 1999. Public-market status supported the company’s expansion ambitions, although the international operations did not become a permanent part of the business. Over time, the strategic focus narrowed toward Germany, where the company’s directory-assistance activity and the 11880 service had the strongest recognition. In August 2016, the company changed its name to 11880 Solutions. The rebranding reflected the increasing importance of the 11880 identity and marked the end of Telegate as the company’s principal corporate name. After the change, the business no longer operated in the international markets described in its earlier history and focused on Germany. Accordingly, Telegate is best understood as the historical corporate and service brand of a German directory-assistance operator, rather than as the current name of the continuing company.

Telegate was established in August 1996 as a German communications-services company specializing in telephone directory assistance. Based in Martinsried, it began serving callers in Germany in December 1996. The company initially used the 01199 service number and later made 11880 its principal German directory-assistance number. Its core activity was operated through call centres that handled requests for business and residential contact information. The company emerged during a period in which telecommunications markets were opening to new service providers and directory assistance was becoming more contestable. Telegate’s business was not primarily based on owning a nationwide fixed or mobile network. Instead, it provided an information service layered onto the telecommunications system, relying on directory databases, telephone operators, and customer-facing call-centre infrastructure. Telegate pursued international growth in addition to its German operations. It provided directory-assistance services in Spain and Italy and established operations in the United Kingdom and the United States. In 2000, it entered the US market through the acquisition of CFW Information Services, a company formerly linked to CFW Communications. The American expansion did not become permanent: Telegate closed the former CFW call centres in 2001 and 2002 and later withdrew from the United States altogether. The UK business also changed ownership. Telegate sold it to Croftacre Holdings Ltd in September 2004. The operation was initially named 118866 Ltd. and subsequently traded as RingTrue Solutions before being wound up in 2008. These exits reduced Telegate’s international footprint and left Germany as the central market for the business. Telegate became a public company on 22 April 1999, when it was listed on the Neuer Markt of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange. The listing formed part of the company’s expansion-era identity, but the available historical record does not establish a continuing ticker, detailed financial performance, or a full list of its corporate officers. The Telegate name was retired as the corporate name in August 2016, when the company became 11880 Solutions. At the same time, the business ceased operating in the international markets associated with its earlier expansion and concentrated on Germany. The historical Telegate brand therefore represents the company’s earlier corporate identity and its directory-assistance operations before the 11880 Solutions rebranding.

1. 2016Rebranded as 11880 Solutions

   In August 2016, Telegate changed its name to 11880 Solutions and focused exclusively on Germany.

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2. 2004UK operation sold

   Telegate sold its UK operation to Croftacre Holdings Ltd in September 2004.

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3. 2000US market entry

   The company entered the United States by acquiring CFW Information Services.

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4. 1999Neuer Markt listing

   Telegate was listed on the Neuer Markt of the Frankfurt Stock Exchange on 22 April 1999.

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5. 1996Company founded

   Telegate was founded in August 1996 in Germany.

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6. 1996German service launched

   Telegate began offering directory assistance in Germany in December 1996 through the 01199 number.

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A telephone-based directory-assistance provider using call-centre operations to connect callers with business and residential contact information. Its later German positioning centered on the recognizable 11880 service number.

• 01199Telephone directory assistance1996

  Telegate’s initial German directory-assistance number, introduced when the company began domestic operations in December 1996. The service connected callers with telephone directory information through the company’s call-centre infrastructure.

• 11880Telephone directory assistance

  The company’s later and better-known German directory-assistance number. 11880 became the principal identity associated with Telegate’s domestic service and subsequently informed the company’s 11880 Solutions name.

• International directory-assistance servicesTelecommunications information services

  Telegate operated directory-assistance activities outside Germany, including services in Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The UK and US activities were later exited, leaving Germany as the company’s sole operating market after the 2016 rebranding.

• 2016Adopt the 11880 Solutions nameStrategy

  The 11880 identity had become central to the company’s German directory-assistance business, while its international operations had been discontinued or sold.

  What changed. In August 2016, the company changed its name from Telegate to 11880 Solutions.

  Aftermath. The business continued with a Germany-only operating focus under the 11880 Solutions name.

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• 2004Sell UK operationM&A

  Telegate’s UK directory-assistance business was part of its international operating portfolio.

  What changed. The company sold the UK operation to Croftacre Holdings Ltd in September 2004.

  Aftermath. The operation continued under names including 118866 Ltd. and RingTrue Solutions before being wound up in 2008.

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• 2000Acquire CFW Information ServicesM&A

  Telegate sought to establish a presence in the US directory-assistance market.

  What changed. It entered the United States through the purchase of CFW Information Services, formerly associated with CFW Communications.

  Aftermath. The US operation was later reduced through call-centre closures and ultimately discontinued.

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• 2016Telegate becomes 11880 Solutions

  In August 2016, the company adopted the name 11880 Solutions and narrowed its operations to Germany.

  Leadership change
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• 2004Telegate sells its UK operation

  Telegate sold its UK operation to Croftacre Holdings Ltd in September 2004. The business was initially called 118866 Ltd. and later operated as RingTrue Solutions.

  M&A
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• 2001Telegate closes former CFW call centres

  The company closed former CFW call centres during 2001 and 2002 as it reduced its US operations.

  Other
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• 2000Telegate enters the United States through CFW Information Services acquisition

  Telegate entered the US directory-assistance market by acquiring CFW Information Services, previously a subsidiary of CFW Communications.

  M&A
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• 1996Telegate begins directory-assistance operations in Germany

  The newly founded company launched its German directory-assistance service in December 1996, initially using the number 01199.

  Product launch
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• Telegate withdraws from the United States

  After closing the former CFW call centres, Telegate exited the US market entirely.

  Other
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1. Telegate