Timeline Stories Fibernetics

Fibernetics gains CLEC (Competitive Local Exchange Carrier) status in Canada.

Fibernetics begins offering business phone and internet services under the NEWT brand.

Jody, John, and Mike buy back Online Tel which they establish as the parent company (Fibernetics) of their other brands. They also launch Worldline to provide cost-effective home phone and internet services to families across Canada.

Fibernetics opens the CanCall International call center in the Dominican Republic which currently employees over 60 staff.

Fibernetics partners with the Toronto Sun and launches SunCall; a revenue-sharing venture in return for free ad space in the newspaper. Partnerships with other newspapers follow including KW RecordCall in the Waterloo Region.

In 2001, Jody, Mike, and John sell Online Tel but soon realise they're not ready to part ways. Everyone else is looking to DSL but dial-up still represents the largest amount of volume in the market so they launch 295.ca from Jody's basement and amass 80% of the Canadian dial-up market. The goal is to

John Stix wins Profit 100 Entrepreneur Award.

"What if we develop an ad-tree so customers hear ads geared to their demographic?" John sells this idea to Labatt Brewing Co. before the team has even developed it. With the help of Quinton Technologies in New Jersey, the project is completed in two months and Labatt BlueLine is launched.

John, Jody, and Mike launch Freephoneline; a desktop phone for free Canada-wide calling.

Re-Max sponsors free ad-based, long-distance calling in Niagara Falls, Fort Erie, Welland and Port Colborne.