First Screen
First Screen is a private mobile carrier billing platform founded in 2006 that connects premium digital brands with 100+ mobile carriers globally, handling payments, localization, and customer acquisition.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2006
- HeadquartersDallas, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What First Screen does
First Screen is a private mobile carrier billing platform founded in 2006 that operates a B2B2C intermediary model connecting premium digital brands with over 100 mobile carriers globally for frictionless payment processing and full customer-lifecycle management. The company is operationally headquartered in Dubai, UAE, with regional offices in Amsterdam, Singapore, Istanbul, and Johannesburg, and serves brand customers spanning entertainment, esports, kids education, premium sports, and consumer security (eSports Revolution, Hopster, Footballers Lives, McAfee LiveSafe). First Screen describes itself as a US-incorporated entity with Dallas listed as its primary city in firmographic records, but operational evidence (UAE contact phone, Dubai as the job-listing hub, company website copyright) places its operational center in the UAE.
First Screen firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- First Screen
- Legal name
- First Screen
- Website
- https://firstscreen.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2006
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- First Screen is a private mobile carrier billing platform founded in 2006 that connects premium digital brands with 100+ mobile carriers globally, handling payments, localization, and customer acquisition.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
First Screen industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Mobile Carrier Billing Platform
- NAICS
- Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) (5171), Telecommunications Resellers (517121)
- SIC
- Retail-Radio, Tv & Consumer Electronics Stores (5731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Carrier Billing & Telco Mobile Money (FSAMAEAD)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Bank Bill Pay (Consumer & Small Business) (FSAMAJAC)
Keywords
Where First Screen is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dallas
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
First Screen business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Carrier Billing Transaction Fees: First Screen earns revenue by facilitating mobile carrier billing for premium brands. The company takes a commission or transaction fee on each payment processed through mobile carriers for digital content and services.
- Marketing Services for Brands: First Screen invests its own capital in marketing campaigns to attract new customers for brands. Revenue is generated through increased transaction volume from acquired customers.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
First Screen product offering
Product offeringCore offering
First Screen operates a mobile carrier billing platform that connects premium digital brands with over 100 mobile carriers globally, enabling frictionless payment via direct carrier billing. The company handles the entire customer lifecycle — acquisition, payment processing, localization, regulatory compliance, and retention — and invests its own capital in marketing campaigns on behalf of brand partners. It also exposes a simple payment API for product integration with carrier billing infrastructure.
Product overview
First Screen is a carrier billing solutions provider offering a unified platform that connects premium brands with over 100 mobile carriers globally. The core offering is the Carrier Billing Platform, which includes a Payment API for product integration, mobile carrier billing connection, local customer support, and marketing campaign management. The platform enables brands to monetize customers without upfront marketing investment by providing frictionless payment solutions and real-time data-driven campaign optimization.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Carrier Billing Platform First Screen's core mobile carrier billing platform that enables premium brands to monetize customers through direct carrier billing. Connects products to 100+ mobile carriers globally, optimizes the customer lifecycle, and provides localized payment solutions. Targeted at digital entertainment, education, sports content, and subscription security brands.
- Payment API A simple-to-use payment API that connects partner products to First Screen's carrier billing infrastructure, enabling seamless mobile payment integration for digital content and services. Targeted at brands integrating carrier billing into their checkout flow.
- Local Customer Support Service Dedicated local customer support provided in native languages across all markets where First Screen operates, handling customer service for brand partners' end users. Targeted at brands seeking localized post-sale support in multiple markets.
- Marketing Campaign Management
Companies that use First Screen
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
First Screen technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Feature4 records
First Screen partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- GooglecoreFirst Screen is approved by Google to use its Real-Time Bidding platform for mobile carrier billing services. This partnership provides access to the world's largest and most widely used advertising network. All marketing campaigns are run exclusively through Google's advertising networks.
- eSports Revolution (ESR)flagshipESR partnered with First Screen to launch globally with premium video content on mobile carrier billing. First Screen enables ESR to offer live broadcasts of the biggest eSports tournaments in the world to mobile users.
- HopstercoreHopster's entertainment and education content is distributed via First Screen's mobile carrier billing platform, enabling parents to pay for children's content through mobile phone bills.
- Footballers LivescoreExclusive video service featuring football stars is distributed via First Screen's mobile carrier billing infrastructure, making premium sports content accessible through mobile payments.
- McAfee LiveSafecoreMcAfee's award-winning antivirus protection is offered through First Screen's mobile carrier billing platform, enabling subscribers to purchase security subscriptions through their mobile carrier.
- 100+ Mobile CarrierscoreFirst Screen has long-standing relationships with over 100 mobile carriers globally, enabling carrier billing payment services in markets across multiple regions. These carriers provide the billing infrastructure for processing mobile payments for digital content.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
First Screen competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Stripe: Stripe is a global payments infrastructure incumbent serving internet businesses with card processing, wallets, and an expanding set of alternative payment methods. While not a carrier billing specialist, it is a competitive alternative for the digital content brands First Screen serves.
- Digital River: Digital River provides global e-commerce and payment processing for software, digital goods, and subscription businesses, including support for alternative and international payment methods. It competes with First Screen for digital content monetization contracts, especially with security and subscription software brands.
- Zong (PayPal Mobile): Zong, now part of PayPal, pioneered mobile carrier billing for digital goods. PayPal is a broad incumbent in digital payments whose mobile carrier billing capabilities overlap with First Screen's, but with much wider scope and scale.
Direct peers
- mopay: mopay is a carrier billing and mobile payment specialist focused on global digital content monetization, with a similar product offering to First Screen — frictionless carrier-based checkout for digital goods, content, and subscriptions across multiple markets.
- DOCOMO Digital: DOCOMO Digital (an NTT DOCOMO company) provides a global carrier billing and digital content distribution platform connecting app stores, OTT services, and merchants to mobile operators. It directly competes with First Screen in mobile carrier billing aggregation for premium content.
- Fortumo (Vonage): Fortumo, now part of Vonage, operates a direct carrier billing platform that enables app stores, game publishers, and digital service providers to monetize via mobile operator billing. It overlaps directly with First Screen's carrier billing aggregation model and global carrier footprint.
- Telecoming: Telecoming is a Spanish-headquartered carrier billing, mobile commerce, and digital advertising company serving telecom operators and digital merchants. It is comparable to First Screen in offering carrier billing monetization coupled with marketing services for digital content brands.
- Bango: Bango is a publicly-traded UK-based direct carrier billing and digital payments platform that routes purchases through mobile operators globally. Like First Screen, Bango connects content providers and merchants to carrier billing, making it the closest direct comparable in product, business model, and customer base.
- txtnation: txtnation provides mobile messaging, SMS shortcode, and carrier billing services for digital content, apps, and subscription services. It overlaps with First Screen on premium SMS / carrier billing payments for digital goods and content monetization.
- Dimoco: Dimoco is a European mobile payment and carrier billing company specializing in direct carrier billing, SMS billing, and digital content monetization. Its business model and target customers (digital content providers, mobile operators) closely match First Screen's.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
First Screen social profiles
Digital presenceFirst Screen financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
First Screen leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
First Screen funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
First Screen M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about First Screen
What does First Screen do?
First Screen operates a mobile carrier billing platform that connects premium digital brands with over 100 mobile carriers globally, enabling frictionless payment via direct carrier billing. The company handles the entire customer lifecycle — acquisition, payment processing, localization, regulatory compliance, and retention — and invests its own capital in marketing campaigns on behalf of brand partners. It also exposes a simple payment API for product integration with carrier billing infrastructure.
Is First Screen a public or private company?
First Screen is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was First Screen founded?
First Screen was founded in 2006. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is First Screen based?
First Screen is headquartered in Dallas, United States, in the North America region.
How does First Screen make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Carrier Billing Transaction Fees are the primary driver. The others are marketing Services for Brands.
Who are First Screen's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Stripe, Digital River and Zong (PayPal Mobile). Direct peers are mopay, DOCOMO Digital, Fortumo (Vonage), Telecoming, Bango, txtnation and Dimoco.
Does First Screen have an API?
Yes. First Screen offers a payment API that connects partner products to their carrier billing platform. The API enables frictionless mobile carrier payment integration for products. However, no public documentation, developer portal, SDK, or technical specifications (auth method, rate limits, versioning) are provided on their website.
What industry is First Screen in?
First Screen's product category is Mobile Carrier Billing Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSAMAEAD, Carrier Billing & Telco Mobile Money, with a secondary code of FSAMAJAC, Bank Bill Pay (Consumer & Small Business). Its NAICS code is 5171 and its SIC code is 5731.