Linx
Linx is a Tokyo-based private telecommunications company operating SMAPS, a cloud-based multi-layer SMS platform providing notification, identity authentication, and payment collection services to 520+ Japanese enterprises and municipalities, holding Japan's first METI-certified SMS service designation.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersTokyo, Japan
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingSoftware
What Linx does
Linx Corporation (株式会社リンクス) is a Tokyo-based private telecommunications company founded in 2014 that operates SMAPS, a cloud-based multi-layer SMS service platform used by 520+ enterprise and government customers across Japan. The platform combines SMS notification delivery, identity authentication via time-limited URLs, and integrated payment collection into a single product, structured as four tiers (Layer 1 basic SMS, Layer 2 with URL/authentication/surveys, Layer 2.5 adding convenience store payments, and Layer 3 with multi-rail payment support). Linx is a registered telecommunications carrier (A-05-20755) and holds the first METI/Ministry of Justice certification under Japan's New Business Special System, giving SMAPS legal equivalence to registered mail for debt-assignment notifications.
The company's primary verticals are real estate/property management, insurance, and municipalities/government, with secondary exposure to financial services, e-commerce, and utilities. Named customers include Japan Wide Insurance, Kosai City Water Division, Meiwa Property Management, Aoshima Cultural Materials, Good Real Estate, and Kanie JAPAN. Linx monetizes through a hybrid model combining usage-based billing per successfully delivered SMS and tiered monthly subscriptions, with implementation typically completing in about 10 business days.
Linx distributes through a direct enterprise sales motion augmented by an agent/reseller network and a white-label/OEM channel — partners such as AI CROSS, NTT Town Page, NTT Data With, and Fuji Soft resell SMAPS under their own brands. The company's strategic positioning has been re-anchored around Japan's October 2024 postal rate hike (up to 35% for postcards), with SMAPS marketed as a postal-digital-transformation replacement citing ~45% postal cost reduction and 90%+ SMS open rates versus 10–20% for email. Leadership comprises Representative Director Noda Takashi (CEO), CTO Natsuyama, and Head of Planning Akaboshi Hitomi. Linx is privately held with no publicly disclosed funding rounds or revenue figures.
Linx firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Linx
- Legal name
- 株式会社リンクス
- Website
- https://linx-corp.com/
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Linx is a Tokyo-based private telecommunications company operating SMAPS, a cloud-based multi-layer SMS platform providing notification, identity authentication, and payment collection services to 520+ Japanese enterprises and municipalities, holding Japan's first METI-certified SMS service designation.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Linx industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Cloud-based SMS Communication Platform
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (5182), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)
- SIC
- Services-Telephone Interconnect Systems (7385), Services-Computer Programming Services (7371)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Contact Center (CCaaS) & Customer Engagement Voice (HDAIAHAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Digital Wallet Infrastructure (Tokenization, Wallet-as-a-Service) (FSAMAEAI)
Keywords
Where Linx is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tokyo
- HQ country
- Japan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices1 record
Markets served
Linx business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Software
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- SMS Transmission Services: Success-based billing model where customers pay per successfully delivered SMS message. Pricing varies by layer plan (Layer 1-3) with different feature sets. Initial setup fees and monthly subscription charges may apply depending on plan selection.
- Platform Subscription: Monthly subscription model with tiered plans (Layer 1, 2, 2.5, 3) providing different service levels. Higher tiers include additional features like authentication, surveys, and payment integrations.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Usage-based | Pay-as-you-go | Layer 1 - Basic SMS notification service for campaigns and announcements |
| Hybrid | Monthly | Layer 2 - Extended SMS with authentication and surveys |
| Hybrid | Monthly | Layer 2.5 - Adds convenience store payment integration |
| Hybrid | Monthly | Layer 3 - Full payment platform with multi-method support |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Linx product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Linx provides SMAPS, a cloud-based SMS multi-service platform that enables enterprises to send SMS messages for customer notifications, conduct identity authentication via time-limited URLs, run two-way surveys, and integrate multiple payment methods including convenience store payments, credit cards, and major smartphone payment services. The platform operates across four service tiers (Layer 1-3) targeting businesses in real estate, insurance, municipalities, utilities, financial services, and retail, with usage primarily focused on replacing postal mail for billing, payment reminders, and contract notifications.
Product overview
Linx provides SMAPS (SMS Multi Service Platform), a cloud-based SMS communication platform consisting of layered service tiers. The core SMAPS platform handles SMS message delivery with different feature tiers: Layer 1 for basic SMS broadcasting, Layer 2 adding time-limited URLs and customer authentication, Layer 2.5 integrating convenience store payments, and Layer 3 adding comprehensive multi-payment options including credit cards and major smartphone payment services. All tiers share a common management portal and reporting system, with optional API access for enterprise system integration.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Companies that use Linx
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Linx technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- Yes
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration11 records
AI capability2 records
Feature10 records
Linx partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AI CROSS Corporation (AI CROSS株式会社)coreAI CROSS Corporation resells SMAPS under the brand 'Absolute Reach! SMS DM' and 'Absolute Reach! SMS PAY', offering the platform's notification and payment capabilities to their customer base.
- NTT Town Page Corporation (NTTタウンページ株式会社)coreNTT Town Page serves as a key distribution partner, reselling SMAPS as 'Digital Lead for DX SMS Solution' and providing SMS solutions to municipal and enterprise customers through partnership agreements.
- NTT Data With Corporation (株式会社NTTデータ・ウィズ)coreNTT Data With integrates SMAPS technology into their SMS Payments solution, leveraging the platform for payment notification and settlement services.
- Fuji Soft Corporation (富士ソフト株式会社)coreFuji Soft, a major IT services company, resells SMAPS under their brand, providing SMS notification and payment services integrated with their broader IT solutions portfolio.
- Visual Research Corporation (株式会社ビジュアルリサーチ)minorVisual Research resells SMAPS services to their customer base, offering SMS notification solutions as part of their service offerings.
- Billing System Corporation (ビリングシステム株式会社)minorBilling System integrates SMAPS into their billing and payment solutions, providing SMS-based notification and payment collection services.
- Fine Technology Corporation (ファインテクノロジー株式会社)minorFine Technology resells SMAPS services to their customers, offering SMS notification and payment solutions.
- Best Mirai Cle Corporation (ベストミライクル株式会社)minorBest Mirai Cle offers SMAPS as 'Be-Smarts' service, providing SMS notification solutions to their customer base.
- Sumitomo Mitsui Card Corporation (三井住友カード株式会社)coreMajor credit card company partnering for payment integration, enabling SMAPS to offer credit card payment options within the SMS notification and settlement flow.
- Mizuho Bank (みずほ銀行)coreListed as main financial partner for banking services, supporting company financial operations.
Scale indicators12 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Linx competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AI CROSS: Japanese CPaaS and SMS messaging provider offering enterprise SMS delivery, authentication, and notification solutions. Directly comparable to Linx as both serve Japanese enterprises with SMS notification and authentication offerings; AI CROSS is also a Linx white-label partner but operates its own Absolute Reach SMS platform competing in the same category.
- Branke: Japanese SMS delivery and authentication service provider focused on enterprise short message delivery with two-factor authentication. Directly comparable as a Japan-domestic SMS-as-a-service competitor targeting similar enterprise and SMB use cases.
Broad incumbents
- Twilio: Global CPaaS leader offering SMS, voice, and messaging APIs at worldwide scale. Comparable to Linx at the SMS API and CPaaS layer, though Twilio operates as a broad multi-product incumbent rather than specializing in Japan's payment-integrated SMS notification niche.
- MessageBird: International CPaaS platform offering SMS, WhatsApp, and omnichannel communications APIs. Comparable as an SMS and customer engagement platform serving enterprise notification use cases, though globally focused rather than Japan-specialized.
- Vonage (Ericsson): Global communications APIs provider (now part of Ericsson) offering SMS, voice, and messaging services. Comparable as a broad CPaaS incumbent with SMS delivery and authentication capabilities overlapping with Linx's core SMS platform.
- Plivo: Cloud communications platform offering SMS APIs, voice, and messaging services. Comparable as a CPaaS provider with similar SMS delivery infrastructure and enterprise notification capabilities, though Plivo is globally oriented rather than Japan-domiciled.
- NTT Communications: Major Japanese telecommunications carrier offering enterprise SMS, messaging, and unified communications services. Comparable as a large Japan-domiciled telecom with enterprise SMS capabilities, but operating as a broad incumbent with much wider portfolio than Linx's focused SMS-plus-payment offering.
- KDDI (au): One of Japan's largest mobile carriers providing enterprise SMS and messaging services. Comparable as a Japan telecom incumbent with SMS infrastructure serving enterprise notification use cases, though KDDI's primary business is consumer mobile rather than SMS-as-a-service.
- SINCH: Global CPaaS provider offering SMS, voice, and messaging APIs with strong enterprise footprint. Comparable as a broad CPaaS incumbent with similar SMS notification and authentication capabilities, though operating globally rather than focused on the Japanese market.
Regional players
- SMS GATE (SMS Pro / Link Corporation): Japanese SMS gateway and notification service provider (operated by Link Corporation). Comparable as a domestic SMS aggregation platform competing for similar enterprise notification and authentication use cases within Japan.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Linx compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Linx financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Linx leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Linx funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Linx 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 Linx
What does Linx do?
Linx provides SMAPS, a cloud-based SMS multi-service platform that enables enterprises to send SMS messages for customer notifications, conduct identity authentication via time-limited URLs, run two-way surveys, and integrate multiple payment methods including convenience store payments, credit cards, and major smartphone payment services. The platform operates across four service tiers (Layer 1-3) targeting businesses in real estate, insurance, municipalities, utilities, financial services, and retail, with usage primarily focused on replacing postal mail for billing, payment reminders, and contract notifications.
Is Linx a public or private company?
Linx is a private company. It is classified as unknown and is currently operating.
When was Linx founded?
Linx was founded in 2014.
Where is Linx based?
Linx is headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, in the Asia region.
How does Linx make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. SMS Transmission Services are the primary driver. The others are platform Subscription.
Who are Linx's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AI CROSS and Branke. Broad incumbents are Twilio, MessageBird, Vonage (Ericsson), Plivo, NTT Communications, KDDI (au) and SINCH. SMS GATE (SMS Pro / Link Corporation) is listed as a regional player.
Does Linx have an API?
Yes. SMAPS provides an API (GIP: General Information Portal) for system integration, allowing businesses to connect their existing systems with the SMS platform. The API enables sending SMS messages, managing authentication flows, and integrating with payment systems. Access is granted through an application process where users submit an access application form to receive technical specifications.
What industry is Linx in?
Linx's product category is Cloud-based SMS Communication Platform. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDAIAHAF, Contact Center (CCaaS) & Customer Engagement Voice, with a secondary code of FSAMAEAI, Digital Wallet Infrastructure (Tokenization, Wallet-as-a-Service). Its NAICS code is 5182 and its SIC code is 7385.