Overview, company details, product information, news, events, rankings and Rep listings for iJango.
The Austin, Texas company launched its web-portal and network-marketing program in 2009. Its weJango consumer services were formally scheduled to end on August 1, 2011, with members offered a transition into the separate Nexcel prepaid-card referral program.
Original Npros business profile for iJango, preserved below for archival purposes:
iJango Network, LLC was an Austin, Texas-based Internet-services and network-marketing company launched in 2009. The company was developed by telecommunications and network-marketing entrepreneur Stephen "Steve" Smith, his son Rayner Smith, and concept developer Cameron B. Sharpe. Steve Smith was previously associated with Excel Communications, the long-distance telephone company that built a large independent representative organization during the 1990s. iJango was promoted as an effort to apply a similar network-marketing model to Internet search, advertising, shopping, and web traffic.
The company's primary service was a customizable Internet portal that users could set as their browser home page. The portal combined search, email, games, shopping links, entertainment, and other online resources. iJango intended to generate revenue through online advertising and commissions from purchases made after users followed retailer links through the portal. Company representatives stated that the shopping system included relationships with retailers through third-party affiliate networks such as LinkShare.
iJango used a network-marketing-style membership and referral program. Consumers could reportedly enroll for an initial fee of $50, although the company recommended a $149.95 package followed by a $19.95 monthly maintenance fee. Participants were offered compensation for enrolling paying representatives and registered portal users, as well as a share of advertising and affiliate-shopping revenue generated through their portal organizations. The company described the opportunity as a "membership rewards community" rather than a conventional product-sales business.
The program attracted significant criticism almost immediately after its 2009 launch. Better Business Bureau offices issued warnings that the compensation model showed possible pyramid-scheme characteristics because participants were paid for enrolling customers and additional recruiters. BBB also cited complaints involving delayed portal functionality, difficulty canceling memberships, and claims of relationships with companies including Google and Rhapsody that those companies did not confirm. Google stated that it was not affiliated with iJango.
To become a Community Director, members must pay a one-time fee of$149.95 and a $19.95 recurring monthly fee for tools and support.
Stephen "Steve" Smith, Chairman and Co-Founder.
Rayner Smith, Chief Executive Officer.
Cameron B. Sharpe, Co-Founder and Concept Developer.
Tom Brown, Chief Financial Officer.
Tanya Smith, Director of Marketing and Communications.
Danny Jacobs, Director of Representative Success.
Npros.com archives executive bios for iJango and other companies. Use the links below for specific executive biographies and related company history.
Steve Smith is the Co-founder of iJango, and previous Network Marketing Expert and Co-founder of Excel Communications. Almost three decades ago, Mr. Smith, then a well known entrepreneur, realized that a compensative marketing strategy would be an effective tool in the marketing and distribution of services, formulating a successful business model....
Quite a bit of commentary has been generated on Cameron Sharpe, founder of iJango. Cameron Sharpe was the founder of at least three other MLM companies, Everyday Wealth, Ultimate Match and Ultimate Choice Travel....
Steve Smith of iJango has a considerable business history with Cameron Sharpe in former ventures. Smith is also known for his success with Excel Communications....
The Better Business Bureau has been particularly critical of iJango. The St. Louis Business Journal published an article regarding the BBB's allegation that iJango is a Pyramid Scheme:...
iJango MLM is essentially aiming to use its web portals as a means of consolidating the Internet world by partnering with large online companies in the social network, search engine, and retail industries, such as Facebook, You Tube, and Google....
The iJango network was started in the summer of 2009 and has grown rapidly since. iJango claims to cater to Internet marketers and online entrepreneurs world wide, via web portals that allow individuals to transact and do business, or simply surf the Internet while making a profit....
The latest installments of iJango news are on the Internet in various places ranging from business partnership announcements, company disaffiliations, accusations suggesting pyramid schemes, and rumors of scams. iJango was recently the subject of an investigation by the Better Business Bureau....
iJango published a September Press Release that in part addresses BBB criticism of the company:...
Many bloggers on the Internet have posted lengthy articles stating the opinion that iJango is a Scam. One blog, Click Sniper, catalogues several links to Cameron Sharpe and his business history, as well as former partners....
Reports of an iJango scam began shortly after the prelaunch of the beta version of the portal, when the BBB compiled a review of the iJango business model and stated it seemed to be a pyramid scheme. Opponents of iJango claim that they cannot determine what the product is and how money will be made based on the company training materials....
iJango was in the news over the summer of 2009 relating to their Better Business Bureau review. The iJango BBB review uses consumer information and the length of time that a company has been in business as a partial basis for their ratings. Other factors in BBB ratings include how long issues take to resolve, and any concerns the BBB may have with the industry they are reviewing....
IJango, the pioneer of the personalized community start page, today launched the IJango Community, which will enable anyone to create and publish their own personal portals known as "Communities". More than 16,000 "Communities" have been created. With IJango Communities, members can collect, design and syndicate their entire digital world in just minutes. Moving beyond traditional blogs and soc...
iJango is mentioned in a new article on ABC2News that apparently tries to clarify the difference between a Ponzi Scheme and a Pyramid scheme.The article does not identify iJango as either, however it does include a few pointed paragraphs discussing the company and BBB reports of consumer experiences, most notably an apparent uncertainty by consumers as to what the actual iJango product is......
The BBB's Phoenix, Texas and national offices have issued consumer warnings about iJango, warning consumers that the company could be a pyramid scheme. Angela Hale, iJango spokeswoman, disputes that claim. She says that the Internet marketing company has a legitimate business model and that the BBB is misleading consumers and the media as to how many complaints have been filed against the comp...
iJango continues to generate buzz and stir controversy - NBC Chicago posted a news piece on the company on September 25, 2009: Ijango Comes to Town With Critics Close Behind Browser beware.That's the message the Better Business Bureau wants to spread about Ijango, a self-described "online community" which is recruiting marketers in face-to-face sessions across the count...
The St. Louis Business Journal recently wrote about a Better Business Bureau warning about iJango:The Better Business Bureau in St. Louis is warning consumers and businesses to be wary of a Texas company holding a meeting tonight at Spazio's Westport restaurant.The BBB serving Central, Coastal and Southwest Texas, which is based in Austin, distributed a warning about iJango, saying it may be...
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