# Fastmail

> Australian email service provider

**Wikidata**: [Q1006504](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1006504)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fastmail)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/fastmail

## Summary
Fastmail is an Australian email service provider that commenced operations in 1999. Headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, it functions as a mailbox provider and a business entity. The company was founded by Jeremy Howard, Rob Mueller, and Bruce Davey.

## Key Facts
*   **Inception:** Fastmail was founded in 1999.
*   **Founders:** The company was founded by Jeremy Howard, Rob Mueller, and Bruce Davey.
*   **Headquarters:** Fastmail's headquarters are located in Melbourne, Australia.
*   **Country of Origin:** Fastmail is based in Australia.
*   **Legal Form:** As of September 17, 2024, its legal form is an Australian Proprietary Company, Limited By Shares.
*   **Official Name:** The official name of the entity is Fastmail Pty Ltd.
*   **Ownership History:** Fastmail was owned by Opera from 2010 to 2013.
*   **Current CEO:** Bron Gondwana has served as CEO as of January 21, 2021.
*   **Domain Names:** Its primary domain names are fastmail.com and fastmail.fm.
*   **Aliases:** The service is also known by aliases such as fastmail.com, FastMail.FM, FastMail, and Opera Software Australia.
*   **Social Media Presence:** Fastmail maintains a verified Twitter account (@Fastmail) with 13,537 followers as of February 5, 2023, and a Mastodon address (fastmail@mastodon.social) with 6,391 followers as of April 11, 2024.
*   **Website:** Its official website is https://www.fastmail.com/.
*   **Logos:** Fastmail adopted a new logo and small icon on June 24, 2019, replacing its old logo.
*   **Classification:** Fastmail is classified as a mailbox provider and a business.

## FAQs
**Who founded Fastmail and when was it established?**
Fastmail was founded in 1999 by Jeremy Howard, Rob Mueller, and Bruce Davey. This Australian email service provider has been operating for over two decades.

**Where is Fastmail's main operational base located?**
Fastmail's headquarters are situated in Melbourne, Australia, which is the capital city of Victoria. The company operates from this Australian location.

**Has Fastmail always been an independent entity?**
No, Fastmail was historically owned by Opera, a Norwegian software company known for its web browser, for a period between 2010 and 2013. Opera was also considered its parent organization during this time.

**What is the legal structure of Fastmail?**
Fastmail operates as an Australian Proprietary Company, Limited By Shares, a legal form that was specified as of September 17, 2024. Its official name is Fastmail Pty Ltd.

**How can users access information about Fastmail's service status?**
Users can find real-time service status information for Fastmail by visiting its dedicated service status URL at https://www.fastmailstatus.com/. This page provides updates on the availability and performance of its services.

## Why It Matters
Fastmail holds significance as an established Australian email service provider, contributing to the global landscape of digital communication services. Its founding by notable individuals like Jeremy Howard, an Australian data scientist and entrepreneur, underscores its roots in technological innovation. As a business headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, it represents a local contribution to the broader internet industry, offering an alternative to larger, international email platforms. Its history, including a period of ownership by Opera, highlights its evolution within the competitive software market. Fastmail's continued operation as a mailbox provider demonstrates its role in offering essential online infrastructure for individuals and organizations seeking reliable email solutions.

## Notable For
*   Being an Australian-based email service provider, originating from Melbourne.
*   Its founding by a team including Jeremy Howard, a recognized Australian data scientist and entrepreneur.
*   Its historical ownership by the Norwegian software company, Opera, between 2010 and 2013.
*   Operating under the legal form of an Australian Proprietary Company, Limited By Shares.
*   Maintaining a consistent online presence since its inception in 1999, with active social media channels and a dedicated service status page.

## Body

### Overview and Classification
Fastmail is an Australian email service provider, officially known as Fastmail Pty Ltd. It is classified as both a mailbox provider and a business, an organization undertaking commercial, industrial, or professional activity. Its wikidata description identifies it specifically as an Australian email service provider.

### History and Founding
Fastmail was founded in 1999. The company's inception was a collaborative effort by Jeremy Howard, Rob Mueller, and Bruce Davey. Jeremy Howard, an Australian data scientist, entrepreneur, computer scientist, and pedagogue, is known for his work in machine learning, deep learning, and artificial intelligence.

### Headquarters and Geographic Presence
The company's headquarters are located in Melbourne, Australia. Melbourne is the capital city of Victoria, Australia, a major cultural, economic, and political hub founded in 1835. As an Australian entity, Fastmail is situated within Australia, a sovereign country and federation located in Oceania, established on January 1, 1901.

### Ownership and Leadership
From 2010 to 2013, Fastmail was owned by Opera, a Norwegian software company primarily known as the developer of the Opera web browser. During this period, Opera also functioned as Fastmail's parent organization. Opera itself was founded in 1995 and is headquartered in Oslo, Norway. Following this period, Fastmail has continued its operations, with Bron Gondwana serving as CEO as of January 21, 2021.

### Legal Structure and Identifiers
Fastmail operates under the legal form of an Australian Proprietary Company, Limited By Shares, a status noted as of September 17, 2024. Its official name is Fastmail Pty Ltd, and it is identified by Australian Company Number (ACN) 142646580 and Australian Business Number (ABN) 31142646580. It also has a Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) 9845000AD2D6DDA73678 and an OpenCorporates ID au/142646580.

### Branding and Online Presence
Fastmail uses the domain names fastmail.com and fastmail.fm. Its primary website is https://www.fastmail.com/, and it also maintains an official blog at https://www.fastmail.com/blog/. The company has adopted various aliases over time, including fastmail.com, FastMail.FM, FastMail, and Opera Software Australia.

The company's logo has evolved; a new logo and a small icon were introduced on June 24, 2019, replacing an older blue-on-transparent wordmark logo.

Fastmail maintains a significant presence across social media platforms:
*   **Twitter:** The verified account @Fastmail (formerly @FastMailFM) had 13,537 followers as of February 5, 2023. Previous follower counts include 13,213 on February 28, 2022, and 11,052 on February 5, 2021.
*   **Facebook:** The company's Facebook page is simply "Fastmail."
*   **Instagram:** Its Instagram handle is @teamfastmail.
*   **Mastodon:** Fastmail's Mastodon address is fastmail@mastodon.social, with 6,391 followers as of April 11, 2024. Earlier counts include 6,318 on March 16, 2024, and 6,240 on February 12, 2024. The Mastodon account was established on December 10, 2022.
*   **Bluesky:** A Bluesky handle, fastmail.com, was established on November 18, 2024.
*   **LinkedIn:** Fastmail has a LinkedIn ID of "fastmail."

### Digital Footprint and Information Resources
Fastmail is indexed across various digital knowledge bases and platforms. It has a Freebase ID of /m/02pqxw1 and a Bing Entity ID of 949e87c4-d66d-b636-4d2b-e29e7dd7ddfd. Information regarding its service status is available at https://www.fastmailstatus.com/. The company is also listed on alternativeto.net with the ID "fastmail" and on Downdetector with the ID "fastmail."

Fastmail has a Wikipedia presence, with a Wikipedia title of "Fastmail" and sitelinks in 6 languages, including English, Spanish, French, Russian, and Chinese. It also has a Commons category dedicated to "Fastmail."

## References

1. [Source](https://fastmail.blog/2019/12/21/fastmail-2019/)
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. Global LEI Index
4. [Source](https://twitter.com/FastMailFM/status/738974136106508288)
5. [Source](https://twitter.com/FastMail)