Infonxx renamed to KGB

Philippine call center company Infonxx recently renamed itself as KGB Philippines. The new name is not an acronym but if you think it sounds familiar, you’re right. They got their new name from that defunct Russian security agency.

kgb In a recent conference call, Infonxx co-founder and CEO Robert Pines, explained the changes in their company name and their goal to be the number 1 directory assistance service worldwide.

What caught my attention was why they changed their name to KGB. According to a source, a lot of people often mistakenly pronounce Infonxx as “in-fonks” instead of the “info-n-x-x”.

The new name, KGB, was chosen partly because it’s “intriguing” just like the Russian intellegence agency it was named after.

KGB (Infonxx) is a US call center company specializing in directory assistance with offices here in Makati (RCBC Tower) and Sta. Rosa, Laguna. They’re the leading directory assistance service in the UK and also plans to enter other markets such as the Philippines and other Asian countries.

To learn more about Pines and the success of Infonxx in United Kingdom, check out this 2003 story from the Telegraph UK.

Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

https://www.yugatech.com

36 Comments

jhay says:

17 years ago

LOL!

It’s a good thing the Cold War is over, otherwise, no one would trust to call the KGB for assistance.

You have to give credit to the PR team or whoever came up with the idea, this is surely one good way of generating buzz for your company.

I wonder how the Russian government would react once they get wind of this. :D
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John Lloy says:

17 years ago

according to my friend it supposed to mean “KGB” knowledge / info provider etc.

118-118!

:)
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Abe Olandres says:

17 years ago

Makes sense — the Russian KGB is a like the CIA.
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Erin says:

17 years ago

lame if not very sensationalists. i can’t see the connection between a call center and a “committee of/for state security” which can warrant a name patterned against one of biggest intelligence of the cold war era. why not pattern it against israel’s mossad instead since that is said to be the most efficient covert intelligence agency in the world.

ciao!
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Abe Olandres says:

17 years ago

@erin, your reaction is exactly what they wanted — to get the buzz going. and looks like it’s working. ;)
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dyun says:

17 years ago

Hello.. Thank you for calling Komityet Gosudarstvennoy Bezopasnosti), my name is Boris. How can I help you today comrade?

LoL… wonder if my friend would want to use that spiel. ;)
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eric says:

17 years ago

Harhar Dyun!

gusto talaga nila mapag usapan! haha
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BrianB says:

17 years ago

I wonder how their employees feel about this. Call center workers are already having a difficult time making their “profession” sound like a legitimate long-term career but imagine. Hi, I work for KGB. Ha ha, I know.
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Erin says:

17 years ago

@yuga, yeah if they believe that any publicity is good publicity. i think i am oldschool in believing that a company wouldn’t willingly associate itself with a covert, communist organization.

i agree with BrianB because if ever i will work for a call center, that would be the last place i would submit my resume.

here is another scenario running in my head: an american company outsourcing its helpdesk getting a call from CIA/DHS because intelligence says that they are dealing with the KGB.

oh well, if it floats their boat then i wish them the best.

ciao!
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kittysam says:

17 years ago

?! Yugger?!
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