ABOUT US

CROSSCALL, the creator of sustainable mobile phones, offers waterproof, hard-wearing mobiles and smartphones with long runtimes. The company was founded in 2009 by Cyril Vidal in response to specific needs and uses that he himself was confronted with, and for which no specific equipment existed. The brand designs models perfectly suited to the hostile and unpredictable environments encountered by sportsmen and professionals in the field (water, rain, wind, humidity, dust, shocks, etc.), as well as a range of high-performance accessories. With more than 4.5 million units sold, a turnover of €114m and already more than 20,000 points of sale, the French company, based in Aix-en-Provence, is continuing to develop its range of handsets, which are increasingly recognised for their quality and originality both in France and internationally.

 

A BRAND BORN ON A STORMY DAY 

I always wanted Crosscall to be a team effort. And I truly believe that is what it's been, what it is and what it will always be. I remember it was on a stormy day, over 12 years ago, on one of my trips out to sea, the weather suddenly took a turn for the worse and seawater got in my phone. It stopped working.  

Generally, personal watercraft do not have radio equipment so if your mobile stops working, you are essentially cut off from the world with no way of signalling your position or calling for help. It's a scary situation most people would rather avoid. Luckily, I ended up making it back to dry land. Back on shore, soaking wet, I could only think of one thing: designing mobile phones suitable for use even the most aggressive environments, capable of meeting people's needs, and renowned for their durability. I didn't know it at that point, but Crosscall had just been born!  

Rising to the challenge

In the current economic system, entrepreneurship is no easy feat. When I first started to talk about my idea of creating a phone brand, some people found it amusing that I seriously thought I could challenge the multinationals who were already vying for a monopoly.  

And convincing industry players and users that having more durable and resistant products would make a real difference to everyday lives didn't happen overnight. But where there's a will, there's a way.  

Over the years, men and women from a variety of careers and backgrounds have joined our endeavour. Gradually, a tight-knit team was formed and Crosscall had all the skills it needed to rise to the challenge ahead. We started by creating our own industrial model and laying the foundations for technology of our own. Step by step, year after year, we established ourselves as a credible alternative among major operators and retailers.  

Sustainability, our raison d'être 

While it wasn't the case when we first started out, in the current climate, designing more sustainable and ethical products is a natural choice, and one likely to be mandatory in the future. Times are changing; something we should all embrace. But make no mistake, this can only be achieved if we change our entire approach to telephony.  

It means completely rejecting a model focused on technological one-upmanship, instead prioritising our users' needs and the consideration of all stakeholders in our value chain. It isn't just a way to stand out; it is the very essence of our commitment.  

Having a different approach to things has been the key to our success and has led to tremendous growth. So much so that we have had to move our headquarters four times to be able to accommodate new employees. Since marketing our very first phones, we have now sold more than 3 million devices and are established in 16 countries. Our primary goal, when Crosscall first began, was to make durability accessible to the general public, but we are also extremely proud to have been chosen by SNCF, the French Police, the Gendarmerie and even hospitals to kit out their staff, for conditions of use that truly put the equipment to the test.  Crosscall has grown into an Intermediate-Sized Enterprise (ETI in France) with almost 200 employees. It has held several fundraising rounds, while ensuring that its capital remains 100% French and that its employees always have a stake. 

True to the brand's DNA, we recently decided to guarantee our products for three whole years, a unique guarantee in the telecommunications industry. In line with new regulations requiring manufacturers to display the repairability level of their products, not only have our latest models obtained the highest scores on the market, we are also committed to ensuring that their components remain available for ten years.  

We're ready to embrace the future, with you at our side 

We have also developed a prototyping laboratory at our head office in Aix en Provence, which will enable us to further improve our smartphones' durability as well as improve on their ecodesign. And finally, the next challenge we have set for ourselves is to set up a dedicated reconditioning division that will give our products a second life.   

Although social and environmental performance is now a key focus in every area of business, Crosscall remains an exception and one of the few modestly sized companies in the global telecommunications landscape.  

We have come a long way since that stormy day, but there is still plenty to do. With the confidence that so many of you place in us every day by using and enjoying our products, we will continue in this direction.  

I hope you enjoy our website.  

Cyril Vidal, Président et fondateur de Crosscall

Cyril VIDAL

Founder and CEO 

KEY DATES FOR THE BRAND

2009

CROSSCALL founded by Cyril Vidal

2010

Signature of the first mobile distribution contract with Decathlon

2011

Launch of SHARK, the world’s first floating mobile

2016

4.5 million € of capital raised from ACG Management

2017

Launch of SHARK-X3, TREKKER-X3 and ACTION-X3

2018

Launch of the TREKKER-X4 and CORE-X3. Fundraising of 12M euros from Amundi and A Plus Finance.

2019

CROSSCALL celebrates its 10th anniversary and wins the SNCF call for tenders

2020

CROSSCALL launches the Core range and integrates the French Tech 120 and obtains the AER certification.

2021

CROSSCALL wins the NEO tender
Launch of ACTION-X5, CORE-X5 and CORE-T5

2022

Crosscall introduces a 5-year warranty on its smartphones and tablets
Launch of the CORE-Z5

2023

Launch of the STELLAR-X5
Nicolas Zibell appointed CEO of Crosscall

4,5M

UNITS SOLDS

in 2018

188

STAFF 

Worforce (April 2020)

101.2M€

TURNOVER

2019

INTERNATIONALLY

The Crosscall brand is now available in 14 countries around the world.

FRANCE    SPAIN   PORTUGAL    ITALY SWITZERLAND    SLOVENIA    NETHERLANDS
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA    BELGIUM GERMANY    AUSTRIA    CROATIA    SOUTH AFRICA