1
1995
Wirtualna Polska’s debut as a catalogue of websites. Its owner is company Centrum Nowych Technologii, the acronym of which can be found in its address: www.wp.cnt.pl. with the passage of time, WP changes into a horizontal portal.
2
1998
The wp.pl domain enters the mainstream, along with a free email service .
3
1999
Three students of the Warsaw School of Economics: Michał Brański, Jacek Świderski and Krzysztof Sierota create free go2.pl email service. With its available capacity, it stands out from competitors. After some time, the name changes into o2.pl.
4
2000
Launch of the o2.pl horizontal portal that will compete with Wirtualna Polska until the year 2014. This is also the time when Wirtualna Polska comes up with the first guide to the internet.
5
2001
As many as one million users use the WP email service up to this point. Successive years will see a rise in popularity of the o2 email service as well. At the end of 2001, the o2 Group launches one of the first instant messengers in Poland called Tlen.pl.
6
2003
WP activates a new service: mobile e-mail supported by the then mobile phones.
7
2005
WP sets market standards, increasing the capacity of email boxes to 256 MB.
8
2006
The o2 Group launches Pudelek.pl: the first large lifestyle portal presenting content from the world of entertainment.
9
2007
Launch of WP.TV internet television, along with new advertising formats. From this year on, behavioral targeting is available for all ads on WP. Also, a mobile version of the portal starts this year.
10
2009
WP starts offering a mailbox with unlimited capacity, featuring the option of sending attachments up to 100 MB.
11
2010
WP, as a pioneering portal on the Polish market, launches a mobile app supported by iPads. The first marketing campaign based on augmented reality commences. Internet Standard awards Wirtualna Polska with the title of Company of the Year 2010.
12
2011
WP launches the first Smart TV app. In June 2011, the portal becomes a leader in terms of mobile page impressions.
13
2012
Launch of the new wp.pl homepage. The company expands its e-commerce activity and activates a sales platform for young designers.
14
2013
Wirtualna Polska reinforces its position of a leader in mobile solutions, observing more that 200 million mobile impressions a month. A new version of the WP e-mail service is launched, characterized by additional features and a modern layout.
15
2014
The o2 Group together with a private equity fund Innova Capital get the permission to take over Wirtualna Polska. Hence, the Wirtualna Polska Group comes into being. After the merger, WP receives a new logo, homepage and a new image campaign led by the phrase “What truly matters happens in Poland”. The #HappensInPoland hashtag becomes widely known and the campaign receives the Grand Prix Effie Award 2015.
16
WP acquires WP SportoweFakty and money.pl. The Group develops its e-commerce business. New sites enter its portfolio, including a fashion website Domodi and Homebook, a platform dedicated to sharing interior design tips and offers of leading brands.
17
2015
WP takes over the internet radio station OpenFM. Thus, it becomes a leader in this market segment and strengthens its position as a mobile solution provider. New acquisitions in its portfolio are abcZdrowie.pl and parenting.pl. The Group takes ever bolder steps on the e-commerce market, acquiring e.g. FinansowySupermarket.pl, Allani as well as a well-known tourist website wakacje.pl.
18
Debut of the new o2: an innovative product addressing the information- and entertainment-related needs of young internet users. It combines features of a mobile app, website and some characteristic social media features.
19
2016
Telewizja WP (WP TV) starts broadcasting. Its programming includes some world series that had not been previously presented by any Polish open television channels, as well as current affairs and lifestyle programs.
20
This year is marked by successive acquisitions in the field of e-commerce. This time the brand portfolio is enriched by a financial comparison portal totalmoney.pl and nocowanie.pl, the largest Polish portal to book accommodation services.
21
2017
The Advertising Office of Wirtualna Polska receives a distinction in a prestigious ranking by the Media & Marketing Polska magazine for the third time.
22
2018
#viewability becomes the catch phrase of the year. WP revolutionized the internet ad market by introducing pricing model based on ads that users actually viewed. The new strong indicator vCPM is applied in accordance with the IAB definition.
23
2019
Wirtualna Polska Holding is ranked as one of the best companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. In a reputable ranking “Giełdowa Spółka Roku” (listed company of the year) compiled by the Puls Biznesu daily, WP was recognized as one of the best evaluated companies of 2018. WP Holding received especially high ratings in the following categories: competence of the Management Board, product and service innovations as well as relations with investors.
24
2020
WP receives the “Wektor 2019” award from Pracodawcy RP (the largest employer organization in Poland).
25
Change of the head office address to Żwirki i Wigury 16.
26
Announcement of the WP Naturalnie strategic project.
27
2021
As much as half of the energy consumed by server rooms is already generated using renewable sources.
28
The first test photovoltaic farm gets installed on the roof of the server room. Two months later, a 5-hectare farm is built in Lower Silesia.
29
2022
WP earmarks PLN 580 million for acquisitions of new companies. The Group acquires Audioteka, Benchmark, Mediapop and the Szallas Group operating in Central and Eastern Europe.
30
Green sources generate 80% of the energy consumed by the server room.