Posted: 12/1999
Telecom Companies Make Inc. 500 List
By Liz Montalbano
Five percent of the companies named to this year's Inc. 500 list, the magazine's guide to America's fastest-growing private companies, are in the telecom industry. While the companies vary in composition from vendors of switching and cable equipment to fiber optic manufacturers and software providers, several notable service providers also made the cut.
VoCall Communications Corp., Mountainside, N.J., which offers prepaid calling cards and Internet telephony, is ranked highest of all the telcos on the list at No. 17. The company experienced a 6,132 percent sales growth between 1994 and 1998, selling about $46.7 million in 1998 vs. $750,000 in 1994. VoCall was founded in 1990.
Destia Communications, Paramus, N.J., a facilities-based long distance provider that currently is merging with Viatel Inc., New York, garnered its spot on the Inc. 500 list at No. 88. The company, which also was founded in 1990, netted a 2,173 percent increase in sales growth between 1994 and 1998.
Further down on the list at No. 197 and 200, respectively, are Telecommunications Analysis Group, Delmar, N.Y., and Net2000 Communications, Vienna, Va. Telecommunications Analysis provides long distance services and installs and maintains telecom systems. The company had a 1,293 percent sales growth between 1994 and 1998 and was founded in 1990.
Net2000 is a competitive local exchange carrier (CLEC) that also provides regional long distance and data services. The company reported 1998 sales of $9.419 million, up 1,285 percent from its 1994 sales of $680,000. Net2000 was founded in 1993.
Nationwide Communications, an Auburn Hills, Mich.-based operator services, long distance and payphone provider, is No. 253 on the list, with a 1,102 percent sales increase between 1994 and 1998. The company was founded in 1992. Network One, Atlanta, founded that same year, experienced a 908 percent sales increase between 1994 and 1998 and checked in on the Inc. 500 list at No. 327. Network One is an integrated communications provider (ICP) offering long distance, Internet access and other services.
Other telecom or telecom-related companies that made the list are: Priority Call Management, Wilmington, Mass. (No. 26); UTStarcom, Alameda, Calif. (No. 34); MetaSolv Software Inc., Plano, Texas (No. 355); RE/COM Group, Moorestown, N.J. (No. 40); TAMCo, Clearwater, Fla. (No. 51); InterAccess, Chicago (No. 66); TelStrat, Plano, Texas (No. 75); WAN Technologies Inc., St. Louis (No. 96); Vixel Corp., Bothell, Wash. (No. 108); Digital Optics, Charlotte, N.C. (No. 120); ArrayComm, San Jose, Calif. (No. 169); Commtech, Cranbury, N.J. (No. 239); Telecom Technologies Inc., Richardson, Texas (No. 261); CenterPoint Solutions, Denver (No. 262); Versicom Communications Inc., Miamisburg, Ohio (No. 357); PIRI, Columbus, Ohio (No. 409); BMS, Denver (No. 415); Innovative Technology Solutions, Piscataway, N.J. (No. 429); Spectrum Communications Cabling Services, Corona, Calif. (No. 452); and E-Tek Dynamics, San Jose, Calif. (No. 470).
