While Connecticut has yet to be confused with Silicon Valley, or even Silicon Alley for that matter, technology companies in the Nutmeg state are providing vital services throughout the world, and those offering money saving services and products are likely to continue growing.

It’s rough out there these days. No reasonable person is going to try to tell you otherwise. However, as so often happens during lean economic times, with crisis comes innovation.

And perhaps there is no greater motivation to innovate than the desire to cut costs. The companies that stay on top during the lean times often do so through developing cost saving technologies that others need. In fact, the technology industry has historically had cycles apart from the larger economy precisely because innovation creates the ability to overpower the normal market fluctuations.

 

Matthew Nemerson, president and CEO of the Connecticut Technology Council, says the technology industry in a place like Connecticut is something of a continuum of all industries whether it be building helicopters or developing software for call centers.

”Connecticut is mature place where companies are tapping into existing business and selling things that are niche products that are better than what was there before,” said Nemerson. “We are in post technology divided era. We don’t talk technology versus industry because technology is in retail, schools, manufacturing, biotech, and how we run hospitals and healthcare systems.”

 

In Connecticut, a state with a history of cutting edge innovators such as Sikorsky and Colt Manufacturing, plus a top tier educational system, makes it an idea place for companies looking to grow through adopting a highly educated workforce.

 

The Connecticut Technology Council, a statewide association of technology oriented companies and institutions, providing leadership in areas of policy advocacy, community building and assistance for growing companies, speaks for over 2,000 companies that employ some 200,000 residents.

 

In its continued efforts to help maintain the impressive growth in the technology sector in state the organization provides a “strong and urgent voice” in support of the creation of a culture of innovation, according to Nemerson.

 

And it seems that much of the innovation these days is coming from companies operating in the telecommunications space.

 

 

One technology-based company that has long roots in the Nutmeg state is Coordinated Systems, Inc., established in 1972. The company has continually evolved their solutions, growing a thriving business built on high quality long term relationships with customers and partners.

 

Coordinated Systems’ flagship product, Virtual Observer (VO), a call recording and quality assurance solution for call centers, is helping others make strides within the industry in recent years by offering a robust, user friendly feature set that provides high value and exceeds client requirements and enhances client satisfaction.

 

"We consistently continue to add new features to Virtual Observer,” said Rich Marcia, marketing director at Coordinated Systems, Inc. “There are three driving forces which enable us to sustain innovation. The first is by listening to our customers and responding to their needs. The second is by working with partners to create connectors which can allow our system to work with other, complimentary call center solutions. The third is the creativity of our engineering team. They are consummate professionals who never fail to deliver beyond expectations."

 

While the call center space is obviously huge business these days, so is the world of online networked video solutions. The benefits of this burgeoning industry are many, ranging from seamless communications for employees to reducing an employee’s carbon footprint by allowing greater productivity through telecommuting.

 

 

VBrick, a Wallingford, Connecticut-based company, is the world leader of live, online networked video solutions. VBrick offers a comprehensive suite of enterprise video products that provides business and organizations with robust and proven online video systems that connect people everywhere.

 

In fact, with the pressure of a slowing economy, businesses are strapped for cash in more ways than one. So it is somewhat surprising that budget cutbacks aren’t everywhere, and they haven’s seemed to slow the videoconferencing space.  

 

Video conferencing sales have jumped 24 percent in the last 12 months, according to a recent study. The increase is likely a result of video conferencing no longer being seen as a stand-alone product in conference rooms. With a changing economy, businesses are increasingly seeing both desktop and conference-room video communications as an indispensable part of their global unified communications.

 

The VBrick’s core product offering is a networked video appliance that enables customers to capture and deliver live streaming video over any network. 

 

When combined with additional VBrick systems components and management software, the video appliance becomes the foundation of the company’s EtherneTV system.  This complete video delivery system can capture, record, manage and distribute video across the enterprise. 

 

VBrick also provides a complete InternetTV solution through a new service offering.  This “Video Streaming as a Service” (VSaaS) includes a video appliance as part of a complete service package that enables customers to stream, manage and monetize video content over the Internet.  It provides a managed model allowing customers to enter the InternetTV market quickly and easily. 

 

 

One company listed on Connecticut Technology Council’s Tech Top 40 is Tangoe, Inc., a leading global provider of enterprise communications lifecycle management software and technology-driven services.

 

To make it on the Tech Top 40, companies must have had operating revenues of at least $50,000 in 2004 and $3,000,000 in 2007, be headquartered in Connecticut, and own proprietary technology or proprietary intellectual property that contributes to a significant portion of the company's operating revenues; or devotes a significant proportion of revenues to the research and development of technology.

 

Check, check, check and check for Tangoe.

 

The Milford company is a global leader in telecommunications lifecycle solutions, provides software and technology-enabled services that help global organizations to procure, manage, and control their fixed, mobile, and converged communications assets and their costs.

 

 “Our ability to focus on and consistently address the critical needs of global organizations that struggle with their fixed and mobile communications costs and resources has fueled Tangoe’s exceptional revenue growth and leadership position in our expanding marketplace,” said Tangoe president and CEO Al Subbloie (News - Alert).

Tangoe's software and service solutions are built upon patented technologies that enable dramatic cost reductions and process efficiencies, which significantly contribute to organizational profitability. Global 2000 organizations worldwide depend on Tangoe solutions to more effectively manage their fixed, mobile, and converged telecommunications processes.

 

The company also has received a 2007 "Product of the Year Award" from Technology Marketing Corporation's (TMC (News - Alert)) Unified Communications magazine.

 

Dilip Singh, president of Telenity (News - Alert), says there is no secret to the Monroe-based company’s

success.

 

“Success for Telenity is generated in the same manner as it is for our customers: Revenue grows with the proper alignment of services that are built on a platform that is poised to seize opportunity,” said Singh.

 

Telenity's worldwide customer base includes network operators, service providers and application providers. Telenity partners with global and regional network equipment providers, system integrators and computing platform manufacturers.

 

The company’s IMS compliant converged services solutions include: reusable service delivery and content components enabling rapid service creation, deployment and execution functionalities across multiple services and applications; location servers; integrated messaging solutions; and value added services. We are active in industry standards associations to assure service providers the support for standards based solutions.

 

Telenity's customers control some of the fastest growing wireless networks throughout the world, reflecting strong subscriber growth in Europe, the Middle East, Africa and North America and, more recently, the Far East and South America. Total active mobile subscribers in networks currently using Telenity platforms and applications have grown to more than 100 million subscribers.

 

“Some see the economic prowess in the communications industry cloaked in a shroud of mystery,” says Singh. “In reality, reaching the pinnacle in this industry is like attaining prominence in any other business. Maximizing revenues while keeping capital expenses and operating costs in check generates success. However, one cannot do it alone. Good partners are a key in capitalizing on the breadth and depth of opportunities to create lucrative returns. “

 

Check out some more Hi-Tech business in the Nutmeg state here.