ISP-phone company partnership

San Fernando Valley Business Journal, July 5, 2004 by Slav Kandyba

Agoura Hills-based ISWest, an Internet service provider serving Ventura County, has entered into a partnership with Simi Valley-based ITS-Omnicom to expand its market reach.

ITS-Omnicom, which provides phone services to businesses, has the same type of clientele as ISWest in Ventura County and the Central Coast, factors that were attractive to ISWest.

"The significance for us is it allows us to market in areas where they have customers," said Drew Kaplan, ISWest's vice president.

Kaplan said for now ITS-Omnicom will offer high-speed Internet access to its clients, but ISWest will refrain from offering ITS' phone services to its clients.

"We may offer voice down the line," Kaplan said.

The overall strategy for the partnership is to add value to both companies to get a hand up on competition from larger companies such as SBC and Verizon, which have begun offering bundled services, combining both Internet and voice in one package for businesses.

"The more services you can offer the more value you add," Kaplan said. "The more the chance your customer won't leave you."