IMC Selling Networking Gear in Chile

Foothill Ranch-based IMC Networks Corp. has won a multiyear pact to supply networking gear to Chile's Grupo Gtd, a provider of telecommunications services to businesses.

The deal could be worth about $1 million annually to IMC for several years.

"There's no set time limit to the deal-we'll keep supporting them and supplying them," said Michael Dailey, IMC's president and chief operations officer.

Gtd, a privately owned provider of telecommunications services based in Santiago, selected IMC's FiberLinX device for use in its networks.

"We've had a relationship with these guys since 1995, and when we released this new FiberLinX product they decided to migrate over to it," Dailey said.

FiberLinX is used to link together different networks, such as newer fiber-optic systems and older ones based on copper wires.

Gtd is the equivalant of what's known here as a competitive local exchange carrier-independent telecoms that compete with dominant players. In Chile, Gtd competes with Telefonica CTC Chile, the country's largest phone company, and other independents such as Manquehue Net.

With operations in Santiago and seven other Chilean cities, Gtd provides voice, data and video services for companies in what is considered Latin America's most advanced and competitive telecommunications industry.

IMC, which sells its networking devices in more than 50 countries, counts yearly sales of about $20 million.

"We expect sales this year to be up by 25% to 35% over last year," Dailey said.

The company's products are sold through British networking products distributor Azlan Group PLC, which now is part of Clearwater, Fla.-based distributor Tech Data Corp.

Along with Tech Data, Santa Ana-based computer products distributor Ingram Micro Inc. also handles IMC products.

IMC plans to grow its OC workforce by up to 10% this year, according to Dailey. The company has 60 workers in OC and about 70 worldwide.

Company founder, owner and Chief Executive Jerry Roby used to be a code breaker for the National Security Agency.

IMC's name originally was "It's My Company Networks"-a moniker IMC officials chose to highlight the easy installation of the company's product lines.

Copyright CBJ, L. P. Apr 12-Apr 18, 2004
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