A Tampa technology startup with a focus on the communications industry has partnered with Ribbon Communications Inc. in a deal for an undisclosed amount.
Phonism, which provides cloud-based device management in the communications industry, announced the deal with Ribbon Communications (NASDAQ: RBBN) Thursday morning. The two companies had been in talks for a while, according to Phonism CEO Steve Lazaridis, and after meeting at a trade show they struck an agreement to co-develop, market and sell management services.
"We have been honing and perfecting the product and platform as we've grown," Lazaridis, Phonism co-founder and CEO said. "As we've grown we've closed larger and larger customers, which vary in different sectors. We're very much focused on product, quality, capability and now strategic partnerships as we've grown the business."
The Tampa-based company launched in 2017 and has 11 employees, with goals to hire for three to four more high-skill, high-wage positions by the end of the year. The company is a member of Embarc Collective and previously was a member of the Tampa Bay Wave.
Lazaridis said in the last year, the company has grown 200 percent, with its growth spanning revenue, team and customer base. He added the Covid-19 pandemic played a factor in the company's major growth.
"Covid hasn’t impacted us negatively, it impacted us in a positive way and that goes across the board in a majority of the communications industry," Lazaridis said. "More devices are being deployed, more are being deployed in other locations, and those devices need management."
