Telecommunications

Consumer Cellular Corporate Office

Consumer Cellular was founded in 1995 in Tigard, Oregon, by current CEO John Marick and Greg Pryor. The company operates a non-subscription/non-contract cellular phone service.

The company is best known for having no contracts. The main focus is on retirees and others with a fixed income. In 2008, the company began working with the AARP to enlarge their subscriber base. As of 2016, the company has more than 2 million regular subscribers. In 2012, the company began using SIM cards in order to add iPhones to their service. In 2015, the company exceeded $1 billion in revenue and announced in mid-2018, that they would reach 3 million customers by the end of the year. This new increase in business has caused the company to hire an additional 500 employees at their call center in Arizona.

Consumer Cellular has received numerous awards over the years, including the highest score in J.D. Power 2016 Wireless Customer Care Full Service Study, as well as the highest score in 2016 in PC Magazine’s 29th annual Readers’ Choice Awards survey. Company headquarters are located in Portland, Oregon.

Consumer Cellular

Consumer Cellular was founded in 1995 in Tigard, Oregon, by current CEO John Marick and Greg Pryor. The company operates a non-subscription/non-contract cellular phone service.

History

MagicJack Corporate Office

MagicJack was founded in 2007 by Dan Borislow and Donald Burns. MagicJack is a VOIP device that allows users to make and receive phone calls from any computer with an internet connection, as well as phone calls from other non-MagicJack users.

The company recently introduced a new device, MagicJack Plus, which plugs directly into the client’s router, then regular telephones are plugged into the MagicJack Plus device. Phone calls are virtually free to phones the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico. The company operates as a subsidiary of YMAX.

The company has been accused in several lawsuits of “spying” on customer phone calls and not being entirely honest about their “all calls are free” advertising. The company has paid out of court fees.

MagicJack began offering phone number portability, allowing customers to keep their existing landline phone number when changing to MagicJack service.

MagicJack merged with VocalTec, an Israeli-based telecommunications firm.

MagicJack

History

MagicJack began offering phone number portability, allowing customers to keep their existing landline phone number when changing to MagicJack service.

MagicJack merged with VocalTec, an Israeli-based telecommunications firm.

Exede Internet Corporate Office

Exede was launched in 2012 by ViaSat, Inc. The company operates a satellite based internet and telephone service. The company is powered by the Via-Sat 1 satellite, which has won the Guiness World Book of Records title for the satellite with the highest capacity for communication services.

As of 2015, the company has more than 687,000 customers in the US. The company provides services for those who live in remote areas who cannot use cable based telephone or internet service. The Via-Sat 1 has 63 beams and a 15 year lifespan. The company plans to launch Via-Sat 2 sometime in 2017 and is expected to double the Via-Sat capabilities.

Customers use a satellite dish, similar in size to other television satellites, as well as a wifi modem for service. The company also offers voice over IP for telephone service. Dish Network is the major reseller of Exede, although they market the internet service under their own name. The Via-Sat 1 satellite is the one used by American Airlines and others for broadband service while in-flight.

Exede

History

Blue Ridge Communications Corporate Office

Blue Ridge Communications was founded in 1950 by Claude Reinhart in Palmerton, Pennsylvania. The original name of the company was Pencor Services, Inc. Reinhart wanted to improve television reception by placing an antenna on top of Blue Mountain and then installed a pole line. The idea was very successful. In 1955, the company purchased Palmerton Telephone Company.

Today, Blue Ridge Communications provides telephone, cable television, and internet service to more than 170,000 customers. In addition to their telecommunications, the company also offers home security services.

Pencor Services, Inc. owns Pencor Wireless, which operates the company’s cell phone service, and Blue Ridge Communications, which operates as a subsidiary.

In March 2020, the company launched its “Learn from Home” initiative, where low-income families could receive 60 days of internet service free of charge to allow their children access to school programs.

In September 2021, the company announced that it made plans to rebuild its entire 8,000-mile cable network.

Blue Ridge Communications maintains a corporate office in Palmerton, Pennsylvania.

Blue Ridge Communications

History

Pencor Services, Inc. owns Pencor Wireless, which operates the company’s cell phone service, and Blue Ridge Communications, which operates as a subsidiary.

In September 2021, the company announced that it made plans to rebuild its entire 8,000-mile cable network.

Blue Ridge Communications maintains a corporate office in Palmerton, Pennsylvania.

Mediacom Cable Corporate Office

Mediacom Cable was founded by Seth Miller in 1995. The company provides internet service, cable television, and telephone service to 23 states. The company was previously publicly traded but became a privately owned company in March of 2011 and is now owned by CEO Commisso.

In April 2018, Mediacom launched in Pakistan. ShareChat, India’s social media platform that is similar to Facebook, hired MediaCom to handle its media mandate in June 2019.

The company is the 5th largest provider of cable television services in the US and serves 22 states. The company’s focus is on rural areas and small towns and is the largest broadband provider in Iowa.

The FCC ranked Mediacom one of the top 4 internet service providers who actually delivers the internet speeds that customers pay for in 2012. However, that same year, a survey done by Consumer Reports lists Mediacom as one of the worst cable providers in the nation. This, according to a survey of 50,000 persons.

Mediacom Cable has approximately 4,500 full-time employees and an annual revenue in 2009 of $1.460 billion.

Mediacom Cable

In April 2018, Mediacom launched in Pakistan. ShareChat, India’s social media platform that is similar to Facebook, hired MediaCom to handle its media mandate in June 2019.

History

Mediacom Cable has approximately 4,500 full-time employees and an annual revenue in 2009 of $1.460 billion.