Freescale to remain in Austin
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc., the Motorola spinoff that had considered
a move to Chicago, instead decided to stay in place in Austin.
A move to Chicago would have brought several hundred lucrative high-tech
jobs to the Chicago area. Freescale has much of its manufacturing
capacity in Austin but its largest customer is Motorola, which is based
in suburban Schaumburg.
AOL enters area VoIP market
Dallas-Fort Worth and Houston are among 40 markets nationwide where
Internet service provider America Online Inc. began offering online
phone service in April.
AOL Internet Phone Service uses Voice over Internet Protocol, or VoIP,
technology for placing phone calls via the Internet or similar computer
networks instead of through traditional phone networks.
Also in the initial market launch are San Antonio and Laredo.
AOL offers an introductory price for its Internet phone service to new
subscribers to its broadband Internet access service. It has other rate
plans for existing Internet subscribers who want to add the VoIP phone
service. The service brings together voice, e-mail and instant messaging
and includes other common features such as call waiting, call forwarding
and caller ID.
Reflect Systems gains funding
Dallas-based Reflect Systems Inc., completed a $9 million funding
transaction, led by Green Peak Partners, existing Reflect Systems Inc.
investors, and new private investors.
Reflect Systems is a provider of IP-based video communications products.
Snyder new EnterSys director
Houston-based EnterSys Group announced the hiring of Frank Snyder as a
managing director in the firm's global SAP practice. Snyder is
responsible for helping lead the firm's SAP practice and spearhead new
avenues of growth.
Prior to joining EnterSys Group, Snyder was vice president of the SAP
practice for Covansys.
EnterSys is a provider of enterprise business products,
Vocada gets voice patent
Dallas-based Vocada Inc. was awarded a U.S. patent on a technology and
methodology that bridges voice messaging and data systems in a way that
allows for categorization, archiving, retrieval, and interaction of
voice messages with Internet-based data platforms.
The first commercial application of the technology, Vocada's VoiceLink
medical communications system, enables a reporting clinician, such as a
radiologist or pathologist, to send a verbal report of a critical
patient finding to an ordering clinician.
Netrake raises funding
Plano-based Netrake Corp. raised $5.15 million in an extension of a
fourth round of funding.
Netrake has raised more than $75 million since its launch in 2000.
Netrake makes session controllers, which make it easier to move phone
calls carried in small "packets" between multiple Internet-based
networks. The company's primary customers are companies and voice and
data carriers.
Zix Corp. names new CEO
Dallas-based Zix Corp. named acting CEO Rick Spurr to the position
permanently. Spurr had been acting CEO since February, when former CEO
John A. Ryan stepped down. Ryan remains chairman of the company.
Spurr joined the company in January 2004 as president and chief
operating officer. Prior to joining Zix Corp., Spurr held executive
positions with IBM, SEER Technologies, Security and Entrust.
Zix Corp. provides secure e-messaging, e-prescribing and e-transaction
applications and services.
Texas Prototypes expands Richardson plant
Texas Prototypes is doubling the size of its Richardson manufacturing
plant with a 30,800-square-foot, five-year lease at 1299 Commerce Drive.
The company has occupied space in the building since launching three
years ago.
TXP supports circuit board assembly prototyping, new product
introduction and pilot production of electronic assemblies for
technology innovators and original equipment and contract manufacturers.
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