DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 27, 2004- Lighthouse Communications, Inc., a Midwest leader in high-performance data communications and value-added services, today announced the completion of its acquisition of Focal Solutions, LLC, a Phoenix area firm specializing in Microsoft Business Solutions and managed services for small- to mid-sized businesses. The combined company will operate under the name of LightEdge Solutions, Inc., which better reflects the company's mission of embracing technology leadership and providing best-in-class products, services and support.
Focal Solutions serves a customer base of small- to mid-sized businesses in the greater Phoenix area, with its main office located in Scottsdale, Ariz. The acquisition combines Lighthouse's data communications and value-added services with Focal's business application outsourcing and managed IT services. Together, the emerging company is poised to take advantage of a new Service-on-Demand(SM) business model, under which the company will offer fully managed, end-to-end services, including voice and data, Microsoft business applications and data center hosting services.
"Focal is the first acquisition in our strategy to grow the business because there is synergy between the capabilities and offerings of the two companies," said Jim Masterson, president and chief executive officer of LightEdge Solutions. "At Lighthouse, we've built a high-speed, highly secure and high quality of service backbone network connecting IP points of presence in Des Moines, Omaha, Kansas City, Minneapolis, and Eastern Iowa markets. Expanding that network with Focal's business and managed services will enable us to provide businesses with a more comprehensive managed services model in all of our existing Midwest markets, as well as in the greater Phoenix area. Our business customers are technologically sophisticated and we're seeing increased customer demand for the types of value-added offerings within our Service-on-Demand(SM) model."
LightEdge's Service-on-Demand(SM) strategy will enable businesses to acquire the level of network, business application, and hosting services that they need, so they can focus on their core business, gain competitive advantage and scale for growth. With Service-on-Demand(SM), businesses can secure their high-bandwidth connection from LightEdge and layer on any IT services, such as applications, security and monitoring. Rather than investing large amounts of capital on hardware and infrastructure, businesses can secure affordable monthly service from LightEdge.
All employees from both companies were retained. Co-founders Steve Jorgensen and Jason Studsrud of Focal Solutions will continue on with LightEdge Solutions as senior vice president of the Southwest region and senior vice president of Midwest operations, respectively.
ABOUT LIGHTEDGE SOLUTIONS
LightEdge Solutions is a leading provider of fully managed network and business services for small- and medium-sized businesses in the Midwest and Southwest. LightEdge is dedicated to technology leadership and best-in-class service and support. With its Service-on-Demand(SM) offering, LightEdge provides fully managed network and business application services, allowing businesses to focus on their core business, gain competitive advantage and scale for growth. LightEdge is headquartered in Des Moines, with offices in Cedar Rapids, Kansas City, Minneapolis, Omaha and Phoenix. For more information, visit LightEdge's Web site at http://www.lightedge.com.
