Mapcom Systems

Mapcom Systems

Type	Private
Industry	Telecommunications Software
Founded	1971
Headquarters	Richmond, Virginia
Products	M4 Solutions
Website	www.mapcom.com

Mapcom Systems is the software developer of M4 Solutions - a map-based Geographical Operations System (GOS) software suite designed to display and allow access to the data of telecommunications providers in a geographic view. Founded in 1971 by Thurmond Vernon, Mapcom Systems contracts with telecommunications independents, cooperatives, fiber communities, and campus telecommunications providers. The company is located in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Mapcom currently employs approximately 50 employees.

History

Mapcom Systems began as a company contracted to Continental Telephone, an eventual acquisition of Verizon. Mapcom produced hand-scribed maps of Continental Telephone's network lines and equipment, and developed a Service System Control method for integrating the large amount of data contained in thousands of individual maps. In 1988, developers at the company began to write software programs for data translation, leading ultimately to the development of M4, the primary product Mapcom marketed and sold to telecommunications clients. The original M4 program included a database linked to a mapping portion within the program via an Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) connection.

In the mid-1990s, an infusion of capital from Virginia Commercial Finance, Inc., helped Mapcom to triple sales and employment totals^[1]. The company became known as Mapcom Systems in 2001 after a change in ownership. The company's focus shifted from being services-oriented towards offering software solutions to telecommunications companies.

The integration engine and capabilities of the company have changed the perception of information management in the telecom industry, especially among small providers. A number of recent partnerships demonstrate the growing significance of integration in the field. Mapcom has agreements with billing software providers like UDP^[2], the Mid America Computer Corp. (MACC)^[3], Quintrex Data Systems, Martins, CDG, Telesphere, Commsoft, and various in-house solutions. In 2006, Mapcom was able to reach an agreement with international corporation Navteq to "integrate Navteq map data" with Mapcom's M4 product^[4]. Fleet Management Systems (FMS) agreed to an "authorized distributor relationship" with Mapcom in 2007, combining the satellite Global Positioning System (GPS) communication technology of FMS with the dispatcher-technician communication technology of Mapcom's product M4 Dispatch Manager^[5]. Another integration and joint marketing agreement - this time between Mapcom Systems and Centina Systems in 2008 - aimed to increase oversight services Mapcom could deliver to clients for responding to network disruptions^[6]. Partnerships also exist between Mapcom Systems and Atwater Mapping & Consulting Services, Calix, Communications Consulting Services, Inc., Henkels & McCoy, McCall-Thomas Engineering Company (MTE) and Westronic.

Currently, Mapcom sells Version 8.5.3 of its M4 Solutions software^[7].

Products

Mapcom Systems presently markets and operates its software programs to companies that maintain telecommunications and fiber optics networks. The M4 Foundation is a digital mapping program that ties individually mapped elements to accessible database tables, providing users with a method for real-time updates to data records in accordance with changes made to the digital, geographic land base.

Mapcom also markets corollary programs to deal with telephony, cable^[8], fiber, work orders, network equipment, record keeping, and integration specifics. The M4 Solutions software suite is marketed as a Geographical Operations System for telecommunications companies.

Market

Mapcom currently lists over 125 telecommunications clients across the Continental United States, Alaska, the Caribbean, and Central America. Recently, the company has also expanded its cliental to include American university campuses^[9]. Mapcom operates in competition with StellarRAD Systems, Bentley Systems, SAPIENCE360, Martin Group, and Telcordia Technologies, among others.

External links

• Mapcom Systems Website

References

1. ^ Virginia Commercial Finance, Inc. Map Maker Turns Richmond Company Around. Retrieved on 23 June 2008.
2. ^ UDP. Mapcom Systems, UDP Integrate Customer Billing and GIS Solutions for Telco and Cable Companies . Retrieved on 25 June 2008.
3. ^ Kesling, Joelle. Mid America Computer Corp and Mapcom Systems Integrate Customer Billing And GIS Solutions For Telco and Cable Companies. Retrieved on 23 June 2008.
4. ^ ThomasNet. Mapcom Systems to Integrate Navteq Map Data into M4 Solutions. Retrieved on 30 June 2008.
5. ^ Dressler, Sasha. Mapcom Systems Offers Satellite-Based Workforce Management in New Release of M4 Dispatch Manager. Retrieved on 24 June 2008.
6. ^ Bhat, Narayan. Mapcom Partners with Centina, Integrates Solutions. Retrieved on 25 June 2008.
7. ^ Mapcom Systems (2009-12-01). "Mapcom Announces the Newest M4 Solution for Telecommunications Providers". Press Release. Retrieved on 25 June 2008.
8. ^ Kerven, Anne. MAPCOM launches cable-mapping unit. Retrieved on 11 August 2008.
9. ^ Mapcom. Who Uses M4? Retrieved on 30 June 2008.