2 Rival Communications Firms Report Expansions

Two rival Simi Valley companies that produce systems for carrying voice, fax and data communications have announced major marketing expansions.

One of the firms, Advanced Compression Technology Inc., formed a joint venture with a Chinese government agency to provide communications networks throughout China, using leased phone lines, satellites and radio signals.

The deal with China’s Communication, Telemetry and Telecontrol Research Institute calls for creation of a new company, ACTI, to be based in Shijiazhuang, China.

“The potential telecommunications market in China is probably the largest in the world,” says Martin Shum, Advanced Compression’s president and chief executive. “At first, our partners will help us design and market networks in that country. Eventually, we expect to set up a manufacturing plant there.”

Advanced, which has 50 employees, produces multiplexers, which permit high-speed transmission of voice, data and printed communications. The company markets its products worldwide.

The other Simi Valley firm, Micom Communications Corp., signed an agreement adding 5,000 potential sales outlets for its NetRunner computer-linking unit.

The expanded marketing will be provided by a Carlsbad concern, Vitek Systems Distribution. NetRunner, introduced in May, allows businesses to send data and voice messages between computer workstations on the same site.

Another Micom system, Marathon, introduced two years ago, uses leased phone lines to link workstations on various sites.

Richard S. Borden, Micom’s marketing communications manager, said about 20,000 NetRunner and Marathon units have been sold.