Ottawa public safety tech firm Versaterm has acquired Komutel, a Saint-Georges, Québec-based communications solutions startup for emergency services providers. The financial terms of this deal were not disclosed.
“Our company was built to provide 9-1-1 call takers the most advanced tools to receive, record, transfer, dispatch and manage the millions of emergency calls placed each day.”
– Richard Poulin, Komutel’s CEO
Founded over 40 years ago in 1977, Versaterm offers public safety software that features tools such as a fully-integrated computer aided dispatch system, records management system, mobile data platform, field reporting, and citizen engagement solutions.
Versaterm, which is majority-owned by California private equity firm Banneker Partners, serves over 65,000 police, fire, and EMS professionals across North America.
Komutel was launched in 2001 with an aim to overcome the “digital divide” by providing 9-1-1 communications solutions. According to the company, its platform can be integrated with its clients’ existing tech infrastructures.
“Our company was built to provide 9-1-1 call takers the most advanced tools to receive, record, transfer, dispatch and manage the millions of emergency calls placed each day,” said Richard Poulin, Komutel’s CEO, adding that, Komutel has developed new solutions for 9-1-1 call centers in the nationwide transition of analog 9-1-1 to NG9-1-1.
NG9-1-1 refers to ‘next generation 9-1-1,’ a new implementation of the old 9-1-1 system that makes it possible to provide additional details about emergency situations, such as videos or images.
By March 1, 2022, all telecommunications providers must update their networks to get ready for NG9-1-1, according to the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission.
This marks Versaterm’s sixth acquisition since 2020, as it looks to fuel its “support-centric” approach for large and small agencies.
In July, Versaterm announced its acquisition of SPIDR Tech, an automated customer service software company, for an undisclosed amount. Its other recent acquisitions were of JusticeTrax, Adashi Systems, eJust Systems, and TechVoice.
“All of the new Versaterm entities share a common trait—a proven technology solution to uniquely address the real-world challenges of emergency service professionals,” said Warren Loomis, Versaterm CEO. “With this acquisition, Versaterm’s support-centric approach now extends into the 9-1-1 side of the emergency services communications center where Komutel has set the industry standard for software solutions.”
As a result of the deal, Versaterm intends to integrate Komutel software with its product suite, extending its services to the 9-1-1 side of the emergency services communications centre.
Image from AKuptsoba via Pixabay