Lighthouse rises fast on magazine ranking of IT solutions firms

LINCOLN – Lighthouse Computer Services has climbed 84 places, to 212th, on VARBusiness magazine’s annual ranking of the top 500 information technology (IT) solutions providers in North America.

The biweekly publication ranked IT companies based on total annual revenues and business growth. Lighthouse, a private firm, has told Providence Business News that it posted $116 million in revenue last year, more than double its income in 2004. The jump landed Lighthouse in the 11th slot on VARBusiness’ list of the 50 fastest-growing IT companies.

Lighthouse was one of 17 IT solutions firms honored with the Excellence in Financial Markets Award from the magazine at a June 13 gala in New York City.

“Lighthouse is clearly a key player in the market,” said CEO Thomas Mrva, “having achieved more than 100-percent growth in just one year.”

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Nestor inks deal with city in Washington

PROVIDENCE – Nestor Inc., the parent company of Nestor Traffic Systems, has reached an agreement with the city of Bonney Lake, Wash., to provide the city with its automated traffic enforcement technology. Bonney Lake is the first municipality in the state to adopt Nestor’s technology, now used in 11 U.S. states, according to a company statement.

The contract calls for Nestor to install its CrossingGuard system – which uses patented video technology to detect speed and red light violations – at six locations in the city. It also includes one speed scanner capable of detecting multiple violations, in separate lanes, simultaneously.

Bonney Lake, located south of Seattle, has a total population of 12,950, according to the city’s Web site.

Study: XM and Sirius are neck and neck

GLENDALE, Calif. – A new report from Bridge Ratings, which tracks the radio market, shows Sirius and XM “neck and neck” in signing up new satellite radio subscribers, with XM expected to capture 50.2 percent of new subscribers this summer, and Sirius, 49.8 percent.

Bridge Ratings interviews consumers at retail outlets who have purchased satellite radio.

In the early phases of these interviews, the company said, brand loyalty was “not a major purchase factor,” but that has changed in recent weeks.

Programming options and equipment style and benefits are now taking a stronger position, the company said, with Sirius’ programming and equipment providing an advantage. Howard Stern in particular has seen a big draw, credited with about 1.33 million Sirius sign-ups.

Based on the slowing trend line of sales for XM, Bridge Ratings now projects XM total subscriber count at 8.4 million by year’s end, and 6.5 million for Sirius.

APC makes device for hand-held electronics

WEST KINGSTON – A Rhode Island company known for its energy storage and surge protection products now has a solution for people whose iPods run out of power when they’re on the go.

American Power Conversion recently unveiled the Mobile Power Pack, a portable energy source for cell phones, MP3 players and other hand-held electronics.

The 3-ounce units can, for example, provide up to 55 hours of power to an iPod Nano, or eight to 10 hours of energy to a BlackBerry and other personal digital assistants, according to the statement. APC said it has released the power packs for sale in North America with a suggested retail price of $69.99.

URI awards grants to women researchers

KINGSTON – The University of Rhode Island has awarded nearly $60,000 worth of grants to female scientists and engineers on its faculty to support their research efforts.

The funds come from two sources. Five faculty members received ADVANCE Incentive grants, which are part of a five-year, $3.5-million National Science Foundation grant awarded to URI in 2003. Their research covers ornamental grass, land-use changes and invasive plant species, cancer diagnostic technology, ocean engineering and oceanography.

In addition, the URI Council for Research provided grants to support the preparation of proposals for submission to external funding sources. Four faculty members got grants for genetic research in a type of marine bacteria, ecology of algae blooms, and other projects.

Women represent only 22 percent of the science and engineering work force in the United States and less than 20 percent of science and engineering faculty in four-year higher education institutions, according to URI.

SpecialtyScripts inks deal with Calif. firm

FALL RIVER – SpecialtyScripts Pharmacy, a “high-touch” specialty pharmacy, says it will implement Sacramento, Calif.-based MedInitiatives’ Web-based decision support solutions for health care to enhance the personalized care it provides to its clients.

SpecialtyScripts focuses on patients with chronic illnesses and complex diseases such as cancer, hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

MedInitiatives provides decision support solutions to help health care providers improve clinical and financial outcomes, integrating and analyzing pharmaceutical and medical data. Its technology is used by companies managing more than 83 million lives and more than $25 billion in health care expenditures, according to the company.

Dennis Burton, president of SpecialtyScripts, said MedInitiatives’ technology “offers a breakthrough capability” for the pharmacy and will help take the company’s services to “a new level” and yield financial benefits for clients.

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