St. George technology company thrives
By Scott Kerbs | May 17, 2011
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ST. GEORGE - A St. George-based provider of cellphone signal boosters is thriving despite the floundering economy as a growing number of consumers embrace the company's technology.
Wilson Electronics experienced year-over-year sales growth of about 40 percent during the first quarter as an increasing number of potential customers become more reliant on cellphones, said Jonathan Bacon, director of marketing for the company.
"We had our best month ever as a company this March," Bacon said. Improved reception has become a valuable commodity for many people who use their cellphones exclusively.
Formed in 1999, Wilson Electronics designs and manufactures devices that improve the signal quality of cell phones and other devices in areas with poor reception, Bacon said. The signal boosters are typically installed in buildings and vehicles to improve call quality and mobile Internet speeds.
Wilson Electronics has hired 50 new employees since the second quarter of 2010, and Bacon said the company plans to continue providing new jobs for members of the community.
"As demand goes up, you have to meet it with supply," Bacon said as workers assembled signal boosters at the company's manufacturing and testing facility in St. George.
Ken Perkins, public relations coordinator for Wilson Electronics, said he believes the growing popularity of tablet devices like Apple's iPad also serves to assist the company while many consumers rely on mobile Internet delivered through cellular signals.
Bacon said the company sold more than 200,000 of its signal boosters last year. Wilson Electronics sells its devices through Amazon, Best Buy and other retailers.
While the company offers its products across the nation, international sales representative Dalia Castro said Wilson's signal boosters are also sold in about 15 other countries across the globe.
While some wireless carriers are opposed to certain aspects of the signal booster industry, Bacon said the Federal Communications Commission recently issued notice of a proposed rule in support of developing new standards for the devices.
"They didn't have any rules on the books related to cellular signal boosters," he said. "They are looking to re-evaluate and tighten the (specifications)."
He said poorly designed or defective signal boosters sometimes create interference on wireless calling networks.
Describing the FCC notice as a "huge victory," Bacon said representatives from Wilson Electronics are thrilled about the potential for new regulations because the company's engineers already build the devices with quality and protection in mind. He said the company also reacts swiftly to defective or broken products that could affect signal towers.
While testing the sensitivity of a product at the company's manufacturing facility, engineer Oscar Zumarta said the devices are analyzed in rooms designed to block radio signals. Bacon said the testing rooms are lined with copper to block cellphone signals in an effort to avoid potential interference while engineers inspect the devices.
Anticipating continued growth for Wilson Electronics, Bacon said he looks forward to seeing the company create new jobs for Washington County residents.
"It's an excellent company to work for that is experiencing explosive growth in an industry that is still booming," he said.