Community News, Vol. 8 Iss. 44

NexTone among fastest growing companies in North America

GAITHERBURG, MD–NexTone Communications has been ranked 36th in Deloitte’s 2006 Technology Fast 500, a ranking of the 500 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, and life sciences companies in North America.

The rankings are based on percentage revenue growth over five years, from 2001 – 2005. NexTone grew 7,901 percent during this period. This award follows the company’s number one ranking in September for Deloitte’s prestigious Technology Fast 50 Program for Maryland, a ranking of the 50 fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, and life sciences companies in the state by Deloitte & Touche USA LLP, one of the nation’s leading professional services organizations.

“Ranking in the Top 50 for Deloitte’s 2006 Technology Fast 500 in North America is a tremendous achievement for NexTone, and is a testament to our outstanding track record for quarter-over-quarter growth, the competitive technology advantage of our SBC and session management solutions, and our continued success in both large and smaller carrier market segments,” said Malik Khan, chairman and CEO for NexTone. “As carriers integrate their traditional business models with VoIP and other multimedia services, NexTone’s IntelliConnect™ System gives them the necessary visibility, control, and scale required in their networks to support higher-margin real-time services. This enables carriers to save money, mitigate the risk of deploying IP, and quickly create new services over IP.”

The Fast 500 ranks the fastest growing technology, media, telecommunications, and life sciences companies in North America. It is compiled from Deloitte’s 16 regional North American Fast 50 programs, nominations submitted directly to the Fast 500, and public company database research. Companies are selected based on percentage revenue growth from 2001 to 2005. Overall, companies that ranked on the 2006 Technology Fast 500 had growth rates ranging from 209 to 48,948 percent over five years, with an average growth rate of 2,145 percent.

CEO Malik Khan has over 20 years of senior management experience in the development and delivery of high-speed communications network systems. Prior to NexTone, Malik was the President of Converged Access Inc., where he is also a founder. Prior to Converged Access, Malik was President and CEO of Sitara Networks and also Vice President and General Manager of Motorola’s Network System Division. As an “entrepreneur-in-residence” at the venture capital firm Flagship Ventures, he founded two Internet startup companies: Indus River and Sitara Networks. Malik is a graduate of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and holds an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School.

‘Eid celebrated in Capital Region

SHENECTADY, NY–Hundreds of Muslims at the Islamic Center of the Capital Region in Schenectady celebrate the end of Ramadan, ‘Eid-al-Fitr. Dr. Ahmed Kobeisy is the imam at the center, leading his congregants in prayer, focusing on the importance of their sacrifices during the past month.

Kobeisy said, “It is common in Islamic tradition to show modesty. But I do not want you to belittle your efforts in the month of Ramadan.”

Leaders at the Islamic Center told Channel 9 News that they do acknowledge the reports that there is a tremendous spike in violence in the Middle East during the holy month of Ramadan. Dr. Kobeisy said he doesn’t understand the thought process of anyone who would commit a violent act against a Muslim during this holy time.

Kobeisy said, “Those who commit these acts of violence are acting against the spirit of Islam. And their intention is to interrupt the sense of peace of Ramadan.”

Arabic to be included in Quinnipiac curriculum

QUINNIPIAC, CT–Quinnipiac University will be introducing Arabic classes as its seventh language course beginning next semester. The new Arabic course will join already existing courses in Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese and Spanish, reported the student newspaper

The decision to add a new language, made by Ronald Quirk, chairman of the language department, was something the department had been planning to do for some time now. Quirk believes Arabic is a good language for Quinnipiac to offer because of the benefits its students can obtain.

“It is really helpful, especially in today’s world, to go into different fields,” Quirk said. “We need to widen our horizons and achieve a better overall general knowledge.”
Quirk pointed out the job opportunities that can be offered to people who understand Arabic.
“I just recently read that the FBI only has 33 people employed that understand Arabic,” he said.

In the spring semester, there will be one course called Elementary Arabic 101. It will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 12:30 p.m. The course will teach modern, standard Arabic. In the fall of 2007, Quirk said the university hopes to start teaching an Arabic 102 course.

Memorial for mother shot in Fremont street

FREMONT, CA–There was no celebration at the Ansari home this ‘Eid, as the mother of the house was fatally shot in the head last week. Alia Ansari, 38, was shot while she was picking up three of her six children from Glenmoor Elementary School. According to the Mercury News a “person of interest” has been questioned and is in custody on a separate parole violation. But no one has been arrested in connection with her death.

Pastor Bruce Green, who is a facilitator between Christians and Muslims, visited the Ansari family Monday evening and asked Ansari’s husband, Ahmad, if he would like to use the Centerville Presbyterian Church’s gymnasium to host a community gathering honoring his wife.
According to Green, Ahmad Ansari said yes. Ahmad Ansari has declined to speak to the media about his wife’s death. Green reached out to the family on ‘Eid, a joyous Muslim celebration following the month-long fast of Ramadan. Despite the family’s grief, Green said he was treated as an honored guest.

“He was so gracious to agree,” Green said. “I appreciate their family’s spirit. I felt so warmly received by the way I was greeted. It was very humbling for me.

The service will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. in the gymnasium of Centerville Presbyterian Church, 4360 Central Ave. The room can hold about 500 guests.

IF YOU’RE INTERESTED in donating to a fund for the Ansari children, checks can be made to the “Ansari Family” at Washington Mutual, account No. 3091558830, and Fremont Bank, account No. 55041477.

Scenes of unity at Kentucky Eid gathering

Louisville, KY–Six mosques in southern Indiana and Kentucky joined together to celebrate ‘Eid at the Holiday Inn Airport in what organizers say was a “sign of unity,” reported the Courier-Journal.

“Just look at the range and ethnicity of people here,” said of organizer Talal Abugabal.
Yet he added that the fact that he and other Muslims still feel the need to publicly point out that terrorists acting in the name of Islam are a small minority shows there is work to be done.

“We have to double the effort to prove we are Americans too,” he said.

“We have succeeded. We have (achieved) victory against our desires,” said Mohammad Shaban, head of the Muslim Student Association of Louisville, who gave the sermon during the celebration.

“We have seen mosques filled with worshippers, we’ve seen people giving charity for the poor people,” he said. “It gives an indication of the goodness of this ummah.”

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