B&C Telephone Inc., a Spokane-based company that sells and services commercial telephone systems, has merged with inTouch Solutions, a Boise-based telecommunication company.


The terms of the Oct. 1 transaction werent disclosed, says William Brouillet, owner and CEO of B&C Telephone.


InTouch Solutions, founded in 1978, was owned and operated by Paul Unger, who now will head up B&C Telephones Idaho Division.


This merger provides additional resources in support of our customers needs by increasing our knowledge, efficiencies, and response time, says Brouillet.


After the transaction, the 20-year-old Spokane company now serves about 11,000 customers and has about 165 employees, up by about 5,000 customers and 100 employees as a result of the merger. The merger gives it 16 branches in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, up from three, two in Washington and one in Oregon, previously. Its main office is located at 55 E. Lincoln in Spokane.


Brouillet says no employees of either company will lose their jobs, and no branches will be closed.


Were not losing focus on customer service, and were looking to expand our products, he says.


B&C Telephones revenues were about $8.5 million last year, Brouillet says.


InTouch is similar to our company and we have the same product lines, says Brouillet. It puts us in the drivers seat in our markets.


B&C Telephone plans to expand its operations in Portland and Seattle, Brouillet says.


We have about 60 percent of the telecommunications market share in Eastern Washington, Idaho, and Montana, he says. We have less than 1 percent of the market share in Portland and Seattle. We will focus on the I-5 corridor. We see it as a great potential for us.