Startel Corporation

What Startel Corporation does

Startel Corporation, founded in 1980 and headquartered in Irvine, California, develops contact center and Telephone Answering Service (TAS) software under the Startel, Professional Teledata (acquired September 2015), and Alston Tascom brands. The company's core platform is the Contact Management Center (CMC), a Windows-based multichannel system that integrates queuing, routing, scripting, dispatching, and real-time monitoring, paired with a Linux-based third-generation SoftSwitch that performs skill-based and priority-based call routing without legacy telephony hardware. Around this core, Startel has built a modular suite including SoftSwitch, Flexible Agent Interface, Appointment Scheduler & Reminder, Startel Dashboard, Voice Services with Voice Logger, IntelliSite web portal, an enterprise messaging stack (SMS, Secure Messaging Plus, Secure Messaging Gateway, GenIMX), a RestAPI integrated with Zapier for 7,000+ workflows, SIP trunking via a Tier-1 carrier, Total Billing Solution, SafetyNet disaster recovery, and a 2024 StartelAI suite (Emcee Virtual Agent, Agent Assist, Transcription, OmniBot) with support for 50+ languages.

Commercially, Startel sells to professional answering services, contact centers, and vertical users in healthcare, IT services, employment services, and trades, distributing through a direct sales-led motion (field and inside sales) with both cloud-based (Startel Freedom) and premise-based deployment options. Revenue is generated primarily through subscription and multi-year licensing of the CMC platform and add-on modules, bundled SIP services, and usage-based AI add-ons, supplemented by preferred-vendor partnerships (TASLogic, simTree) and an integrated partner network (Avaya, QGenda, Amion, TigerConnect, OnPage, CallSource, DVS Analytics, pMD, and others). The company also operates the Startel National Users Group (SNUG) community, founded in 1987, as a post-sale engagement channel.

The firm is privately held, governed under California law, serves markets in North America (US and Canada) and the UK via SIP interconnections, and holds ATSI certification for switch metrics alongside HIPAA, GLBA, SOX, and PCI-DSS compliance coverage for relevant modules.

Name

Startel Corporation

Legal name

Startel Corporation

Website

https://startel.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Startel Corporation, founded in 1980 and based in Irvine, California, provides contact center and Telephone Answering Service software, including its Contact Management Center (CMC) platform, SoftSwitch, and StartelAI suite, to answering services, contact centers, and healthcare organizations via cloud and premise deployments.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Contact Center Software

NAICS

Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518), Computer Systems Design Services (541512), Custom Computer Programming Services (541511)

SIC

Services-Prepackaged Software (7372), Services-Telephone Interconnect Systems (7385), Services-Computer Integrated Systems Design (7373)

akta.pro primary industry

Contact Center (CCaaS) & Customer Engagement Voice (HDAIAHAF)

Keywords

• Contact center software
• Telephone answering services
• Call routing platform
• HIPAA secure messaging
• AI virtual agent

Headquarters

HQ city

Irvine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Software

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Contact Center Software Licensing: Startel generates revenue primarily through software licensing of the Contact Management Center (CMC) platform, available in both cloud-based (Startel Freedom) and premise-based deployment models. The software supports multi-client call management with features including queuing, routing, scripting, dispatch, and real-time reporting.
2. SIP Services: Bundled SIP trunking services provided through a Tier 1 carrier partnership, offering discounted rates when combined with Startel Hosted CMC. Includes DID numbers, toll-free numbers, and voice minutes with redundant network infrastructure.
3. Billing System: Total Billing Solution (TBS) provides comprehensive billing and accounts-receivable functionality for contact centers, supporting recurring and usage-based billing models with automated invoice generation and payment processing.
4. AI Solutions: StartelAI products including Virtual Agent (Emcee), Agent Assist, Transcription, and OmniBot offered as add-on services to the core CMC platform, with usage-based pricing (pay only for service when actually used).

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Startel Corporation develops and licenses contact center and Telephone Answering Service (TAS) software, centered on the Contact Management Center (CMC) platform and proprietary SoftSwitch call-routing technology. It offers cloud-hosted (Startel Freedom) and on-premise deployments, with add-on modules for messaging, AI virtual agents, billing, SIP trunking, and disaster recovery, primarily sold to professional answering services and enterprise contact centers.

Product overview

Startel Corporation offers a platform-plus-modules architecture centered on the Startel Contact Management Center (CMC), an enterprise Telephone Answering Service (TAS) and contact center software platform. The core CMC integrates with SoftSwitch for call routing, Flexible Agent Interface for agent customization, Dashboard for real-time monitoring, and Web Portal (IntelliSite) for client self-service. Messaging capabilities span SMS, Secure Messaging Plus (SM+), Secure Messaging Gateway, and GenIMX for interactive messaging. The StartelAI suite provides AI-powered virtual agents, transcription, agent assist, and omnichannel chatbot functionality. Additional modules include Appointment Scheduler & Reminder, Voice Services with Voice Logger, SIP Services, Total Billing Solution (TBS), and SafetyNet for disaster recovery. The platform is available as cloud-based (Startel Freedom) or premise-based deployment. All core components are designed specifically for multi-client answering services, medical, on-call, after-hours, and overflow answering environments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• StartelAI: AI-powered solutions for contact centers including Virtual Agent, Agent Assist, OmniBot, and Transcription services
• SoftSwitch
• CMC
• IntelliSite
• GenIMX
• SafetyNet
• TBS
• Startel Freedom
• SM+
• SMG
• SMS
• SAS

Products and services

• Startel Contact Management Center (CMC) Enterprise Telephone Answering Service (TAS) and contact center software platform that integrates with existing systems to support call management, appointment scheduling, multi-client workflows, and real-time reporting. Windows-based multichannel platform combining queuing, routing, scripting, dispatching, and real-time monitoring.
• Startel SoftSwitch Software-based call routing system that routes calls based on skill level, queue priority, and user-defined scenarios. Operates on Linux server, eliminating need for hardware components in legacy switches, with redundant server deployment option for disaster recovery.
• Startel Cloud Contact Center (Startel Freedom) Cloud-based deployment of the Startel platform hosted on secure, redundant Tier III data center servers with 24/7 monitoring. Reduces costs, improves business continuity, and provides greater scalability with no hardware installation required.
• Startel Premise-Based Contact Center On-premise deployment option for companies wishing to install, manage, and maintain their Startel investment behind their corporate firewall. Retains control over hardware, software, network, and data center layers with compliance requirements handled internally.
• Startel Flexible Agent Interface (Flex) Customizable workspace interface allowing agents to customize their windows to match familiar environments. Reduces training time, improves adoption, and enables faster onboarding for multi-client answering service environments. Integrates with clients' RESTful APIs.
• Startel Appointment Scheduler & Reminder (SAS) Cloud-based appointment scheduling solution that enables agents to schedule appointments quickly and accurately on the first call. Sends automated email confirmations and reminders, reducing no-shows and generating additional revenue for contact centers.
• Startel Dashboard Real-time monitoring solution for contact center status. Displays queue status, service levels, agent status by traffic or individual agent. Configurable with color-coded thresholds and pre-defined views that can be saved per user.
• Startel Voice Services Integrated voicemail, voice logging, and e-fax services embedded directly into the SoftSwitch. 100% software-driven solution with no hardware or telephony cards. Fully redundant for business continuity.
• Startel Voice Logger Intelligent voice documentation product that automatically records all agent-customer conversations and stores them as digital recordings in MP3 format. Bundled with Voice Services and integrates directly into CMC for compliance, training, and quality assurance.
• Startel Web Portal (IntelliSite) Self-service web portal enabling clients to manage their business 24/7. Users can access Time Activated Alerts, OnCall Schedules, Shift Assignments, Directories, Members, and messages from PC, smartphone, or tablet with 30-second auto-refresh.
• Startel Short Message Service (SMS) 100% software-based SMS solution delivering messages quickly and reliably. Provides complete mobility with reliable message delivery, simple implementation without hardware requirements, and limitless access to send and receive unlimited text messages.
• Secure Messaging Plus (SM+) HIPAA-compliant secure messaging solution for safely exchanging sensitive information via text. Accessible from web or smartphone/tablet application. Messages encrypted in transit and at rest with message expiration controls and attachment support.
• Secure Messaging Gateway HIPAA-compliant application enabling exchange of electronically protected healthcare information (ePHI) through popular messaging providers including OnPage, TigerConnect, DocHalo, and pMD.
• GenIMX (Interactive Messaging Exchange) Interactive messaging platform enabling main business lines to receive 2-way text messages. Handles SMS, MMS, webchat, and email simultaneously with intelligent queue routing based on wait times, skill level, and language. Includes AI-powered processing and real-time monitoring.
• Startel CMC RestAPI RESTful API enabling custom software to access CMC database in real time. Allows development of tailored applications, web-based staffing analysis tools, custom on-call calendar management, and integration with CRM systems. Integrated with Zapier for workflow automation across 7,000+ apps.
• StartelAI Contact center artificial intelligence suite designed specifically for call centers. Includes Virtual Agent, Transcription, Agent Assist, and OmniBot. Positioned as enhancement to human capabilities rather than replacement.
• StartelAI Emcee Virtual Agent AI-powered virtual receptionist that handles call volume spikes and staffing shortages. Answers calls 24/7, gathers information, routes appropriately, and manages routine interactions. Supports 50+ languages with customizable voices including custom agent voices.
• StartelAI Transcription Real-time and post-call transcription service converting spoken dialogue to accurate text using advanced NLP. Improves compliance with written records, enables quality assurance monitoring, and supports agent training and performance evaluation.
• StartelAI Agent Assist Real-time AI support for live agents during calls. Provides sentiment analysis, real-time suggestions, knowledge base access, call summaries, and performance feedback. Analyzes customer tone and language to help agents tailor responses appropriately.
• StartelAI OmniBot Omnichannel chatbot communicating across websites, social media, and messaging apps. Provides consistent customer experience regardless of interaction start point. Handles inquiries 24/7, initiates conversations based on customer behavior, and escalates complex inquiries to human agents.
• Startel SIP Services SIP trunking and associated services bundled with Startel Hosted CMC. Features Tier 1 PSTN provider, triple-path redundancy, 4,500+ interconnections in US, Canada, and UK. Includes DID requests handled in minutes and unlimited simultaneous calls.
• Startel Total Billing Solution (TBS) Comprehensive billing and accounts-receivable system for contact centers. Supports recurring and usage-based billing, multi-office operations, invoice generation, payment portal, autopay via USAePay and Authorize.Net. Integrates with any TAS platform and includes detail rate change tool.
• SafetyNet Disaster recovery and business continuity solution providing full redundancy, rapid data recovery, and high availability. Operates from hardened, redundant, secure data center in the cloud with automated failover/failback to virtualized applications.
• TASLogic Sentinel All-in-one monitoring solution for contact center efficiency offered through preferred vendor TASLogic. Eliminates manual board checks, highlights urgent messages, enables real-time queue adjustments without admin login, and provides shift reports.
• TASLogic TASLinq HIPAA-compliant SMS messaging through preferred vendor TASLogic. No extra app needed; messages arrive as regular SMS texts with passkey login, masked caller ID, and audit trail.
• simTree Workforce Management Cloud-based, simulation-driven Workforce Management (WFM) system offered through preferred vendor simTree. Provides true multi-skill handling with detailed forecasting and scheduling down to 15-minute blocks. Monitors call statistics and imports agent data for adherence tracking.

Quantifiable outcome

• 78,000+ calls handled during major healthcare system outage over 8 days
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments6 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

Yes

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration14 records

AI capability13 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered preferred, core and strategic.

• TASLogicpreferredTechnology or IntegrationTASLogic is a preferred vendor offering Sentinel, an all-in-one Startel monitoring solution, and TASLinq, a HIPAA-compliant SMS messaging application. Sentinel eliminates manual board checks, provides urgent message detection, and offers real-time queue management with instant agent queue visibility.
• simTreepreferredTechnology or IntegrationsimTree is a cloud-based, simulation-driven workforce management (WFM) system with over 40 years of combined experience. Provides true multi-skill handling with detailed forecasting and scheduling down to 15-minute blocks.
• ZapiercoreTechnology or IntegrationIntegration with Zapier enables end users to integrate web applications and automate workflows. Users can transfer data from one app to another across 7,000+ pre-made workflows without writing code.
• QGendastrategicTechnology or IntegrationQGenda is the #1 scheduling solution with over 225,000 clinicians in more than 30 medical specialties. Startel CMC is fully partnered and integrated to automate receiving OnCall schedules and updates for clients using QGenda.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• NICE (CXone): NICE's CXone platform offers cloud contact center software with workforce engagement, AI, and analytics. It competes head-to-head with Startel's CMC + StartelAI suite in omnichannel routing, transcription, and agent-assist capabilities.
• RingCentral: RingCentral offers RingCX alongside its UCaaS flagship, targeting contact center buyers with cloud routing, AI, and workforce engagement. It overlaps with Startel's bundled SIP + CMC + AI positioning.
• Genesys: Genesys provides enterprise CCaaS and customer experience orchestration with AI and digital channels. It targets similar mid-to-large contact center buyers as Startel and offers comparable routing, AI virtual agents, and analytics modules.
• Talkdesk: Talkdesk is a cloud-native AI-powered CCaaS platform serving mid-market and enterprise customers. It directly overlaps with Startel's hosted CMC, StartelAI virtual agents, and omnichannel engagement offerings.
• Five9: Five9 is a leading cloud-native CCaaS platform serving contact centers of all sizes. Both companies compete for inbound/outbound call management, AI-powered virtual agents, and analytics workloads in mid-market and enterprise contact centers.
• 8x8: 8x8 provides combined UCaaS and CCaaS offerings, including cloud contact center, voice, chat, and AI capabilities. It competes with Startel's SIP and contact center bundles for mid-market and enterprise buyers.
• Amtelco: Amtelco is one of the closest direct competitors, specializing in call center and telephone answering service software (e.g., miTeam, Intelligent Series). It competes in the same TAS niche as Startel's CMC platform.

Broad incumbents

• Cisco (Webex Contact Center): Cisco's Webex Contact Center is part of a broader collaboration and networking portfolio. It competes in CCaaS but offers Startel a broader enterprise ecosystem opportunity through its existing Avaya CTI partnership base.
• Avaya: Avaya offers enterprise contact center platforms with extensive CTI and telephony integration. Startel already partners with Avaya for CTI integration, and Avaya represents both a partner and a broad incumbent competing for the same large contact center buyers.
• Vonage (Ericsson): Vonage, now part of Ericsson, provides UCaaS, CCaaS, and communications APIs. It overlaps with Startel's SIP trunking and hosted contact center offerings as a larger, broadly diversified competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/StartelNews
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/StartelCorporation/videos?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/StartelCorporation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/startel-corporation
• Instagraminstagram.com/startel_cmc

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Startel Corporation