A Long History of Telecommunications Innovation
For over 100 years, Alteva has been leading the way in the growth and transformation of telecommunications for its customers. From its incorporation in 1902, Alteva has led the way with direct long distance dialing, touch-tone dialing, voice mail, cellular phone coverage and ISDN. Since being listed on the NASDAQ in 1998, and on the NYSE in 2012, Alteva has continued to expand its offerings. From the addition of Internet and television connectivity to unified communications solutions, Alteva has been strategically growing to better serve customers and shareholders alike.
The Alteva Timeline
Before 1902
The Town of Warwick's only telephone service is a pay phone on Main Street, provided by the Hudson River Telephone Co. (New York Telephone).
January 1902
A group of 25 citizens organized a local telephone company in late 1901, proposing to issue stock to establish service and provide working capital. In January 1902, directors were elected and articles of incorporation were filed in New York State to establish the Warwick Valley Telephone Company.
April 1902
Telephone service began in the Village of Warwick in April 1902, with one switchboard operator.
April 1903
The first annual meeting of the telephone company. The company had 134 telephones in the Village of Warwick and 66 telephones on rural party lines, with a system extending from Greenwood Lake to Pine Island, NY and Vernon, and Glenwood, NJ with Warwick as the center.
1927
WVT purchases the Florida Telephone Co.
1940
WVT builds a central office to service Pine Island.
1949
Next to the original location, WVT moves into its current location with a manual switchboard of 1700 lines.
1951-1954
Central offices are built in Highland Lakes and in Upper Greenwood Lake to serve New Jersey residents.
1961
The company installs North 1+ equipment, giving us direct distance dialing and WATS for the entire system.
1972
Touch-tone dialing is available to WVT customers.
1975
WVT becomes a modern switching center.
1987-1988
The Florida and Pine Island Central Offices became remotes off the Warwick switch in 1987 and 1988, making WVT 100% digital. WVT was then able to offer CENTREX, voice mail and calling features.
1987
WVT acquired interest in a cellular mobile telephone partnership, and formed a subsidiary company, Warwick Valley Mobile Telephone Co., Inc.
April 1989
WVT offers retail cellular telephone service and installations.
May 1990
Call Answer voicemail service via an Octel Communications switch was introduced.
1991
WVT goes to "equal access,” allowing subscribers a choice in their intralata long distance carrier.
1994
Subsidiary Warwick Valley Long Distance Company is incorporated to offer domestic, international and operator-handled long distance. Also, enhanced calling features and Caller ID become available.
1995
Hometown Online is incorporated and WVT provides Internet service in the tri-state area through Warwick Online. This is the first venture outside WVT's traditional phone service area. WVT also offers ISDN and, subsequently, pager service.
April 1998
WVT is listed on the NASDAQ as WWVY.
1998
High Speed Internet deployment begins and by 2001 the entire ILEC (incumbent local exchange carrier, or traditional) area and much of the Middletown CLEC area is High Speed-capable. In 2001 WVT offers Internet domain registration through setupadomain.com.
WVT receives PSC approval to provide telephone service anywhere in New York State and purchases a building in Middletown to establish the 956 exchange.
Additionally, WVT establishes in-house Yellow Pages operations.
March 1999
WVT receives approval to provide telephone service anywhere in New Jersey.
2001
A graphic artist is added to WVT staff so the yellow page directory can be created and paginated in-house.
May 2001
New Jersey CLEC tariff is approved and WVT reserved the 864 telephone exchange.
July 2001
The company signs a multi-year agreement to provide the Vernon-to-Manhattan broadband fiber optic connection for a Fortune 500 company.
August 2001
WVT offers local telephone service in Scotchtown, NY with the 703 exchange.
January 2002
WVT celebrates 100 years of incorporation.
February 2002
WVT offers digital television through VDSL (Very high bit rate Digital Subscriber Line), which allows a Triple Play offering.
April 2002
Launch of Digital TV in NJ. WVT is one of the first telephone companies in NY and NJ to offer broadcast quality video over traditional telephone plant facilities.
April 2003
Receives NYSPSC approval to offer Digital TV in NY. Launches service and continues to build out Digital TV network.
August 2003
Northeast power blackout affects most of NY and NJ. WVT customers with wired phones (not cordless or cellular) are still able to make and receive calls.
December 2003
WVT enjoys a 50% gain in subscribers over 2002. High-speed Internet subscriber penetration rate is among the best in the nation.
July 2004
High-speed Internet self-install kit made available to new customers
May 2005
Completed upgrade to DSL network, doubling all customers’ speeds
July 2005
Offers phone book in traditional and ‘mini’ size
October 2007
Signs agreement with Natural Convergence to offer Hosted VoIP services
July 2008
Signs contract to sell and install DIRECTV service
December 2008
Severe ice storm hits WVT service area; the worst in memorable history. Over 1000 repair tickets and 43 telephone poles broke. Local communities praise for quick response and tireless efforts to restore service in Upper Greenwood Lake, NJ; Vernon, NJ and Warwick, NY.
April 2009
Acquires USA Datanet, a Syracuse, NY-based telecommunications provider.
June 2009
Wisner Buckbee retires as Chairman of the Board of Directors and is replaced by Robert DeValentino.
October 2010
Signs agreement with Mitel to offer Multi Instance Communications Director; a scalable, high-density, and flexible communication services platform.
August 2011
Acquires Alteva, a Philadelphia, PA-based hosted Unified Communications solutions provider.
November 2012
Commences Trading on NYSE MKT with New Ticker Symbol of WVT.
January 2013
The executive teams of Alteva and WVT CG are fully integrated and jointly manage the merged operation under the Alteva name.
