Metro One to shut call centers, cut jobs

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Story Published: Mar 23, 2008 at 3:55 PM PST

By Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Metro One Telecommunications Inc. will exit the wholesale directory assistance business by May 5, resulting in the closing of call centers and the elimination of about 600 positions.

The Portland-based company said it will close or sell call centers, where it handled incoming information calls for telecommunications companies, in Minneapolis; Charlotte, N.C.; Orlando, Fla.; and Honolulu in addition to its recently closed call centers in Long Island, N.Y., and Portland. It also will reduce corporate staff at its Portland headquarters.

About 600 call center and related positions will be eliminated, and staff will be provided severance packages, Metro One said in a statement dated Friday. The company expects costs of about $3.6 million for the closings and staff reductions, and future cash expenditures associated with the actions of about $2.3 million.

After the transition, Metro One expects to employ about 70 at its headquarters, where it will provide inbound and outbound contact services and leverage its databases and proprietary information systems to provide services to consumer and business marketers.

The company said it plans to help its telecommunications customers find alternative solutions.

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