Zoom Telephonics

Minim, Inc.

Formerly	Zoom Telephonics, Inc. (1977–2020)
Company type	Public
Traded as	Template:NASDAQ
Founded	1977 (1977)
Founder	Frank B. Manning Bruce Kramer
Defunct	Template:End date and age
Fate	Acquired by e2Companies, Inc.
Headquarters	Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S.
Area served	Global
Website	www.minim.com

Zoom Telephonics, Inc. was a U.S.-based networking enterprise established in 1977 by MIT alumni Frank B. Manning and Bruce Kramer. Originally focused on producing modems and telephony devices, the organization merged with Minim, Inc. in 2020, adopting the Minim name and shifting its headquarters from Boston to Manchester, New Hampshire. Minim concentrated on manufacturing cable modems, gateways, WiFi routers, mesh WiFi networks, and home connectivity products emphasizing smart home technology. In 2024, amid financial struggles, Minim was purchased by Florida’s energy management company e2Companies.

History

The company began operations in Boston when founders Frank B. Manning and Bruce Kramer developed their initial product—a telephone ringer silencer—which quickly generated $200,000 in revenue. By 1980, they launched the "Demon Dialer," an automatic dialing device aimed at customers of independent telephone providers, helping the firm achieve $6 million in yearly sales. However, the dissolution of the Bell System later decreased demand for this product.

Transitioning to dial-up modems compatible with microcomputers such as the Apple II and IBM PC, Zoom’s 1983 Networker modem gained significant retail market share. This success led to collaborations with PC manufacturers and distributors by 1987. The company went public on Nasdaq in 1990.

In the mid-1990s internet expansion era, Zoom emerged as a leading modem supplier while outsourcing part of its manufacturing overseas but retaining some production facilities in Boston. The acquisition of Hayes Microcomputer Products in 1999 enhanced its portfolio of high-end modems.

With broadband internet adoption growing in the early 2000s, Zoom’s market presence declined as many users relied on ISP-provided modems. Despite producing cable modems in Mexico, growth remained limited until a five-year licensing agreement with Motorola Mobility in 2015 allowed branding of home networking products under the Motorola name. This collaboration increased revenues by 66% to $17.8 million and further to $32 million between 2017 and 2018.

Following the merger with Minim in December 2020, Zoom rebranded as Minim and broadened its offerings to include cable modems, gateways, WiFi routers, mesh WiFi systems, and smart home automation products.

Confronted with financial difficulties, Minim announced plans in September 2023 to reduce its workforce by roughly 78% while evaluating restructuring strategies including potential bankruptcy proceedings. Ultimately, e2Companies acquired the firm in March 2024.