Unassociated Document


UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
 

 
FORM 10-Q
 

 
(Mark One)
 
x
QUARTERLY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the quarterly period ended September 30, 2007
 
or
 
o
TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
 
For the transition period from________ to ________
 
Commission File Number 0-18672
 
 ZOOM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)

Delaware
 
51-0448969
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
 
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
     
207 South Street, Boston, Massachusetts
 
02111
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
 
(Zip Code)
 
Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (617) 423-1072
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant: (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days. YES x NO o 

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. 

Large accelerated filer o   Accelerated filer o  Non-accelerated filer x
 
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).
Yes o    No x
 
The number of shares outstanding of the registrant’s Common Stock, $.01 par value, as of October 1, 2007, was 9,346,966 shares.
 




ZOOM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
INDEX


   
Page
Part I.
Financial Information
 
     
Item 1.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets as of September 30, 2007 and December 31, 2006 (unaudited)
3
     
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (unaudited)
4
     
 
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 (unaudited)
5
     
 
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited)
6-8
     
Item 2.
Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations
8-15
     
Item 3.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
15
     
Item 4.
Controls and Procedures
15
     
Part II.
Other Information
 
     
  Item 1A
Risk Factors
15-21
     
Item 6.
Exhibits
21
     
 
Signatures
22
     
 
Exhibit Index
23
     
 
Exhibits
24-27
 
2


PART I - FINANCIAL INFORMATION

ZOOM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets
(unaudited)
 
 
 
September 30, 2007
 
December 31, 2006
 
ASSETS 
         
Current assets
         
Cash and cash equivalents
 
$
3,656,283
 
$
7,833,046
 
Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $1,237,309 at September 30, 2007 and $915,969 at December 31, 2006
   
3,664,072
   
3,385,280
 
Inventories
   
4,294,186
   
4,511,814
 
Prepaid expenses and other current assets
   
207,940
   
269,301
 
Total current assets
   
11,822,481
   
15,999,441
 
               
Equipment, net
   
178,854
   
249,221
 
Investment in Unity Business Networks, LLC
   
1,178,709
   
 
Total assets
 
$
13,180,044
 
$
16,248,662
 
               
LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
             
Current liabilities
             
Accounts payable
 
$
2,420,459
 
$
2,639,935
 
Accrued expenses
   
470,921
   
562,349
 
Deferred gain on sale of real estate
   
367,245
   
367,245
 
Total current liabilities
   
3,258,625
   
3,569,529
 
               
Deferred gain on sale of real estate
   
69,594
   
357,373
 
Total liabilities
   
3,328,219
   
3,926,902
 
               
Stockholders' equity
             
Common stock, $0.01 par value: 
             
Authorized - 25,000,000 shares; issued 9,355,366 shares, including shares held in treasury
   
93,554
   
93,554
 
Additional paid-in capital
   
31,468,147
   
31,275,169
 
Accumulated deficit
   
(22,298,902
)
 
(19,597,296
)
               
Accumulated other comprehensive income -currency translation adjustment
   
596,348
   
557,655
 
Treasury stock (8,400 shares), at cost
   
(7,322
)
 
(7,322
)
Total stockholders' equity
   
9,851,825
   
12,321,760
 
               
Total liabilities and stockholders' equity
 
$
13,180,044
 
$
16,248,662
 

See accompanying notes.

3


ZOOM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations
(Unaudited)

   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
 2007
 
 2006
 
 2007
 
 2006
 
                       
Net sales
 
$
5,580,131
 
$
3,579,317
 
$
14,676,439
 
$
13,378,260
 
Cost of goods sold
   
4,287,082
   
3,338,349
   
11,792,877
   
11,948,971
 
Gross profit
   
1,293,049
   
240,968
   
2,883,562
   
1,429,289
 
                           
Operating expenses:
                         
Selling
   
979,252
   
781,955
   
2,750,978
   
2,563,921
 
General and administrative
   
617,086
   
689,599
   
1,862,627
   
2,236,287
 
Research and development
   
433,823
   
520,767
   
1,416,036
   
1,709,640
 
Total operating expenses
   
2,030,161
   
1,992,321
   
6,029,641
   
6,509,848
 
Operating profit (loss) before gain on sale of real estate
   
(737,112
)
 
(1,751,353
)
 
(3,146,079
)
 
(5,080,559
)
Gain on sale of real estate
   
95,926
   
   
287,478
   
-
 
                           
Operating profit (loss)
   
(641,186
)
 
(1,751,353
)
 
(2,858,601
)
 
(5,080,559
)
                           
Other income( expense):
                         
Gain on sale of investment in Intermute, Inc.
   
-
   
869,750
   
-
   
869,750
 
Interest income
   
47,568
   
51,138
   
196,808
   
189,327
 
Interest (expense)
   
-
   
(76,140
)
 
-
   
(221,845
)
Other, net
   
(19,251
)
 
74,364
   
(39,814
)
 
178,744
 
Total other income (expense), net
   
28,317
   
919,112
   
156,994
   
1,015,976
 
                           
Income (loss) before income taxes
   
(612,869
)
 
(832,241
)
 
(2,701,607
)
 
(4,064,583
)
                           
Income taxes
   
   
   
   
 
                           
Net income (loss)
 
$
(612,869
)
$
(832,241
)
$
(2,701,607
)
$
(4,064,583
)
                           
Basic and diluted net income (loss) per share
 
$
(0.07
)
$
(0.09
)
$
(0.29
)
$
(0.43
)
                           
Weighted average common and common equivalent shares
                         
                           
Basic and diluted
   
9,346,966
   
9,346,966
   
9,346,966
   
9,346,966
 

See accompanying notes.

4

 
ZOOM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
(Unaudited)

   
Nine Months Ended
September 30, 
 
   
 2007
 
 2006
 
Operating activities:
           
Net income (loss)
 
$
(2,701,607
)
$
(4,064,583
)
               
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by (used in) operating activities:
             
Gain on sale of Investment in InterMute, Inc
   
-
   
(869,750
)
Amortization of deferred gain on sale of real estate
   
(287,478
)
 
-
 
Depreciation
   
65,847
   
172,006
 
Stock based compensation
   
192,978
   
180,977
 
Changes in operating assets and liabilities:
             
Accounts receivable, net
   
(246,042
)
 
921,914
 
Inventories
   
220,026
   
784,753
 
Prepaid expenses and other assets
   
62,489
   
22,406
 
Accounts payable and accrued expenses
   
(306,384
)
 
(1,573,819
)
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
   
(3,000,171
)
 
(4,426,096
)
               
Investing activities:
             
Investment in Unity Business Networks, LLC
   
(1,178,709
)
 
-
 
Proceeds from sale of Investment in InterMute, Inc.
   
-
   
869,750
 
Additions to property, plant and equipment
   
4,892
   
(84,572
)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities
   
(1,178,817
)
 
785,178
 
               
Financing activities:
             
Principal payments on long-term debt
   
-
   
(1,275,258
)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities
   
-
   
(1,275,258
)
               
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash
   
(2,775
)
 
(6,251
)
               
Net change in cash
   
(4,176,763
)
 
(4,922,427
)
               
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period
   
7,833,046
   
9,081,122
 
               
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period
 
$
3,656,283
 
$
4,158,695
 
               
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
             
               
Cash paid during the period for:
             
Interest
 
$
 
$
221,845
 
Income taxes
 
$
 
$
 
 
See accompanying notes.
 
5

 
ZOOM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Notes to Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements
(Unaudited)

(1) Summary of Significant Accounting Policies
 
(a) Basis of Presentation and Principles of Consolidation
 
The condensed consolidated financial statements of Zoom Technologies, Inc. (the "Company") presented herein have been prepared pursuant to the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission for quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and do not include all of the information and disclosures required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America. These statements should be read in conjunction with the audited consolidated financial statements and notes thereto for the year ended December 31, 2006 included in the Company's 2006 Annual Report on Form 10-K.
 
The accompanying financial statements are unaudited. However, the condensed balance sheet as of December 31, 2006 was derived from audited financial statements. In the opinion of management, the accompanying financial statements include all adjustments (consisting of normal, recurring adjustments) necessary for a fair presentation of results for these interim periods.
 
The accompanying financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Zoom Telephonics, Inc. All intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated in consolidation.
 
The results of operations for the periods presented are not necessarily indicative of the results to be expected for the entire year.
 
(b) Recently Issued or Proposed Accounting Pronouncements

In July 2006, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued FASB Interpretation No. 48, “Accounting for Uncertainty in Income Taxes - an interpretation of FASB Statement No. 109” (FIN 48). FIN 48 clarifies the accounting for uncertainty in income taxes by prescribing a recognition threshold and measurement attribute for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken in a tax return. FIN 48 also provides guidance on derecognition, classification, interest and penalties, accounting in interim periods, and disclosure.

Effective January 1, 2007, the Company adopted FIN 48. As of that date and as of September 30, 2007 the Company had no material unrecognized income tax benefits. Further, no significant changes in the unrecognized income tax benefits are expected to occur over the next twelve months.

Historically the Company has not accrued or paid significant interest and penalties for underpayments of income taxes. Interest and penalties related to such underpayments would be classified as a component of income tax expense. No material amounts of interest or penalties for underpayments of income taxes were required to be accrued as of September 30, 2007.
 
The Company files income tax returns in the United States and the United Kingdom. Currently, open tax years in the US for federal and state income tax purposes are 2003 through 2006. Open tax years in the UK are 2005 through 2006.

The Company accounts for point-of-sale taxes on a net basis under Emerging Issues Tax Force No. 06-3, “How Sales Taxes Collected from Customers and Remitted to Governmental Authorities Should Be Presented in the Income Statement (That Is, Gross Versus Net Presentation).”

6

 
In February 2007, the FASB issued SFAS No. 159, The Fair Value Option for Financial Assets and Financial Liabilities Including an Amendment of FASB Statement No. 115. Under SFAS 159, a company may elect to use fair value to measure certain financial assets and financial liabilities. The fair value election is irrevocable and generally made on an instrument-by-instrument basis even if a company has similar instruments that it elects not to measure at fair value. At the adoption date, unrealized gains and losses on existing items for which the fair value option had been elected are reported as a cumulative effect adjustment to retained earnings. Subsequent to the adoption of SFAS 159, changes in fair value are recognized in operations. SFAS is effective for fiscal years beginning after November 15, 2007 and is required to be adopted by the Company on January 1, 2008. The Company is currently determining if fair value accounting is appropriate for any eligible items and cannot currently estimate the effect, if any, that SFAS 159 will have on its financial statements.
 
 (2) Liquidity

On September 30, 2007 the Company had working capital of $8.6 million, including $3.7 million in cash and
cash equivalents.

To conserve cash and manage liquidity, the Company has implemented cost cutting initiatives including the reduction of employee headcount and overhead costs. The employee headcount was 79 at September 30, 2006 and 65 at September 30, 2007. The Company plans to continue to assess its cost structure as it relates to revenues and cash position. The Company may make further reductions if the actions are deemed necessary.

The Company's total current assets at September 30, 2007 were $11.8 million and current liabilities were $3.3 million. The Company did not have any long-term debt at September 30, 2007. Management believes it has sufficient resources to fund its planned operations through at least September 30, 2008. However, if the Company is unable to increase its revenues, reduce its expense, or raise capital the Company's longer-term ability to continue as a going concern and achieve its intended business objectives could be adversely affected.
 
(3) Earnings Per Share
 
Options to purchase 1,388,750 shares of common stock at September 30, 2007 and 1,228,200 shares at September 30, 2006 were outstanding but not included in the computation of diluted earnings per share for the three and nine months ended September 30, 2007 and 2006 because their effect would be antidilutive.
 
(4) Inventories

Inventories consist of :
 
September 30, 2007
 
December 31, 2006
 
Raw materials
 
$
2,566,677
 
$
2,969,375
 
Work in process
   
485,021
   
522,307
 
 Finished goods
   
1,242,488
   
1,020,132
 
Total Inventories
 
$
4,294,186
 
$
4,511,814
 
 
(5) Comprehensive Income (Loss)
 
Comprehensive income (loss) follows: 

   
Three Months Ended September 30,
 
Nine Months Ended September 30,
 
   
2007
 
2006
 
2007
 
2006
 
Net income (loss)
 
$
(612,869
)
$
(832,241
)
$
(2,701,607
)
$
(4,064,583
)
Foreign currency translation adjustment
   
14,136
   
44,696
   
38,693
   
110,220
 
Comprehensive income (loss)
 
$
(598,733
)
$
(876,937
)
$
(2,662,914
)
$
(3,954,363
)
 
(6) Contingencies

The Company is party to various lawsuits and administrative proceedings arising in the ordinary course of business. The Company evaluates such lawsuits and proceedings on a case-by-case basis, and its policy is to vigorously contest any such claims that it believes are without merit. The Company's management believes that the ultimate resolution of such pending matters will not materially and adversely affect the Company's business, financial position, results of operations or cash flows.

7

 
(7) Segment and Geographic Information
 
The Company’s operations are classified as one reportable segment. The Company’s net sales follow: 

   
Three Months
       
Three Months
       
Nine Months
       
Nine Months
     
   
Ended
 
%
of
   
Ended
 
%
of
   
Ended
 
%
of
   
Ended
 
%
of
 
   
September 30,
2007
 
Total
   
September 30,
2006
 
Total
   
September 30,
2007
 
Total
   
September 30,
2006
 
Total
 
North America
 
$
3,259,696
   
58
%
 
$
2,280,425
   
64
%
 
$
9,374,066
   
64
%
 
$
7,711,063
   
58
%
Turkey
   
44,575
   
1
%
   
49,630
   
1
%
   
62,511
   
0
%
   
1,101,894
   
8
%
UK
   
1,452,551
   
26
%
   
679,357
   
19
%
   
3,183,286
   
22
%
   
2,474,063
   
18
%
All Other
   
823,309
   
15
%
   
569,905
   
16
%
   
2,055,576
   
14
%
   
2,091,240
   
16
%
Total
 
$
5,580,131
   
100
%
 
$
3,579,217
   
100
%
 
$
14,676,439
   
100
%
 
$
13,378,260
   
100
%
 
(8) Customer Concentrations
 
Relatively few customers account for a substantial portion of the Company's net sales. In the third quarter of 2007 the Company's net sales to its top three customers accounted for 50% of its total net sales. In the third quarter of 2006 the Company's net sales to its top three customers accounted for 37% of its total net sales. In the nine months ended September 30, 2007 the Company's net sales to its top three customers accounted for 44% of its total net sales. In the nine months ended September 30, 2006 the Company's net sales to its top three customers accounted for 28% of its total net sales. The Company's customers generally do not enter into long-term agreements obligating them to purchase the Company’s products. The Company may not continue to receive significant revenues from any of these or from other large customers. A reduction or delay in orders from any of the Company's significant customers, or a delay or default in payment by any significant customer could materially harm the Company's business and prospects. Because of the Company's significant customer concentration, its net sales and operating income could fluctuate significantly due to changes in political or economic conditions, or the loss, reduction of business, or less favorable terms for any of our significant customers.
 
(9) Investment in Unity Business Networks, LLC
 
During the quarter ended September 30, 2007 the Company purchased all the Series A Preferred Shares (the Series A Shares) of Unity Business Networks, LLC (Unity) for cash of $1.2 million, including transaction costs. The Series A Shares are convertible at any time at the Company’s option into 15% of Unity’s common stock on a fully-diluted basis. The Series A Shares convert automatically if Unity consummates a public offering with gross proceeds in excess of $25 million or 30 days after Unity delivers its 2009 audited financial statements to the Company. In addition, the Company has an option to purchase all the outstanding common stock of Unity based on a specified multiple of Unity’s revenues, as defined, for 2008. The option is exercisable for 30 days following the receipt of Unity’s 2008 audited financial statements. The Company’s CEO is a member of Unity’s five member board of directors. Further, the Company is entitled to vote Series A Shares on an as-converted basis with Unity’s common stock. The Company is unable to exercise significant influence over Unity’s policies or operations. The Company accounts for its investment in Unity at cost. The investment will be reviewed periodically for potential impairment.

ITEM 2. MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
 
The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the safe harbor statement and the risk factors contained in Item IA of Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q set forth in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and our other filings with the SEC. Readers should also be cautioned that results of any reported period are often not indicative of results for any future period.
 
8

 
Overview
 
We derive our net sales primarily from sales of Internet-related communication products to retailers, distributors, Internet Service Providers and Original Equipment Manufacturers. Our products include broadband and dial-up modems and other communication products. We sell our products through a direct sales force and through independent sales agents. As of September 30, 2007 our employees were primarily located at our headquarters in Boston, Massachusetts and our sales office in the United Kingdom. During July and August 2007 we closed our support office in Boca Raton, Florida and transferred its support activities to our headquarters in Boston. We typically design our hardware products; but we do sometimes use another company’s design if it meets our requirements. Electronic assembling and testing of our products in accordance with our specifications is typically done in China or Taiwan.
 
For many years we performed most of the final assembling, testing, packaging, warehousing and distribution at a production and warehouse facility at Summer Street in Boston, Massachusetts. That location also engaged in firmware programming for some products. We moved these operations to a dedicated facility in Tijuana, Mexico in August and September of 2006.

Since 1983 our headquarters has been in two adjacent buildings near South Station in downtown Boston. These buildings connect on most floors and house our entire Boston staff. In December 2006 we sold these buildings to a third party, with a two-year lease-back of approximately 25,000 square feet of the 62,000 square foot facility. Our net sale proceeds were approximately $7.7 million, of which approximately $3.6 million was repaid to our mortgage holder, eliminating the mortgage debt from our balance sheet.
 
For many years we derived a majority of our net sales from the retail after-market sale of dial-up modems to customers seeking to add or upgrade a modem for their personal computers. In recent years the size of this market and our sales to this market have declined, as personal computer manufacturers have incorporated a modem as a built-in component in most consumer personal computers and as increasing numbers of consumers worldwide have switched to broadband Internet access. The consensus of communications industry analysts is that sales of dial-up modems will probably continue to decline. There is also consensus among industry analysts that the installed base for broadband Internet connection devices, such as cable modems and DSL modems, will grow rapidly. In response to increased and forecasted worldwide demand for faster connection speeds and increased modem functionality, we have invested and continue to invest resources to advance our product line of broadband modems, both DSL modems and cable modems.
 
We continually seek to improve our product designs and manufacturing approach to improve product performance and reduce our costs. We pursue a strategy of outsourcing rather than internally developing our modem chipsets, which are application-specific integrated circuits that form the technology base for our modems. By outsourcing the chipset technology, we are able to concentrate our research and development resources on modem system design, leverage the extensive research and development capabilities of our chipset suppliers, and reduce our development time and associated costs and risks. As a result of this approach, we are able to quickly develop new products while maintaining a relatively low level of research and development expense as a percentage of net sales. We also outsource aspects of our manufacturing to contract manufacturers as a means of reducing our costs of production, and to provide us with greater flexibility in our production capacity.
 
Over the past several years our net sales have declined. In response to declining sales volume, we have cut costs by reducing staffing and some overhead. Our total headcount of full-time employees, including temporary workers, went from 79 on September 30, 2006 to 65 on September 30, 2007. Of the 65 employees on September 30, 2007, 14 were engaged in research and development, 18 were involved in purchasing, assembly, packaging, shipping and quality control, 21 were engaged in sales, marketing and technical support, and the remaining 12 performed accounting, administrative, management information systems, and executive functions.
 
Generally our gross margin for a given product depends on a number of factors including the type of customer to whom we are selling. The gross margin for retailers tends to be higher than for some of our other customers; but the sales, marketing, support, and overhead costs associated with retailers also tend to be higher. Our sales to certain countries, including Turkey, Vietnam, and Saudi Arabia, are currently handled in each country by a single in-country master distributor who handles the support, sales, and most marketing cost within that country. Gross margin for sales to these master distributors tends to be low, since lower pricing to these distributors helps them to cover the support, sales and marketing costs for their country. Our gross margin for broadband modems tends to be lower than for dial-up modems for a number of reasons, including that retailers are currently a more significant channel for our dial-up modems than for our broadband modems, that a higher percentage of our DSL sales come from low-margin countries, and that there is stronger competition in the broadband market than in the dial-up market.
 
In the third quarter of 2007 our net sales were up 56% compared to the third quarter of 2006. The main reason for the sales increase was increased shelf space for our products in major retailers including Best Buy in the U.S. and DSG in the U.K. We are also seeing growth in some areas, including DSL sales to U.S. Internet Service Providers and to U.S. and U.K. retailers. We are continuing our efforts to expand our DSL customer base and product line. Because of our significant customer concentration, however, our net sales and operating results have fluctuated and in the future could continue to fluctuate significantly due to changes in political or economic conditions or the loss, reduction of business, or less favorable terms for any of our significant customers.
 
9

 
On July 26, 2007 the Company purchased all the Series A Preferred Shares (the Series A Shares) of Unity Business Networks, LLC (Unity) for cash of $1.2 million, including transaction costs. The Series A Shares are convertible at any time at the Company’s option into 15% of Unity’s common stock on a fully-diluted basis. The Series A Shares convert automatically if Unity consummates a public offering with gross proceeds in excess of $25 million or 30 days after Unity delivers its 2009 audited financial statements to the Company. In addition, the Company has an option to purchase all the outstanding common stock of Unity based on a specified multiple of Unity’s revenues, as defined, for 2008. The option is exercisable for 30 days following the receipt of Unity’s 2008 audited financial statements. The Company’s CEO is a member of Unity’s five member board of directors. Further, the Company is entitled to vote Series A Shares on an as-converted basis with Unity’s common stock. The Company is unable to exercise significant influence over Unity’s policies or operations. The Company accounts for its investment in Unity at cost. The investment will be reviewed periodically for potential impairment.
 
Our cash and cash equivalents balance at September 30, 2007 was $3.7 million, down from $7.8 million at December 31, 2006. This reduction was due primarily to our $2.7 million loss and our $1.2 million investment, including $0.1 million of transaction costs, in Unity Business Systems.
 
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
 
Following is a discussion of our more significant accounting policies and estimates. As described below, management judgments and estimates must be made and used in connection with the preparation of our consolidated financial statements. Material differences could result in the amount and timing of our net sales, costs, and expenses for any period if we made different judgments or used different estimates.
 
Revenue (Net Sales) Recognition. We primarily sell hardware products to our customers. The hardware products include dial-up modems, DSL modems, cable modems, voice over IP products, embedded modems, ISDN modems, telephone dialers, and wireless and wired networking equipment. We earn a small amount of royalty revenue that is included in our net sales, primarily from internet service providers. We generally do not sell software. We began selling services in 2004. We introduced our Global Village VoIP service in late 2004, but sales of those services to date have not been material.
 
We derive our net sales primarily from the sales of hardware products to four types of customers:

·
computer peripherals retailers,
 
·
computer product distributors,
 
·
Internet service providers, and
 
·
original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
 
We recognize hardware net sales to our customers at the point when the customers take legal ownership of the delivered products. Legal ownership passes from us to the customer based on the contractual FOB point specified in signed contracts and purchase orders, which are both used extensively. Many of our customer contracts or purchase orders specify FOB destination. We verify the delivery date on all significant FOB destination shipments made during the last 10 business days of each quarter.
 
Our net sales of hardware include reductions resulting from certain events which are characteristic of the sales of hardware to retailers of computer peripherals. These events are product returns, certain sales and marketing incentives, price protection refunds, and consumer mail-in and in-store rebates. Each of these is accounted for as a reduction of net sales based on detailed management estimates, which are reconciled to actual customer or end-consumer credits on a monthly or quarterly basis.
 
Our 2007 VoIP service revenues are recorded as the end-user-customer consumes billable VoIP services. The end-user-customer becomes a service customer by electing to sign up for the Global Village billable service on the Internet. We record revenue as billable services are consumed or monthly when flat-fee services are billed.
 
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Product Returns. Products are returned by retail stores and distributors for inventory balancing, contractual stock rotation privileges, and warranty repair or replacements. We estimate the sales and cost value of expected future product returns of previously sold products. Our estimates for product returns are based on recent historical trends plus estimates for returns prompted by, among other things, new product introductions, announced stock rotations and announced customer store closings, etc. Our management reviews historical returns, current economic trends, and changes in customer demand and acceptance of our products when estimating sales return allowances. The estimate for future returns is recorded as a reserve against accounts receivable, a reduction of net sales, and the corresponding change to inventory and cost of sales. The relationship of quarterly physical product returns to quarterly product sales remained relatively stable for many years, ranging from a high of 10.6% to a low of 5.4% in the past two years. Product returns as a percentage of total product sales were 10.1% in the first nine months of 2007.
 
Price Protection Refunds. We have a policy of offering price protection to certain of our retailer and distributor customers for some or all their inventory. Under the price protection policies, when we reduce our prices for a product, the customer receives a credit for the difference between the original purchase price and our reduced price for their unsold inventory of that product. Our estimates for price protection refunds are based on a detailed understanding and tracking by customer and by sales program. Estimated price protection refunds are recorded in the same period as the announcement of a pricing change. Information from customer inventory-on-hand reports or from direct communications with the customers is used to estimate the refund, which is recorded as a reduction of net sales and an allowance against accounts receivable. Reductions in our net sales due to price protection were $0.2 million in 2005 and $0.1 million in 2006. In the first nine months of 2007 the reduction in our net sales due to price protection was $0.08 million. 
 
Sales and Marketing Incentives. Many of our retailer customers require sales and marketing support funding, usually set as a percentage of our sales in their stores. The incentives were reported as reductions in our net sales and were $1.1 million in 2005 and $1.1 million in 2006. In the first nine months of 2007, the reduction in our net sales due to sales and marketing incentives was $1.0 million compared to $0.7 million in the first nine months of 2006.
 
Consumer Mail-In and in Store Rebates. Our estimates for consumer mail-in and in-store rebates are based on a detailed understanding and tracking by customer and sales program, supported by actual rebate claims processed by the rebate redemption centers plus an accrual for an estimated lag in processing at the redemption centers. The estimate for mail-in and in-store rebates is recorded as a reserve against accounts receivable and a reduction of net sales in the same period that the rebate obligation was triggered. In the first nine months of 2007 the reduction in our net sales due to consumer rebates was $0.2 million compared to $0.6 million in the first nine months of 2006. 
 
To ensure that the sales, discounts, and marketing incentives are recorded in the proper period, we perform extensive tracking and documenting by customer, by period, and by type of marketing event. This tracking includes reconciliation to the accounts receivable records for deductions taken by our customers for these discounts and incentives.
 
Accounts Receivable Valuation. We establish accounts receivable valuation allowances equal to the above-discussed net sales adjustments for estimates of product returns, price protection refunds, and consumer rebates. These allowances are reduced as actual credits are issued to the customers. Our bad-debt write-offs and expense were not significant in either the first nine months of 2006 or 2007.
 
Inventory Valuation and Cost of Goods Sold. Inventory is valued on a standard cost basis where the material standards are periodically updated for current material pricing. Allowances for obsolete inventory are established by our management based on usability reviews performed each quarter. Our allowances against the inventory of a particular product range from 0% to 100%, based on management's estimate of the probability that the material will not be consumed or that it will be sold below cost. Our valuation process is to compare our cost to the selling prices each quarter, and if the selling price of a product is less than the "if completed" cost of our inventory, we write-down the inventory on a "lower of cost or market" basis.
 
Valuation and Impairment of Deferred Tax Assets. As part of the process of preparing our consolidated financial statements we estimate our income tax provision. This process involves the estimation of our actual current tax together with deferred income taxes on temporary differences between the book and tax bases of assets and liabilities and on net operating loss and tax credit carryovers. We assess the likelihood that our net deferred income tax assets will be recovered. To the extent we believe that recovery is not likely, we establish a valuation allowance. Changes in the valuation allowance are reflected in the statement of operations.
 
Significant management judgment is required in determining our provision for income taxes and any valuation allowance recorded against our net deferred tax assets. We have recorded a 100% valuation allowance against our deferred tax assets. It is management's estimate that, after considering the entire available objective evidence, historical and prospective, with greater weight given to historical evidence, it is more likely than not that these assets will not be realized. If we establish a record of continuing profitability, at some point we will be required to reverse the valuation allowance and restore the deferred asset value to the balance sheet, recording an equal income tax benefit which will increase net income in that period(s).
 
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On December 31, 2006 we had federal net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $31,854,000. These federal net operating losses are available to offset future taxable income, and are due to expire in years ranging from 2018 to 2025. On December 31, 2006 we had state net operating loss carry forwards of approximately $22,253,000. These state net operating losses are available to offset future taxable income, and are primarily due to expire in years ranging from 2007 to 2010.

Results of Operations
 
Summary. Net sales were $5.6 million for our third quarter ended September 30, 2007, up 56% from $3.6 million in the third quarter of 2006. From operations, we had a net loss of $0.6 million for the third quarter of 2007, compared to a net loss of $1.8 million in the third quarter of 2006. We had a total net loss of $0.6 million for the third quarter of 2007, compared to a total net loss of $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2006. Loss per diluted share improved from $0.09 for the third quarter of 2006 to $0.07 for the third quarter of 2007.
 
Net sales were $14.7 million for the nine months ended September 30, 2007, up 9.7% from $13.4 million in the first nine months of 2006. From operations, we had a net loss of $2.9 million for the third quarter of 2007, compared to a net loss of $5.1 million in the third quarter of 2006. We had a total net loss of $2.7 million for the first nine months of 2007, compared to a total net loss of $4.1 million in the first nine months of 2006. Loss per diluted share was $0.29 for the first nine months of 2007 compared to a loss per diluted share of $0.44 for the first nine months of 2006.
 
Net Sales. Our net sales for the third quarter of 2007 increased 56% from the third quarter of 2006, primarily due to a 130% increase in DSL modem sales, a 632% increase in cable modem sales, and a 3% decrease in dial-up modem sales. DSL modem net sales increased from $1.3 million in the third quarter of 2006 to $3.0 million in the third quarter of 2007. Cable modem sales increased from $0.1 million net sales in the third quarter of 2006 to $1.2 million net sales in the third quarter of 2007. Dial-up modem net sales declined from $2.0 million net sales in the third quarter of 2006 to $1.9 million in the third quarter of 2007. Our dial-up modem net sales decline was less than the overall market decline. A major reason was that in the third quarter of 2006 one of our large dial-up modem retailers converted to a consignment sales arrangement which resulted in a net sales reversal of $0.5 million. The increase in DSL and cable modem net sales was primarily a result of increased product placements and sales to our large retailer customers.
 
Our net sales for the first nine months of 2007 increased 9.7% from the first nine months of 2006, primarily due to a 26% increase in DSL modem sales, a 792% increase in cable modem sales, and a 12% decrease in dial-up modem sales. DSL modem net sales increased to $7.3 million in the first nine months of 2007 compared to $5.8 million in the first nine months of 2006. Cable modem sales increased to $1.2 million in the first nine months of 2007 from $0.1 million net sales in the first nine months of 2006. Dial-up modem net sales declined from $6.5 million in the first nine months of 2006 to $5.7 million in the first nine months of 2006, primarily resulting from the continued decline of the dial-up modem after-market. Zoom has increased its DSL and cable broadband product placements at existing and new large retailer customers and sales activity has grown as a result.
 
Our net sales in North America were $3.3 million in the third quarter of 2007, an increase of 43% from $2.3 million in the third quarter of 2006. Our net sales outside North America were $2.3 million in the third quarter of 2007, an increase of 79% from $1.3 million in the third quarter of 2006, primarily due to our net sales in the U.K. of $1.5 million in the third quarter of 2007 compared to $0.7 million in the third quarter of 2006. The increase in sales in North America and the U.K. resulted from higher sales through our retailer channel. Net sales in Turkey were very low at $0.04 million in the third quarter of 2007 and $0.05 million in the third quarter of 2006. Our net sales outside North America, Turkey and the U.K. were $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2007, an increase from $0.6 million in the third quarter of 2006. 
 
Our net sales in North America were $9.2 million in the first nine months of 2007, an increase from $7.7 million in the first nine months of 2006, primarily due to stronger retailer customer sales. Our net sales in Turkey were $0.06 million in the first nine months of 2007 and $1.1 million in the first nine months of 2006. The main reason for the sales decrease in Turkey was the decline of DSL modem sales due to actions by Turkish Telecom to dramatically increase their bundling of DSL modems with their service. Our net sales in the U.K. were $3.2 million in the first nine months of 2007, an increase from $2.5 million in the first nine months of 2006 due to stronger retailer sales of DSL modems. Our net sales in countries outside North America, Turkey and the U.K. were $2.2 million for the first nine months of 2007 and $2.1 million for the first nine months of 2006.
 
In the third quarter of 2007 our net sales to our top three customers accounted for 50% of our total net sales, with our net sales to a United Kingdom/European retailer accounting for 23% of total net sales. The remaining 27% was split equally between two large electronics retailers in North America. For the first nine months of 2007, our net sales to our top three customers accounted for 44% of our net sales. Because of our significant customer concentration, our net sales and operating income has fluctuated and could in the future fluctuate significantly due to changes in political or economic conditions or the loss, reduction of business, or less favorable terms for any of our significant customers.
 
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Gross Profit. Our total gross profit was $1.3 million in the third quarter of 2007, an increase from $0.2 million in the third quarter of 2006. Our gross margin percent of net sales increased to 23.2% in the third quarter of 2007 from 6.7% in the third quarter of 2006. Gross margins were higher in the third quarter of 2007 primarily due to the move of our Boston final assembly operation to Tijuana, Mexico, which lowered manufacturing personnel, space, and occupancy costs compared to the third quarter of 2006. Sales of products that were written off as obsolete in prior periods contributed $0.2 million to the improvement in gross margins.
 
Our total gross profit was $2.9 million in the first nine months of 2007, an improvement from the $1.4 million recorded in the first nine months of 2006. Our gross margin percent of net sales increased to 19.6% in the first nine months of 2007 from the 10.7% recorded in the first nine months of 2006. Gross margins were higher primarily due to lower manufacturing expense as a result of the transfer of our production operation from Boston to Mexico in the third quarter of 2006.
 
Selling Expense. Selling expense increased to $1.0 million for the third quarter of 2007 from $0.8 million in the third quarter of 2006. Selling expense as a percentage of net sales was 17.5% in the third quarter of 2007 and 21.8% of net sales in the third quarter of 2006. The dollar increase in selling expense was primarily due to increased variable selling costs of freight, warehousing and commissions to support the sales increase, partially offset by the reduction of other personnel costs.
 
Selling expense increased to $2.8 million for the first nine months of 2007 from $2.6 million in the first nine months of 2006. Selling expense as a percentage of net sales was 18.7% in the first nine months of 2007 and 19.2% of net sales in the first nine months of 2006. The dollar increase was primarily due to increased variable selling costs of freight, warehousing and commissions, to support the sales increase, partially offset by the reduction of other personnel costs.
 
General and Administrative Expense. General and administrative expense was $0.6 million or 11.1% of net sales in the third quarter of 2007 compared to $0.7 million or 19.3% of net sales in the third quarter of 2006. The dollar reduction was primarily the result of reduced personnel and legal expense.
 
General and administrative expense was $1.9 million or 12.7% of net sales in the first nine months of 2007 compared to $2.2 million or 16.7% of net sales in the first nine months of 2006. The dollar reduction was primarily the result of reduced personnel and legal expense.
 
Research and Development Expense. Research and development expense decreased $0.1 million to $0.4 million or 7.8% of net sales in the third quarter of 2007 from $0.5 million or 14.5% of net sales in the third quarter of 2006. Research and development costs decreased primarily as a result of lower personnel costs due to headcount reductions. Development and support continues on all of our major product lines with particular emphasis on DSL products, VoIP products and service, and wireless products
 
Research and development expense decreased $0.3 million to $1.4 million or 9.6% of net sales in the first nine months of 2007 from $1.7 million or 12.8% of net sales in the first nine months of 2006. Research and development costs decreased primarily as a result of lower personnel costs due to headcount reductions.
 
Gain on sale of real estate. In December 2006 we sold our headquarters building in Boston and agreed to lease-back some of the office space. This lease-back arrangement resulted in a gain of which a portion ($0.725 million) was deferred. The deferred portion of the gain is being recognized over the lease-back term at $0.096 million per quarter. The gain will be fully recognized by year-end 2007. We recognized $0.096 million on this deferred gain in the third quarters of 2007.
 
Total Other Income (Expense), Net. Other income (expense), net was income, net of $0.03 million in the third quarter of 2007, primarily from interest income, compared to income, net of $0.92 million, a portion of Zoom’s gain from the sale of its investment in Intermute and interest income.
 
Total other income (expense), net was income, net of $0.16 million in the first nine months of 2007, primarily from interest income, compared to income, net of $1.02 million, a portion of Zoom’s gain from the sale of its investment in Intermute and interest income.
 
Income Tax Expense (Benefit). We did not record any tax expense in the first, second, or third quarter of 2007 or the first, second, or third quarter of 2006. The net deferred tax asset balance at September 30, 2007 was zero. This accounting treatment is described in further detail under the caption Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates above.

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Liquidity and Capital Resources
 
On September 30, 2007 we had working capital of $8.6 million, with $3.7 million of cash and a current ratio of 3.6. On December 31, 2006 we had $7.8 million of cash. In the first nine months of 2007 our cash declined by $4.2 million, with $3.0 million by operating activities and $1.2 million used by investing activities. Our use of cash from operating activities included a net loss of $2.7 million, the amortization of our deferred gain on sale of real estate of $0.3 million, an increase in accounts receivable of $0.2 million, and a decrease in accounts payable and accrued expense of $0.3 million. Sources of cash from operating activities were a decrease of inventory of $0.2 million and stock based compensation of $0.2 million. The use of cash from investing activities was due to Zoom’s Q3 2007 $1.2 million investment in Unity Business Systems, which included $0.1 million of Unity transaction costs. Shareholder equity on September 30, 2007 was $9.85 million, over $1 per share. Zoom has no long-term debt.

To conserve cash and manage liquidity, the Company has implemented cost cutting initiatives including the reduction of employee headcount and overhead costs. The employee headcount was 79 at September 30, 2006 and 65 at September 30, 2007. The manufacturing personnel in Mexico are not Zoom employees but the transfer of our manufacturing operations to Mexico has significantly reduced the labor and overhead portion of the cost of our products. We plan to continue to assess our cost structure as it relates to our revenues and cash position going forward, and we may make further reductions if the actions are deemed necessary.
 
On July 26, 2007 Zoom purchased all the Series A Preferred Shares (the Series A Shares) of Unity Business Networks, LLC (Unity) for cash of $1.2 million, including transaction costs. The Series A Shares are convertible at any time at Zoom’s option into 15% of Unity’s common stock on a fully-diluted basis. The Series A Shares convert automatically if Unity consummates a public offering with gross proceeds in excess of $25 million or 30 days after Unity delivers its 2009 audited financial statements to Zoom. In addition, Zoom has an option to purchase all the outstanding common stock of Unity based on a specified multiple of Unity’s revenues, as defined, for 2008. The option is exercisable for 30 days following the receipt of Unity’s 2008 audited financial statements. Zoom’s CEO is a member of Unity’s five member board of directors. Further, the Company is entitled to vote Series A Shares on an as-converted basis with Unity’s common stock. Zoom is unable to exercise significant influence over Unity’s policies or operations. Zoom accounts for its investment in Unity at cost. The investment will be reviewed periodically for potential impairment.
 
The Company's total current assets at September 30, 2007 were $11.8 million, including $3.7 million of cash, and total current liabilities were $3.3 million. The Company did not have any long-term debt at September 30, 2007.
 
Management believes it has sufficient resources to fund its planned operations through at least September 30, 2008. However, if we are unable to increase our revenues, reduce or otherwise adequately control our expenses, or raise capital, our longer-term ability to continue as a going concern and achieve our intended business objectives could be adversely affected. See the safe harbor statement contained herein and the "Risk Factors" under Item IA of Part II of this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q below, Zoom’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006 and Zoom’s other filings with the SEC, for further information with respect to events and uncertainties that could harm our business, operating results, and financial condition.

Commitments:

Other than as discussed above, during the nine months ended September 30, 2007, there were no material changes to our capital commitments and contractual obligations from those disclosed in the Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2006.

"Safe Harbor" Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
 
Some of the statements contained in this report are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause our or our industry's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements regarding: Zoom's plans, expectations and intentions, including statements relating to Zoom's prospects and plans relating to sales of and markets for its products; Zoom’s expected benefits and cost savings resulting from the move of its manufacturing facilities to Mexico; and Zoom's financial condition or results of operations.
 
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In some cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terms such as "may," "will, " "should," "could," "would," "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "projects," "predicts," "potential" and similar expressions intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements are only predictions and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause our actual results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements to be materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Given these uncertainties you should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. Also, these forward-looking statements represent our estimates and assumptions only as of the date of this report. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statement contained in this report to reflect any change in our expectations or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any of our forward-looking statements are based. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences in our future financial results include those discussed in the risk factors set forth in Item 1A of Part II below as well as those discussed elsewhere in this report and in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.

ITEM 3. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

We own financial instruments that are sensitive to market risks as part of our investment portfolio. The investment portfolio is used to preserve our capital until it is required to fund operations, including our research and development activities. None of these market-risk sensitive instruments are held for trading purposes. We do not own derivative financial instruments in our investment portfolio. The investment portfolio contains instruments that are subject to the risk of a decline in interest rates. Investment Rate Risk - Our investment portfolio consists entirely of money market funds, which are subject to interest rate risk. Due to the short duration and conservative nature of these instruments, we do not believe that it has a material exposure to interest rate risk.

ITEM 4. CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES
We maintain disclosure controls and procedures that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed in our Securities Exchange Act reports is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the SEC's rules and forms, and that such information is accumulated and communicated to our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. In designing and evaluating the disclosure controls and procedures, management recognized that any controls and procedures, no matter how well designed and operated, can provide only reasonable assurance of achieving the desired control objectives, as ours are designed to do, and management necessarily was required to apply its judgment in evaluating the cost-benefit relationship of possible controls and procedures.
As of September 30, 2007 we carried out an evaluation, under the supervision and with the participation of our management, including our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer, of the effectiveness of the design and operation of our disclosure controls and procedures, as defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Based upon that evaluation, our Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer concluded that our disclosure controls and procedures are effective in enabling us to record, process, summarize and report information required to be included in our periodic SEC filings within the required time period.
There have been no changes in our internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the period covered by this report that have materially affected, or are reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

PART II OTHER INFORMATION

ITEM 1A. RISK FACTORS
 
This report contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, such as statements of our objectives, expectations and intentions. The cautionary statements made in this report are applicable to all forward-looking statements wherever they appear in this report. Our actual results could differ materially from those discussed herein. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include those discussed below, as well as those discussed elsewhere in this report.

To stay in business we may require future additional funding, which we may be unable to obtain on favorable terms if at all.

Over the next twelve months we may require additional financing for our operations either to fund losses beyond those we anticipate or to fund growth in our inventory and accounts receivable. We currently have no line of credit from which we can borrow. Additional financing may not be available to us on a timely basis if at all, or on terms acceptable to us. If we fail to obtain acceptable additional financing when needed, we may not have sufficient resources to fund our normal operations and we may be required to further reduce planned expenditures or forego business opportunities. These factors could reduce our net sales, increase our losses, and harm our business. Moreover, additional equity financing could dilute the per share value of our common stock held by current shareholders, while additional debt financing could restrict our ability to make capital expenditures or incur additional indebtedness, all of which would impede our ability to succeed.

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The market for high-speed communications products and services has many competing technologies and, as a result, the demand for certain of our products and services is declining.

Industry analysts believe that the market for our dial-up modems will continue to decline. If we are unable to increase demand for and sales of our broadband modems, we may be unable to sustain or grow our business. The market for high-speed communications products and services has a number of competing technologies. For instance, Internet access can be achieved by: 
 
 
·
using a standard telephone line and appropriate service for dial-up modems;
 
 
·
DSL modems;
 
 
·
 using a cable modem with a cable TV line and cable modem service;
 
 
·
 using a router and some type of modem to service the computers connected to a local area network; or
 
 
·
other approaches, including wireless links to the Internet.
 
We currently sell products for all these forms of Internet access. The introduction of new products by competitors, market acceptance of competing products based on new or alternative technologies, or the emergence of new industry standards have in the past rendered and could continue to render our products less competitive or even obsolete. For example, these factors have caused the market for our dial-up modems to shrink dramatically. If we are unable to increase demand for our broadband modems, we may be unable to sustain or grow our business.  

Our reliance on a limited number of customers for a large portion of our revenues could materially harm our business and prospects.

Relatively few customers have accounted for a substantial portion of our net sales. In the third quarter of 2007 net sales to our top three customers accounted for 50% of our total net sales. In the third quarter of 2006 net sales to our top three customers accounted for 38% of our total net sales. Our customers generally do not enter into long-term agreements obligating them to purchase our products. We may not continue to receive significant revenues from any of these or from other large customers. Because of our significant customer concentration, our net sales and operating income could fluctuate significantly due to changes in political or economic conditions or the loss of, reduction of business with, or less favorable terms for any of our significant customers. A reduction or delay in orders from any of our significant customers, or a delay or default in payment by any significant customer could materially harm our business, results of operation and liquidity.

Capacity constraints in our Mexican operations could reduce our sales and revenues and hurt customer relationships.

We rely on our Mexican operations to finish and ship most of the products we sell. Since moving our manufacturing operations to our Mexican facility we have experienced and may continue to experience constraints on our manufacturing capacity as we address challenges related to operating our new facility, such as hiring and training workers, creating the facility’s infrastructure, developing new supplier relationships, complying with customs and border regulations, and resolving shipping and logistical issues. Our sales and revenues may be reduced and our customer relationships may be impaired if we continue to experience constraints on our manufacturing capacity. We are working to minimize capacity constraints in a cost-effective manner, but there can be no assurance that we will be able to adequately minimize capacity constraints.

Our reliance on a business processing outsourcing partner to conduct our operations in Mexico could materially harm our business and prospects.

In connection with the move of most of our North American manufacturing operations to Mexico, we rely on a business processing outsourcing partner to hire, subject to our oversight, the production team for our manufacturing operation, provide the selected facility described above, and coordinate many of the ongoing manufacturing logistics relating to our operations in Mexico. Our outsourcing partner’s related functions include acquiring the necessary Mexican permits, providing the appropriate Mexican operating entity, assisting in customs clearances, and providing other general assistance and administrative services in connection with the ongoing operation of the Mexican facility. Our outsourcing partner’s performance of these obligations efficiently and effectively is critical to the success of our operations in Mexico. Failure of our outsourcing partner to perform its obligations efficiently and effectively could result in delays, unanticipated costs or interruptions in production, delays in deliveries to our customers, or other harm to our business, results of operation, and liquidity. Moreover, if our outsourcing arrangement is not successful, we cannot assure our ability to find an alternative production facility or outsourcing partner to assist in our operations in Mexico or our ability to operate successfully in Mexico without outsourcing or similar assistance.

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Capacity constraints in our Mexican operations could reduce our sales and revenues and hurt customer relationships.

We now rely on our Mexican operations to finish and ship most of the products we sell. Since moving our manufacturing operations to our Mexican facility we have experienced and may continue to experience constraints on our manufacturing capacity as we address challenges related to operating our new facility, such as hiring and training workers, creating the facility’s infrastructure, developing new supplier relationships, complying with customs and border regulations, and resolving shipping and logistical issues. Our sales and revenues may be reduced and our customer relationships may be impaired if we continue to experience constraints on our manufacturing capacity. We are working to minimize capacity constraints in a cost-effective manner, but there can be no assurance that we will be able to adequately minimize capacity constraints.

Our net sales, operating results and liquidity have been and may in the future be adversely affected because of the decline in the retail market for dial-up modems.

The dial-up modem industry has been characterized by declining average selling prices and a declining retail market. The decline in average selling prices is due to a number of factors, including technological change, lower component costs, and competition. The decline in the size of the retail market for dial-up modems is primarily due to the inclusion of dial-up modems as a standard feature contained in new PCs, and the advent of broadband products. Decreasing average selling prices and reduced demand for our dial-up modems have resulted and are likely to continue to result in decreased net sales for dial-up modems. If we fail to replace declining revenue from the sales of dial-up modems with the sales of our other products, including our broadband modems, our business, results of operation and liquidity will be harmed.

Less advantageous terms of sale of our products could harm our business.

We entered into a consignment arrangement with a significant retailer customer in October 2006. In connection with this arrangement ownership of all unsold products previously purchased from Zoom reverted to us in November 2006. Under the consignment arrangement we do not recognize revenue from the sale of a product until the retailer actually sells such product to its customer. The consignment arrangement also results in a delay in the dating of invoices, the recognition of accounts receivable, and the due dates for payment by the retailer for goods sold. If additional significant customers adopt similar arrangements or otherwise change the terms of sale, our business, results of operation and liquidity will be harmed.

We believe that our future success will depend in large part on our ability to more successfully penetrate the broadband modem markets, which have been challenging markets, with significant barriers to entry.
 
With the shrinking of the dial-up modem market, we believe that our future success will depend in large part on our ability to more successfully penetrate the broadband modem markets, DSL and cable, and the VoIP market. These markets have significant barriers to entry that have adversely affected our sales to these markets. Although some cable and DSL modems are sold at retail, the high volume purchasers of these modems are concentrated in a relatively few large cable, telecommunications, and Internet service providers which offer broadband modem services to their customers. These customers, particularly cable services providers, also have extensive and varied approval processes for modems to be approved for use on their network. These approvals are expensive, time consuming, and continue to evolve. Successfully penetrating the broadband modem market therefore presents a number of challenges including:
 
 
·
the current limited retail market for broadband modems;  
 
 
·
the relatively small number of cable, telecommunications and Internet service provider customers that make up the bulk of the market for broadband modems in certain countries including the U.S.;
 
 
·
the significant bargaining power of these large volume purchasers;
 
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·
the time consuming, expensive, uncertain and varied approval process of the various cable service providers; and  
 
 
·
the strong relationships with cable service providers enjoyed by incumbent cable equipment providers like Motorola and Cisco.

Our sales of broadband products have been adversely affected by all of these factors. Sales of our broadband products in European countries have fluctuated and may continue to fluctuate due to approvals and delays in the deployment by service providers of cable and DSL service in these countries. We cannot assure that we will be able to successfully penetrate these markets.

Our failure to meet changing customer requirements and emerging industry standards would adversely impact our ability to sell our products and services.
 
The market for PC communications products and high-speed broadband access products and services is characterized by aggressive pricing practices, continually changing customer demand patterns, rapid technological advances, emerging industry standards and short product life cycles. Some of our product and service developments and enhancements have taken longer than planned and have delayed the availability of our products and services, which adversely affected our sales and profitability in the past. Any significant delays in the future may adversely impact our ability to sell our products and services, and our results of operations and financial condition may be adversely affected. Our future success will depend in large part upon our ability to: 
 
 
·
identify and respond to emerging technological trends and industry standards in the market;
 
 
·
develop and maintain competitive products that meet changing customer demands;
 
 
·
enhance our products by adding innovative features that differentiate our products from those of our competitors;
 
 
·
bring products to market on a timely basis;
 
 
·
introduce products that have competitive prices;
 
 
·
manage our product transitions, inventory levels and manufacturing processes efficiently;
 
 
·
respond effectively to new technological changes or new product announcements by others; and
 
 
·
meet changing industry standards. 

Our product cycles tend to be short, and we may incur significant non-recoverable expenses or devote significant resources to sales that do not occur when anticipated. Therefore, the resources we devote to product development, sales and marketing may not generate material net sales for us. In addition, short product cycles have resulted in and may in the future result in excess and obsolete inventory, which has had and may in the future have an adverse affect on our results of operations. In an effort to develop innovative products and technology, we have incurred and may in the future incur substantial development, sales, marketing, and inventory costs. If we are unable to recover these costs, our financial condition and operating results could be adversely affected. In addition, if we sell our products at reduced prices in anticipation of cost reductions and we still have higher cost products in inventory, our business would be harmed and our results of operations and financial condition would be adversely affected.

Our international operations are subject to a number of risks that could harm our business. 

Currently our business is significantly dependent on our operations outside the United States, particularly sales of our products and the production of most of our products. All of our manufacturing operations except our rework operations are now located outside of the United States. In 2006 sales outside North America were 44% of our net sales. In the third quarter of 2007 sales outside North America were 42% of our total net sales. The inherent risks of international operations could harm our business, results of operation, and liquidity. Specifically, our manufacturing operations in Mexico are subject to the challenges and risks associated with international operations, including those related to integration of operations across different cultures and languages, currency risk, and economic, legal, political and regulatory risks. The types of risks faced in connection with international operations and sales include, among others:
 
 
·
regulatory and communications requirements and policy changes;  
 
·
favoritism toward local suppliers;    
 
·
delays in the rollout of broadband services by cable and DSL service providers outside of the United States;    
 
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·
local language and technical support requirements;    
 
·
difficulties in inventory management, accounts receivable collection and the management of distributors or representatives;    
 
 
·
cultural differences;
 
 
·
reduced control over staff and other difficulties in staffing and managing foreign operations;  
 
 
·
reduced protection for intellectual property rights in some countries;
 
 
·
political and economic changes and disruptions;
 
 
·
governmental currency controls;
 
 
·
shipping costs;  
 
 
·
currency exchange rate fluctuations, including, as a result of the move of our manufacturing operations to Mexico, changes in value of the Mexican Peso relative to the US dollar; and import, export, and tariff regulations.
 
We may be subject to product returns resulting from defects or from overstocking of our products. Product returns could result in the failure to attain market acceptance of our products, which would harm our business. 
 
If our products contain undetected defects, errors, or failures, we could face: 
 
 
·
delays in the development of our products;
 
 
·
numerous product returns; and
 
 
·
other losses to us or to our customers or end users.

Any of these occurrences could also result in the loss of or delay in market acceptance of our products, either of which would reduce our sales and harm our business. We are also exposed to the risk of product returns from our customers as a result of contractual stock rotation privileges and our practice of assisting some of our customers in balancing their inventories. Overstocking has in the past led and may in the future lead to higher than normal returns.
 
Our failure to effectively manage our inventory levels could materially and adversely affect our liquidity and harm our business. 

Due to rapid technological change and changing markets we are required to manage our inventory levels carefully to both meet customer expectations regarding delivery times and to limit our excess inventory exposure. In the event we fail to effectively manage our inventory our liquidity may be adversely affected and we may face increased risk of inventory obsolescence, a decline in market value of the inventory, or losses from theft, fire, or other casualty.

We may be unable to produce sufficient quantities of our products because we depend on third party manufacturers. If these third party manufacturers fail to produce quality products in a timely manner, our ability to fulfill our customer orders would be adversely impacted. 

We use contract manufacturers and Original Design Manufacturers for electronics manufacturing of most of our products. We use these third party manufacturers to help ensure low costs, rapid market entry, and reliability. Any manufacturing disruption could impair our ability to fulfill orders, and failure to fulfill orders would adversely affect our sales. Although we currently use four electronics manufacturers for the bulk of our purchases, in some cases a given product is only provided by one of these companies. The loss of the services of any of our significant third party manufacturers or a material adverse change in the business of or our relationships with any of these manufacturers could harm our business. Since third parties manufacture our products and we expect this to continue in the future, our success will depend, in part, on the ability of third parties to manufacture our products cost effectively and in sufficient quantities to meet our customer demand.
 
 We are subject to the following risks because of our reliance on third party manufacturers: 
 
 
·
reduced management and control of component purchases;
 
 
·
reduced control over delivery schedules, quality assurance and manufacturing yields;
 
 
·
lack of adequate capacity during periods of excess demand;
 
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·
limited warranties on products supplied to us;
 
 
·
potential increases in prices;
 
 
·
interruption of supplies from assemblers as a result of a fire, natural calamity, strike or other significant event; and
 
 
·
misappropriation of our intellectual property.

We may be unable to produce sufficient quantities of our products because we obtain key components from, and depend on, sole or limited source suppliers.

We obtain certain key parts, components, and equipment from sole or limited sources of supply. For example, we purchase most of our dial-up and broadband modem chipsets from Conexant Systems, Agere Systems, and Ikanos Communications. Integrated circuit product areas covered by at least one of these companies include dial-up modems, DSL modems, cable modems, networking, routers, and gateways. In the past we have experienced delays in receiving shipments of modem chipsets from our sole source suppliers. We may experience similar delays in the future. In addition, some products may have other components that are available from only one source. If we are unable to obtain a sufficient supply of components from our current sources, we would experience difficulties in obtaining alternative sources or in altering product designs to use alternative components. Resulting delays or reductions in product shipments could damage relationships with our customers, and our customers could decide to purchase products from our competitors. Inability to meet our customers’ demand or a decision by one or more of our customers to purchase products from our competitors could harm our operating results.
 
We face significant competition, which could result in decreased demand for our products or services.
 
We may be unable to compete successfully. A number of companies have developed, or are expected to develop, products that compete or will compete with our products. Furthermore, many of our current and potential competitors have significantly greater resources than we do. Intense competition, rapid technological change and evolving industry standards could result in less favorable selling terms to our customers, decrease demand for our products or make our products obsolete.

New environmental regulations may increase our manufacturing costs and harm our business. 

The State of California and other states have implemented regulations requiring the use of highly efficient power cubes. These new requirements will affect many of our products and will typically result in an increase of $0.20 to $0.70 in our cost to produce those products that use U.S. power cubes. This is expected to reduce our gross margin for those products. 
 
Changes in current or future laws or governmental regulations and industry standards that negatively impact our products, services and technologies could harm our business. 
 
The jurisdiction of the Federal Communications Commission, or the FCC, extends to the entire United States communications industry including our customers and their products and services that incorporate our products. Our products are also required to meet the regulatory requirements of other countries throughout the world where our products and services are sold. Obtaining government regulatory approvals is time-consuming and very costly. In the past, we have encountered delays in the introduction of our products, such as our cable modems, as a result of government certifications. We may face further delays if we are unable to comply with governmental regulations. Delays caused by the time it takes to comply with regulatory requirements may result in cancellations or postponements of product orders or purchases by our customers, which would harm our business. 

In addition to reliability and quality standards, the market acceptance of our VoIP products and services is dependent upon the adoption of industry standards so that products from multiple manufacturers are able to communicate with each other. Standards are continuously being modified and replaced. As standards evolve, we may be required to modify our existing products or develop and support new versions of our products. The failure of our products to comply, or delays in compliance, with various existing and evolving industry standards could delay or interrupt volume production of our products, which could harm our business.

Regulation of VoIP services is developing and is therefore uncertain. Future regulation of VoIP services could increase our costs and restrict the growth of our VoIP business. 

VoIP services currently have different regulations from traditional telephony in most countries including the US. The US, various states and other countries may impose surcharges, taxes or new regulations upon providers of VoIP services. The imposition of any such surcharges, taxes and regulations on VoIP services could materially increase our costs, may limit or eliminate our competitive pricing and may require us to restructure the VoIP services we currently offer. For example, regulations requiring compliance with the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act (CALEA) or provision of the same type of 911 services as required for traditional telecommunications providers could place a significant financial burden on us depending on the technical changes required to accommodate the requirements.

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In many countries outside the US in which we operate or our services are sold, we cannot be certain that we will be able to comply with existing or future requirements, or that we will be able to continue to be in compliance with any such requirements. Our failure to comply with these requirements could materially adversely affect our ability to continue to offer our VoIP services in these jurisdictions.
 
Fluctuations in the foreign currency exchange rates in relation to the U.S. Dollar could have a material adverse effect on our operating results.

Changes in currency exchange rates that increase the relative value of the U.S. dollar may make it more difficult for us to compete with foreign manufacturers on price, may reduce our foreign currency denominated sales when expressed in dollars, or may otherwise have a material adverse effect on our sales and operating results. A significant increase in our foreign currency denominated sales would increase our risk associated with foreign currency fluctuations. A weakness in the U.S. dollar relative to the Mexican Peso and various Asian currencies including the Chinese renminbi could increase our product costs.  
 
Our future success will depend on the continued services of our executive officers and key product development personnel. 
 
The loss of any of our executive officers or key product development personnel, the inability to attract or retain qualified personnel in the future, or delays in hiring skilled personnel could harm our business. Competition for skilled personnel is significant. We may be unable to attract and retain all the personnel necessary for the development of our business. In addition, the loss of Frank B. Manning, our president and chief executive officer or some other member of the senior management team, a key engineer or salesperson, or other key contributors, could harm our relations with our customers, our ability to respond to technological change, and our business.
 
We may have difficulty protecting our intellectual property. 

Our ability to compete is heavily affected by our ability to protect our intellectual property. We rely primarily on trade secret laws, confidentiality procedures, patents, copyrights, trademarks, and licensing arrangements to protect our intellectual property. The steps we take to protect our technology may be inadequate. Existing trade secret, trademark and copyright laws offer only limited protection. Our patents could be invalidated or circumvented. We have more intellectual property assets in some countries than we do in others. In addition, the laws of some foreign countries in which our products are or may be developed, manufactured or sold may not protect our products or intellectual property rights to the same extent as do the laws of the United States. This may make the possibility of piracy of our technology and products more likely. We cannot ensure that the steps that we have taken to protect our intellectual property will be adequate to prevent misappropriation of our technology.

We could infringe the intellectual property rights of others. 

Particular aspects of our technology could be found to infringe on the intellectual property rights or patents of others. Other companies may hold or obtain patents on inventions or may otherwise claim proprietary rights to technology necessary to our business. We are often indemnified by our suppliers relative to certain intellectual property rights; but these indemnifications do not cover all possible suits, and there is no guarantee that a relevant indemnification will be honored by the indemnifying party.

ITEM 6. EXHIBITS

Exhibit No.
 
Exhibit Description
     
31.1
 
CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
     
31.2
 
CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
 
CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
     
32.2
 
CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.

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ZOOM TECHNOLOGIES, INC. AND SUBSIDIARY
 
SIGNATURES
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the Company has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
 

 
ZOOM TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
(Registrant)
   
   
Date: November 13, 2007
By:
/s/ Frank B. Manning
   
Frank B. Manning, President
     
Date: November 13, 2007
By:
/s/ Robert Crist
   
Robert Crist, Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial and Accounting Officer)
 
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EXHIBIT INDEX

Exhibit No.
 
Exhibit Description
31.1
 
CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
31.2
 
CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 302 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.1
 
CEO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
32.2
 
CFO Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002.
 
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