Web hosting provider Host.net (host.net) has newly acquired WebUnited (webunited.com), one of its biggest competitors. WebUnited had been part of Landmark Communications' Continental Broadband family of commercial Internet data providers, which also owns the Weather Channel, CBS stations in Los Angeles, California and Nashville, Tennessee and nearly 100 newspapers, including the Virginian Pilot and the Roanoke Times.

The combined companies will offer Internet access, nationwide transport of data, collocation, managed security and VoIP services. WebUnited has 7,500 square feet of data center space interconnected with high-speed fiber transport that enables remotely hosted services for its collocation and managed service customers.

Host.net has seen significant growth in the past couple years with its revenues increasing from $1.6 million in 2004 to $6.68 million in 2006, as reported on July 13 in Business Journal's two-year ranking of fast-growing technology companies. The WebUnited acquisition brings an additional $6 million in revenue, which should allow Host.net to reach $18 million in revenue in 2008, said Lenny Chesal, chief marketing officer and executive VP of sales for Host.net.

Bucky Wallace, WebUnited general manager, commented: "By becoming part of Host.net and merging our operations together, we will become the foremost collocation, network, and managed services provider in South Florida. The combination of facilities and highly trained people will make us stand out as the market's undisputed leader supporting businesses reliant on carrier class services."