 The financial crisis of 2008 and on caused further difficulties for Comverse Technology , with new layoffs occurring in October 2008 , March 2009 , and August 2009 . The company reportedly lost considerable money in 2009 , and the moves were typical of other hi @-@ tech companies caught in the bad economic environment . Some of Comverse 's products were still viewed highly ; a Yankee Group survey ranked them first in the world in their type of billing services , and they were the worldwide market @-@ share leaders in providing multimedia message service centers to wireless carriers . However , the rise in popularity of smartphones and of sending e @-@ mail eroded the carrier market for some of Comverse 's products and services . By 2009 , the company 's upper management was now largely American rather than Israeli , Dahan was under internal criticism , and there were frequent clashes regarding company culture . 
