Aspect Communications Fires 160

Aspect Communications Corp., a San Jose, Calif.-based customer relationship portal provider, did away with 6 percent of its workforce, or 160 employees Tuesday morning in the hope of returning to profitability.

The action will yield a one-time charge to its first-quarter results woth $4 to $6 million. Aspect also plans to consolidate certain facilities.

Beatriz V. Infante, chief executive officer for Aspect, blamed a deteriorating economic climate for the job cuts.

"I remain confident in our overall business direction and strong customer demand for our products, however, our near-term visibility is being affected as the economic climate continues to deteriorate," Infante said.

"We are now halfway through the quarter, and we are beginning to see evidence that the timing of our customer's purchase decisions is being impacted by the economic slowdown. Our quarterly order cycle tends to be back end weighted, making it difficult at this time to quantify the impact, if any, on first quarter results."