The Boston Globe Business Briefs Column

Jan. 6–VERIZON WIRELESS TOPS SATISFACTION SURVEY: Verizon Wireless continues to have the most satisfied customers among cellphone companies in the Greater Boston market, but its rating has dropped slightly over the last year, according to a survey by Consumer Reports.

Verizon scored the highest for customer satisfaction in all 17 US markets surveyed. On a 0 to 100 scale, Verizon posted a 71 in Boston, down from 73 a year earlier.

T-Mobile, which had been omitted from earlier surveys conducted by ConsumerReports.org because not enough Boston-area subscribers responded, came in second at 64, followed by Sprint at 62, and Cingular at 61.

Nextel Communications Inc. plunged to fifth place from second, dropping from 66 to 60, amid complaints about “dead spots” with no coverage.

The survey is based on responses from 39,000 Consumer Reports subscribers last September, before Cingular acquired AT&T Wireless Services Inc., which ranked dead last in Boston and 14 other markets.

–Peter J. Howe

TA ASSOCIATES BUYS STAKE IN VIRGINIA COMPANY: Private equity and buyout firm TA Associates of Boston said it has completed a $35 million investment in Lumber Liquidators Inc., the nation’s largest direct retailer for hardwood flooring.

Lumber Liquidators, originally based in Boston but now headquartered in Toano, Va., sells prefinished and unfinished hardwood flooring at reduced prices from about 60 stores nationwide.

Among the 350 companies in which TA Associates has previously invested are consumer companies such as Jenny Craig, PowerBar, Smith Alarm Systems, and United Pet Group.

–Robert Weisman

AT&T PARTNERS WITH CHAIN FOR CALLVANTAGE: Staples Inc. plans to sell AT&T Corp.’s Internet phone-calling service, CallVantage, at its 1,200 stores nationwide.

Best Buy and Circuit City began selling CallVantage in the fall. Staples, of Framingham, will offer a $130 CallVantage “service starter kit,” or $70 after a rebate. The kit includes a wireless router and device for plugging conventional phones into a broadband Internet connection that provides the $30-a-month unlimited call service.

AT&T said its Staples alliance is part of an ongoing effort to find more stores to sell CallVantage, which it mainly sells online. AT&T is chasing industry leader Vonage Holdings Corp., which counts over 400,000 subscribers for its Internet phone plan.

–Peter J. Howe

BLUETARP RAISES $14 MILLION IN VENTURE CAPITAL: BlueTarp Inc., a Portland, Maine, company that provides lumberyards and other building materials dealers with commercial trade credit services, has received a $14 million venture capital funding round led by Highland Capital Partners of Lexington and IDG Ventures of Boston.

With the investment, Paul Maeder of Highland and Michael Greeley of IDG will join the board of BlueTarp, which plans to use the funds to expand its base of about 250 customers. Joining Highland and IDG in the funding round are previous BlueTarp investors Village Ventures Inc. of Williamstown, CEI Ventures Inc. of Maine, and the Small Enterprise Growth Board.

–Robert Weisman

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