Fore Systems Inc, the ATM switching pioneer has turned in strong growth for its fourth quarter, but in the year has seen shrinking net income, mostly attributed to a marketing effort launched by the company, with sales and marketing expenses up 42.7% to 128m. The company has signed strategic partnerships in the quarter which it hopes will fuel demand for its products, one with videoconferencing company Picturetel Corp, and the other with computer telephone integration firm Sphere Communications Inc. The company’s fourth quarter net profits were up 238% at $13.2m or $0.13, and net profits for the year were down 15.2% at $35.2m or $0.35 in the year. On Friday, Fore’s shares closed up 13% Friday at $19.88.
