In a world where speed is measured in gigabytes per second, being named one of the fastest players in the high-tech sector is a solid sign of e-acumen.

And for three Calgary companies which have whiplashed on to the Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500 list, speed spells growth, investment interest and international prestige.

The sixth annual rankings showcase the rising cream of the Canadian and U.S. tech sector, primarily in the computer, software and communications industries.

The three local firms — FinTech Services Ltd., Discoverware Inc. and Applied Terravision Systems Inc. — had already cracked this year’s Deloitte & Touche Fast 50 listing for Canadian companies, and were automatically enrolled in the larger program.

“We’re very flattered,” said an admittedly surprised Bob McInnes, CEO of Discoverware Inc., which ranked 222 out of 500 companies.

“There’s a significant number of technology companies in North America, and it’s rather nice to be mentioned in the same paragraph as so many of those companies.”

Discoverware, with 29 employees, provides e-learning solutions to enhance or replace instructor-led training, to clients including the U.S. government.

For CEO Kalvin MacDonald and his team at FinTech Services Ltd., being ranked as the 168th fastest growing tech company is a real push forward.

“It definitely helps us with our sales and marketing efforts,” says MacDonald. “As a publicly traded company, the capital markets appreciate it the most. They ultimately are looking at companies that can grow. This is like a certification of growth.

“When you’re talking to investors,” he adds, “it’s pretty critical that they see these kinds of third-party awards.”

The 90-employee company provides customized e-commerce solutions to small and medium-sized business, as well as larger corporations. Clients include Husky Oil, Northrock Resources and Panasonic Canada.

Applied Terravision Systems (ATS) President and CEO Bob Tretiak credits his 175 colleagues for helping land the company at the 441th level on the list.

“We are very pleased to be part of the elite listing of companies on the Deloitte & Touche Technology Fast 500,” Tretiak said. “ATS could not have achieved this accomplishment without the dedication and commitment of all of our co-workers, the loyalty of our customers and the support from our shareholders.”

ATS is an e-business service provider that offers its products — including integrated accounting, marketing and land-management applications — as traditional software, or as an application service provider over the Internet.

The company recently announced a planned merger with Petroleum Place Inc., a leading private U.S. Internet company geared to the upstream petroleum industry. The proposed closing date of the merger has been extended to March 31.

On Monday, ATS announced that it had acquired Calgary-based Allmark Inc. for $1.2 million. Allmark provides production and revenue accounting software to the Canadian junior upstream energy industry.

Two Canadian companies — North Vancouver-based software developer Pivotal Corporation and Stratos Global Corp., a communications company based in Toronto — topped the Canadian entries, placing ninth and 11th.

Canada captured nine per cent of the complete listings.

“Although the results aren’t surprising given Canada’s significant role in the development of the current high-tech landscape, it’s rewarding to see Canadian companies recognized for their initiative and contributions to the new economy,” said Garry Foster, national director for technology and communications for Deloitte & Touche.

“It isn’t a secret that Canada has a highly competitive and flourishing technology industry and our strong showing in the Fast 500 confirms that.”

The top spot in the 2000 ranking went to Primus Telecommunications Group, Inc., a communications company based in Virginia.

To qualify for the Fast 500, entrants must be at least five years old and had 1995 revenues of at least $50,000 US or $75,000 Cdn.