content: <PAGE>
   
                                   UNITED STATES
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  
                              WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
  
                                      FORM 8-K
                                   CURRENT REPORT
  
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                          Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  
       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  November 23, 1998
  
  
  
                                 VERTEL CORPORATION
                    -------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
  
  
                                     California
                       -------------------------------------
                   (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  
  
  
           0-19640                                        95-3948704           
     ---------------------                     ------------------------------
    (Commission File Number)                  (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  
  
  
  21300 Victory Blvd., Suite 1200, Woodland Hills, CA                91367       
  ---------------------------------------------------           --------------
     (Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip Code)
  
  
  
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code:         (818) 227-1400
                                                        --------------------------
  
                                        N/A
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  <PAGE>
   
  Item 8.    Change in Fiscal Year.
             --------------------- 
  
    On November 23, 1998, the Registrant's Board of Directors approved a change
  in the Registrant's fiscal year. The date of the Registrant's new fiscal year
  end will be December 31 of each year. Previously, the Registrant's fiscal
  year end was December 27. Pursuant to Rule 13a-10(d) under the Securities Act
  of 1934, as amended, the Registrant will not file a separate transition report
  for the four day transition period between December 27 and December 31, 1998,
  but will cover the transition period in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
  new fiscal year ending December 31, 1998.
  
                                        -2-
  <PAGE>
   
                                     SIGNATURES
  
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
  
  
  
                                VERTEL CORPORATION
                                (Registrant)
  
  
  
  Dated: November 30, 1998     By: /s/ Gordon L. Almquist
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                    Gordon L. Almquist
                                    Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial
                                    Officer and Assistant Secretary
  
  
                                        -3-
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metadata_filer: {"company-data": {"conformed-name": "VERTEL CORP", "cik": "0000880458", "assigned-sic": "3576", "irs-number": "953948704", "state-of-incorporation": "CA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "000-19640", "film-number": "98763508"}, "business-address": {"street1": "21300 VICTORY BLVD", "street2": "#1200", "city": "WOODLAND HILLS", "state": "CA", "zip": "91367", "phone": "3108283400"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "21300 VICTORY BLVD", "street2": "#1200", "city": "WOODLAND HILLS", "state": "CA", "zip": "91367"}, "former-company": {"former-conformed-name": "RETIX", "date-changed": "19930113"}}
text: UNITED STATES
                         SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
  
                              WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549
  
                                      FORM 8-K
                                   CURRENT REPORT
  
                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                          Securities Exchange Act of 1934
  
       Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  November 23, 1998
  
                                 VERTEL CORPORATION
                    -------------------------------------------
               (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
  
                                     California
                       -------------------------------------
                   (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
  
           0-19640                                        95-3948704           
     ---------------------                     ------------------------------
    (Commission File Number)                  (IRS Employer Identification No.)
  
  21300 Victory Blvd., Suite 1200, Woodland Hills, CA                91367       
  ---------------------------------------------------           --------------
     (Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip Code)
  
  Registrant's telephone number, including area code:         (818) 227-1400
                                                        --------------------------
  
                                        N/A
  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
  Item 8.    Change in Fiscal Year.
             --------------------- 
  
    On November 23, 1998, the Registrant's Board of Directors approved a change
  in the Registrant's fiscal year. The date of the Registrant's new fiscal year
  end will be December 31 of each year. Previously, the Registrant's fiscal
  year end was December 27. Pursuant to Rule 13a-10(d) under the Securities Act
  of 1934, as amended, the Registrant will not file a separate transition report
  for the four day transition period between December 27 and December 31, 1998,
  but will cover the transition period in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
  new fiscal year ending December 31, 1998.
  
                                        -2-
  SIGNATURES
  
       Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
  Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
  undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
  
                                VERTEL CORPORATION
                                (Registrant)
  
  Dated: November 30, 1998     By: /s/ Gordon L. Almquist
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                    Gordon L. Almquist
                                    Vice President of Finance, Chief Financial
                                    Officer and Assistant Secretary
  
                                        -3-