News
Issue #2002 - 43 (November 2002)
(Updated Nov. 13, 2002)

ACQUISITIONS, MERGERS & AGREEMENTS

VC Money Keeps Flowing to Older Startups - A Few New Ones

1. airBand Communications Raises $10,000,000 in Second Round [TX]
airBand Communications provides wireless broadband services and has services scalable to OC-12 and offers additional services such as firewall, Virtual Private Network (VPN), and Web hosting. INVESTORS: Crescendo Ventures, Sevin Rosen Funds 10/31/2002 9:04:15 AM

2. Pinpoint Networks Raises $4,000,000 [NC]
North Carolina-based Pinpoint Networks provides wireless software and services to global mobile operators. Its proprietary platform is the Mobile Aplication Management Platform. INVESTORS: New Enterprise Associates 10/24/2002 9:27:36 AM

3. Ember Raises $20,000,000 in Second Round [MA]
Ember provides embedded wireless networking services that enable companies to streamline product development processes. Its EmberNet network uses patented networking algorithms to deliver a reliable, secure, and easy-to-use wireless network. INVESTORS: RRE Ventures (Lead), DFJ New England, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, GrandBanks Capital, Polaris Venture Partners, Stata Venture Partners 10/17/2002 10:38:49 AM

4. Legra Systems Raises $2,000,000 in Seed Financing Round [MA]
Legra Systems develops networking systems for wireless LAN enterprise systems. INVESTORS: Kodiak Venture Partners (Lead), Genesis Partners 10/16/2002 11:45:07 AM

5. Akustica Raises $2,250,000 in First Round [PA]
Akustica provides acoustic System-on-Chip products and services for wireless communications and consumer electronic devices. INVESTORS: Chamberlain Investments (Lead), Others 10/16/2002 9:51:09 AM

6. Tira Wireless Raises $3,000,000 in First Round [Canada]
Tara Wireless publishes a portfolio of wireless Java applications to support mobile subscribers.
INVESTORS: Brightspark Ventures, Flagship Ventures 10/16/2002 9:28:56 AM

7. Sonim Technologies Raises $3,000,000 in First Round Add-on [San Mateo, CA]
Sonim Technologies provides IP-based Instant Communications services to wireless data networks.
INVESTORS: BV Capital 10/16/2002 8:56:50 AM

8. JAMDAT Mobile Raises $8,000,000 in Third Round [Los Angeles, CA]
Jamdat Mobile provides mobile entertainment products, services, and technologies to wireless carriers, developers, and publishers. INVESTORS: Qualcomm (Lead), Apax Partners, Intel Communications Fund, Sun Microsystems 10/16/2002 7:06:01 AM

9. Spatial Wireless Raises $10,000,000 in Third Round [TX]
Spatial Wireless develops and provides next generation wireless networking services through carrier-class core switching elements. INVESTORS: Austin Ventures, Dali, Hook Partners, Genesis Campus, Sequoia Capital 10/11/2002 9:08:20 AM

10. Berkana Wireless Raises $10,000,000 in Second Round [San Jose, CA]
Berkana Wireless is a fabless semiconductor company that provides CMOS RF solutions for cellular applications. INVESTORS: Miramar Venture Partners (Lead), KTB Ventures, Others, Storm Ventures
10/7/2002 10:42:31 AM

11. BridgeWave Communications Raises $4,750,000 in Fourth Round [Santa Clara, CA]
BridgeWave Communications is a technology company supplying solutions to the fixed wireless access and high-speed semiconductor sectors. INVESTORS: West Steag Partners (Lead), Jerusalem Venture Partners, MKS Ventures 10/1/2002 7:41:22 AM

12. EnvoyWorldWide Raises $4,500,000 in Third Round [MA]
EnvoyWorldWide builds a messaging platform to distribute information via wireless device to customers, employees, partners and suppliers. INVESTORS: Battery Ventures, Longworth Venture Partners, Sofinnova 9/24/2002 7:29:06 AM

13. Cranite Systems Raises $12,000,000 in Third Round [San Jose, CA]
Cranite Systems provides wireless LAN security solutions aimed at the problem of WLAN network vulnerability. Its core product, the WirelessWall Software Suite, consists of a policy server, an access controller, and client software. INVESTORS: JK&B Capital (Lead), BV Capital, Diamondhead Ventures, Industry Ventures, Pacifica Fund, Selby Venture Partners 9/24/2002 7:04:33 AM

14. Magis Networks Raises $5,000,000 in Second Round [San Diego, CA]
Magis Networks is a 802.11a wireless chipset firm developing chipsets that enable wireless communications of TCP/IP data, high-quality video, and audio throughout the home and office.
INVESTORS: Elwin Capital Partners (Lead), AOL Time Warner, Hitachi, Motorola, Panasonic, Sanyo Semiconductor 9/16/2002 12:28:41 PM

15. Bitfone Raises $19,000,000 in Second Round [Laguna Niguel, CA]
Bitfone creates Java-based sofware for global wireless carriers. Its mProve software delivers over-the-air updates of firmware and applications on mobile devices. The technology is compatible with a number of network protocols and operating systems. INVESTORS: St. Paul Venture Capital (Lead), 3i, CIR Ventures, Nexit Ventures, Nokia Venture Partners 9/16/2002 9:44:25 AM

16. Azimuth Networks Raises $5,800,000 in First Round [MA]
Azimuth Networks develops technologies for the wireless data communications market. INVESTORS: Kodiak Venture Partners, North Bridge Venture Partners 9/9/2002 12:18:00 PM

17. Littlefeet Raises $22,000,000 [Poway, CA]
Littlefeet provides cost-effective distributed wireless infrastructure solutions. Its patented SPICE technology is a low-impact, community-friendly coverage solution. INVESTORS: Sevin Rosen Funds (Lead), Bay Partners, ComVentures 9/9/2002 10:27:49 AM

18. iConverse Raises $6,000,000 in Third Round [MA]
iConverse provides a mobile application platform designed to increase the productivity of mobile workers. Its core product, the iConverse Mobility Platform, allows customers to create mobile business applications. INVESTORS: Advanced Technology Ventures, Prism Venture Partners
9/9/2002 7:50:21 AM

19. InPhonic files for IPO
Wireless voice and data solutions provider InPhonic on Friday filed to raise as much as $90 million in an initial public offering of its common stock. The price and amount of shares to be offered were not detailed in the prospectus filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Details are expected in subsequent filings. The firm said it plans to use proceeds from the IPO to pay back $7.5 million in debt, and an unspecified amount to pay dividends on preferred stock, fund new business initiatives and acquisitions, or for other general corporate purposes.

For more information: http://venturereporter.net/

MobileInfo Comments and Advisory: We bring this list to the attention of wireless professionals to emphasize that wireless industry is still a very attractive place to be. A lot to come still.

Note: This news release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and section 21E of Securities Exchange act of 1934 in USA. Similar provisions exist in other countries. There is no assurance that the stipulated plans of vendors will be implemented. MobileInfo does not warrant the authenticity of the information. Readers should take appropriate caution in developing plans utilizing these products, services and technology architectures.  All trademarks used in this summary are the property of their respective owners.