Qualcomm Invests in Picocell Developer

Femtocell and Picocell developer, ip.access has announced that Qualcomm has made a strategic investment in the company as part of Qualcomm¡¯s European investment fund. Terms of the investment were not disclosed.

Qualcomm joins existing investors - Cisco, Intel Capital, ADC, Motorola Ventures, Scottish Equity Partners, Rothschild Gestion and Amadeus Capital Partners - to provide funding support for ip.access¡¯ Oyster 3G femtocell system. The Oyster 3G uses a residential broadband connection to deliver a 3G signal in the home, and is currently being trialled by several networks operators worldwide.

ip.access is also behind the world¡¯s most deployed picocell system, which is used in more than 35 mobile networks around the world.

¡°As one of the world¡¯s leading wireless technology companies, Qualcomm brings expertise that complements our own unique understanding of cellular-over-IP,¡± said Stephen Mallinson, CEO of ip.access. ¡°Their knowledge and industry experience will help us unleash the power of the mobile phone using indoor connectivity,¡± he said. ¡°We aim to facilitate new and exciting mobile phone-based services that otherwise wouldn¡¯t and couldn¡¯t work indoors.¡±

¡°3G femtocells will have a very important role in future mobile network architecture,¡± said Frederic Rombaut, head of Qualcomm Ventures Europe, ¡°ip.access has an innovative approach to the 3G femtocell market that will enable our customers to enhance the delivery of 3G services to mobile users.¡±


Source:cellular-news