Femtocells are hot
Developer ip.access has announced it has attracted a strategic investment from Qualcomm’s European Investment Fund, joining Cisco, Intel Capital, ADC, Motorola Ventures, Scottish Equity Partners, Rothschild Gestion and Amadeus Capital Partners.
The object of this high-powered VC attention is the company’s Oyster 3G femtocell system, which uses a residential broadband connection to deliver a 3G signal in the home.
Femtocells are small cellular base stations for broadband-connected residences or SMBs, which offer mobile operators improved indoor coverage and capacity.
Femtocell-based systems work with existing handsets, unlike other Fixed Mobile Convergence solutions that require new, dual-mode handsets.
“Qualcomm brings expertise that complements our own unique understanding of cellular-over-IP,” said ip.access CEO Stephen Mallinson. “We aim to facilitate new and exciting mobile phone-based services that otherwise wouldn’t and couldn’t work indoors.”
