Google invests in femtocell pioneer Ubiquisys

Ubiquisys Ltd, a UK-based femtocell technology and access point pioneer, has secured $25 million in a round B funding that included Google and existing backers, bringing the total venture capital raised to date to $37 million.

The company raised $12 million in a first round fundraising in September 2006.

The latest round follows on from Ubiquisys' recent deal with Netgear for the development of integrated femtocell home gateway, and ABI Research finding Ubiquisys the number one femtocell vendor in a survey of the top 10 players in the sector, based on product innovation and implementation.

The news is also a positive for picoChip, which supplies the processors at the heart of the ZoneGate femtocell developed by Ubiquisys and being trialed by several mobile operators across Europe and by Softbank in Japan.

The ZoneGate uses picoChip's PC202 processor and modem technology, with UbiquiSys developing much of the software for the device.

The femtocell cracks the challenge of cost-effective 3G rollout by using advanced femtocell technology to provide low-cost indoor coverage for consumers using existing GSM/UMTS handsets. The system comprises an access point installed in a user's home and a management system integrated with the mobile operator's core network.

Previous backers include Advent Venture Partners, Accel Partners and Atlas Ventures. The privately held company also raised seed funding when it was founded in 2004.

Senior executives at Ubiquisys were instrumental in the recent founding of the Femto Forum to support and promote the uptake of femtocell technologies worldwide.

- John Walko
EE Times Europe