Wireless data and technology companies continue to entice investors, with messaging provider Mobileway, wireless enterprise company Adesso Systems and phone processor vendor Alphamosaic announcing new funds.
Mobileway said it scored a major $23 million in its latest round of funding, bringing its total haul during the past four years to $77 million. The company said it would use the funds to expand into new territories, such as China, as well as increase its market penetration in the United States. Mobileway offers wireless marketing and entertainment products to more than 450 brands and counts 150 direct carrier connections and access to more than 600 carriers. Such carrier connections have become a major focus of wireless messaging companies, as carriers have so far allowed only a few direct connections.
“Following massive industry growth in Europe and Japan, China now represents a vast market opportunity, while the U.S.-which has lagged behind the world for the past few years-is finally waking up,” said Janice Roberts, general partner at lead Mobileway investor Mayfield. “Indeed, IDC forecasts that there will be 31 billion mobile-originated messages in the United States in 2007. The mobile phone is now the third consumer communications platform after the PC and the TV, and it’s increasingly replacing the landline as the primary home voice connection.”
Separately, Adesso Systems said it scored $8 million in funding, with Carlyle Venture Partners leading the round. The company sells a mobile development, deployment and management platform for wireless access to corporate information.
Finally, Alphamosaic said it raised $9 million of working capital from its existing venture capital investors. The company said it is working with a number of mobile-phone manufacturers in the Far East and Europe.
