The following list includes venture capital and other investments into wireless companies announced during the past week. The value of the investment is included when available.
Aperto: Quicksilver Ventures led a $20 million equity round of funding into Aperto Networks, which makes WiMAX base stations and subscriber units. Existing investors including Gunn Allen Venture Partners, JK&B Capital, Canaan Partners, Alliance Ventures, Innovacom, JAFCO Ventures and Labrador Ventures also participated.
Fix8: SK Telecom invested $2 million into FIX8, a division of virtual communications technology company Mobinex. SK Telecom also awarded FIX8 a contract to lead development of SKT’s 3D avatar animation technology. The company said its first round funding totals more than $5 million.
iControl: Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers led a $15.5 million Series B funding round into iControl Networks Inc., which provides products for the home security market. The company, based in Palo Alto, Calif., said it plans to use the funding to extend its reach into the security and broadband marketplace. KPCB partner John Doerr joins the company’s board of directors in connection with the financing.
Kleer: TL Ventures and BDC Venture Capital led a $28 million Series B funding round into Cupertino, Calif.-based Kleer, a fabless semiconductor company focused on wireless audio applications. Existing investors USVP and VenGrowth also participated. The company said it will use the financing to scale its initial products to mass-market levels.
Vlingo:Yahoo led a $20 million round of funding into Cambridge, Mass.-based Vlingo, which offers a voice-powered user interface for mobile-phone users. Also participating in the funding round were existing investors Charles River Ventures and Sigma Partners. Vlingo said it will use the new funding for international expansion and to continue research and development. A Yahoo nominee will be appointed to Vlingo’s board as part of the funding.
