OTTAWA, Canada-Wireless startup Spotwave Wireless Inc. is trying to lessen some of the annoyances faced by cell-phone users with a technology that will allow cellular service providers to offer “always on” wireless service in buildings and vehicles.
Paul Simpson, David Bongfeldt and Shane Young developed Spotwave on the premise they would provide simple solutions to common wireless flaws, an idea conceived after Simpson was frustrated that a cell phone he won wouldn’t work in his own house. “Subscribers expect their phones to work everywhere,” said Young.
The products will offer a “plug and play” solution, and require no engineering or specialized testing equipment. “We wanted to make this product as easy and fool proof as possible, yet pack it with all the intelligence of having an engineer in the box,” Young explained. “In fact, we’re convinced that anybody could install the product with no special training using ordinary tools.”
Spotwave’s approach seems to be catching the eye of the industry. It recently closed a $1.95 million series A round of financing, bringing its total investment to about $2.6 million. Venture Coaches and Primaxis Technology Ventures of Toronto led the round. Spotwave hopes to gain an additional $6.5-$9.75 million in second round financing by fall 2001. “In our view, Spotwave is a clear gem in a noisy, somewhat cluttered, industry,” said Claude Haw, managing partner of Venture Coaches. All they needed was the financing to make their wireless vision a reality.”
Spotwave also said several U.S. and Canadian carriers have agreed to test its beta product this summer. The company, which debuted as DPS Wireless in May 2000 and recently changed its name to better reflect its vision, plans to ship its first in a line of products by fall 2001.
