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garydpdx
Thanks, Dylan! So Intel is practicing (has been practicing, arguably a pioneer ...
Nvidia
Mr.Iniewski,Even I was thinking along the same line. The companies together ...
Intel invests $26 million in six startups
Dylan McGrath
2/14/2011 11:46 AM EST
SAN FRANCISCO—Intel Capital, the venture capital arm of the world's largest chip maker, announced Monday (Feb. 14) $26 million worth of deals to fund six startups related to the mobile hardware space.
The recipients of Intel's latest investments include open source mobile software solutions company Borqs Beijing Ltd., location-based mapping platform and tools provider CloudMade Inc.; image sensor vendor InVisage Technologies Inc.; open source online video platform Kaltura, online authentication provider SecureKey Technologies Inc. and unified communications and collaboration service software provider VisionOSS Solutions Ltd., Intel (Santa Clara, Calif. said.).
Intel did not disclose how much funding it provided to each firm.
Intel said each of the six companies it funded have developed innovative technologies to enhance the user experience across a continuum of devices, including handhelds, tablets and laptops, that run a variety of operating systems including MeeGo and Android.
"As more devices compute and connect to the Internet, it creates an opportunity to deliver new end-user capabilities by supporting the development of mobile infrastructure, applications, services and components for Intel architecture-based platforms," said Arvind Sodhani, president of Intel Capital, in a statement. "These six investments represent key growth areas of the mobile ecosystem and will contribute to bringing important features to the next generation of mobile devices."
Anand Chandrasekher, senior vice president and general manager of the Intel's Ultra Mobile Group, said Intel is working with each of the six firms to help advance the company's mobile platform initiatives. "The investments, coupled with Intel’s expanding set of capabilities in silicon, software and communications, will help the company accelerate plans across a variety of smart devices and market segments," Chandrasekher said.
The recipients of Intel's latest investments include open source mobile software solutions company Borqs Beijing Ltd., location-based mapping platform and tools provider CloudMade Inc.; image sensor vendor InVisage Technologies Inc.; open source online video platform Kaltura, online authentication provider SecureKey Technologies Inc. and unified communications and collaboration service software provider VisionOSS Solutions Ltd., Intel (Santa Clara, Calif. said.).
Intel did not disclose how much funding it provided to each firm.
Intel said each of the six companies it funded have developed innovative technologies to enhance the user experience across a continuum of devices, including handhelds, tablets and laptops, that run a variety of operating systems including MeeGo and Android.
"As more devices compute and connect to the Internet, it creates an opportunity to deliver new end-user capabilities by supporting the development of mobile infrastructure, applications, services and components for Intel architecture-based platforms," said Arvind Sodhani, president of Intel Capital, in a statement. "These six investments represent key growth areas of the mobile ecosystem and will contribute to bringing important features to the next generation of mobile devices."
Anand Chandrasekher, senior vice president and general manager of the Intel's Ultra Mobile Group, said Intel is working with each of the six firms to help advance the company's mobile platform initiatives. "The investments, coupled with Intel’s expanding set of capabilities in silicon, software and communications, will help the company accelerate plans across a variety of smart devices and market segments," Chandrasekher said.
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iniewski
2/14/2011 4:04 PM EST
Dylan,would you care to comment how these investments relate to Intel's microprocessors business? dr Kris
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dylan.mcgrath
2/14/2011 6:48 PM EST
I'm not aware of any specific ties between any of these companies and Intel microprocessors. I think this is another example of Intel investing in technologies that it believes will in the long run increase demand for consumer electronics and thus create a bigger potential market for Intel chips. But I don't know of any reason why the products from all of these companies might not ultimately end up in products powered by ARM-based processors (some of them may already have). The investments here seem to me to be across a relatively wide swath of technologies, and in my opinion it's kind of a stretch to lump them all in the category of supporting mobile hardware. But obviously Intel wanted the tie in with Mobile World Congress and wanted also to deliver the message that Intel is committed to mobile and putting its money where its mouth is.
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garydpdx
2/15/2011 9:28 AM EST
Thanks, Dylan! So Intel is practicing (has been practicing, arguably a pioneer going way back, e.g., WiMax before it went in-house) what some other large firms have started to do ... strategic investment.
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iniewski
2/14/2011 6:59 PM EST
thank you Dylan...I guess the investment is made by Intel capital not Intel per se so making money on the investment might be a key consideration...plus if you invest in a start-up you presumably have something to say whether it uses Intel or ARM chips ;-)...Kris
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Nvidia
2/14/2011 8:39 PM EST
Mr.Iniewski,Even I was thinking along the same line. The companies together encompass different domains which may be brought together in mobile platforms. Putting up an Intel inside logo in products using these technologies would really help in improving Intel's visibility .
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