AICENT RECEIVES FUNDING FROM INTEL CAPITAL
Aicent aims to play key role in evolution of next generation wireless roaming
SAN JOSE, CALIF. - SEPTEMBER 2, 2008- Aicent, Inc. (www.aicent.com) announced today that it has received funding from Intel Capital, the global investment arm of Intel Corporation. This investment will be used to accelerate Aicent's 3G and 4G global data roaming initiatives including mobile WiMAX, which Juniper Research predicted in December 2007 will surpass 80 million subscribers by 2013.* The investment will help drive WiMAX ecosystem development and service deployment worldwide and help ensure that a global, seamless mobile broadband footprint is achieved.
"The growing popularity of mobile data services combined with newer, faster network technologies has made mobile the primary communications platform for people in every corner of the world," said Lynn Liu, president and CEO of Aicent. "Because we live in a global society, it is imperative for wireless service providers to allow their roaming subscribers to bring their personalized mobile broadband experience with them. The investment from Intel Capital will allow Aicent to expand and accelerate our research and development of new interoperability technologies that support the broad adoption of WiMAX."
"Momentum for WiMAX is strong, with more than 300 fixed and mobile WiMAX trials and commercial deployments in over 100 countries," said Ranjeet Alexis, senior director at Intel Capital. "With Aicent's experience in the wireless market segment, Aicent is poised to play a key role in worldwide adoption of WiMAX."
Serving more than one billion mobile subscribers, Aicent provides data network, messaging and roaming solutions to more than 100 GSM and CDMA mobile operators worldwide. The company built and operates one of the world's first and largest multimedia messaging exchanges, and offers other value-added services to carriers around the world. Aicent's expertise in mobile data services and global IP managed networks, coupled with a singular focus on serving mobile operators, uniquely position Aicent as a leading next generation service enabler.
"Aicent's board of directors sees this investment from Intel Capital as an important step in extending the company's achievements and innovations in mobile data services," said Barry Taylor, managing director of Warburg Pincus and a member of Aicent's board of directors. "We have worked with Intel Capital in past investments and value the resources they provide their portfolio companies through their extensive global network."
About Aicent, Inc.Serving over 100 operators with more than one billion mobile subscribers around the world, Aicent Inc. is a leading provider of data network services and solutions for global mobile operators. Aicent operates one of the world's largest GRX and CRX data roaming exchanges. Through extensive direct and peering arrangements, the Aicent network reaches nearly all mobile operators around the world. Aicent also provides inter-operator MMS and SMS messaging services, including one of world's first and largest MMS exchanges. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in San Jose, California, Aicent has regional offices in the Americas, Asia Pacific and Europe. For more information, please visit: www.aicent.com.
About Intel CapitalIntel Capital, Intel's global investment organization, makes equity investments in innovative technology start-ups and companies worldwide. Intel Capital invests in a broad range of companies offering hardware, software, and services targeting enterprise, home, mobility, health, consumer Internet, semiconductor manufacturing, and cleantech. Since 1991, Intel Capital has invested more than US$7.5 billion in approximately 1,000 companies in 45 countries. In that timeframe, 168 portfolio companies have gone public on various exchanges around the world and 212 were acquired or participated in a merger. In 2007, Intel Capital invested about US$639 million in 166 deals with approximately 37 percent of funds invested outside the United States. For more information on Intel Capital and its differentiated advantages, visit www.intelcapital.com.
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