Hot convergence startup receives $15M in VC funding as it preps product

Dan Jones, Mobile Editor

August 1, 2006

1 Min Read
DiVitas Grabs VC Cash

Enterprise-focused fixed/mobile convergence (FMC) startup DiVitas Networks Inc. has grabbed $15 million in its series B round of venture funding and is now hoping to make its first products generally available either before the end of the year or early in 2007, according to CEO Vivek Khuller.

Menlo Ventures led the new round with participation from existing investor Clearstone Venture Partners . The new money takes Divitas's total venture haul to $23 million.

The firm, which is a little over a year old, is something of a hot ticket in the FMC market. (See The DiVitas Code.) The startup is already working with Nokia Corp. (NYSE: NOK), Symbol Technologies Inc. (NYSE: SBL), and Trapeze Networks Inc. on incorporating its technology into PBX- and WLAN-based convergence systems although its own offerings are not commercially available to enterprise users yet.

The company has an appliance that talks to "any" enterprise PBX and handles WiFi roaming and call handovers between cellular and WiFi networks. The concept is that the DiVitas box will allow network managers to manage convergence on the campus rather than ceding control to wireless carriers. (see Convergent Insurgent and Convergent Insurgent and Control Issues.)

This is the key difference between DiVitas's kit and other FMC specifications such as unlicensed mobile access (UMA) technology, Khuller tells Unstrung. "We never see UMA in the field," he says. (See UMA : Next Year's Model?.)

Of course, it's still early days for all FMC technology. Khuller says that DiVitas's technology will be generally available "at the end of this year... or early 2007."

— Dan Jones, Site Editor, Unstrung

About the Author(s)

Dan Jones

Mobile Editor

Dan is to hats what Will.I.Am is to ridiculous eyewear. Fedora, trilby, tam-o-shanter -- all have graced the Jones pate during his career as the go-to purveyor of mobile essentials.

But hey, Dan is so much more than 4G maps and state-of-the-art headgear. Before joining the Light Reading team in 2002 he was an award-winning cult hit on Broadway (with four 'Toni' awards, two 'Emma' gongs and a 'Brian' to his name) with his one-man show, "Dan Sings the Show Tunes."

His perfectly crafted blogs, falling under the "Jonestown" banner, have been compared to the works of Chekhov. But only by Dan.

He lives in Brooklyn with cats.

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