Kodiak Networks
San Ramon, CA Why It’s Fierce: We included two push-to-talk companies on our list
this year because the wireless industry is aggressively pushing P2T. If
Nextel’s model can be scaled across the industry, P2T will help drive
wireless ARPU for carriers around the world. Kodiak Networks is our second
P2T start-up. Unlike fastmobile, which is targeting its solution at device
makers, Kodiak’s solution is designed for both GSM and CDMA carriers.
Kodiak earlier this year announced that it is rolling out its P2T network
solution, Talk Now, on Orange’s European network starting in the second
quarter. Shortly after the Orange deal, Kodiak announced that it will
provide P2T services for U.S. carrier ALLTEL. In addition to these two
carrier contracts, Kodiak also claims partnerships with handset maker
Kyocera Wireless as well as mobile OS developers Symbian and palmOne. The
company has raised over $10.5 million from Kleiner Perkins Caufield &
Byers and Redpoint Ventures. As more carriers launch P2T, we predict
Kodiak Networks will be behind many of these deployments. What to look for in 2004: Look for Kodiak to announce at least one more major carrier deal as well as partnership with a handset maker. |
