Kineto Wireless
Based: Milpitas, CA
Founded: 2001
www.kinetowireless.com
Why It's Fierce: Kineto Wireless is the
second of three companies in the 2005 FierceWireless
Fierce 15 targeting the convergence of cellular,
WiFi, and VoIP. Kineto's approach, though, is
different than the others. This company is
spearheading an industry-wide technology movement
called Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA). UMA promises
to allows users to seamlessly roam from GSM/GPRS
networks to WiFi and even Bluetooth networks in
areas where cellular reception is not strong or
non-existent. Kineto is working with handset vendors
to get UMA technology on dual-mode cellular/WiFi
handsets. The company hopes to sell its roaming
solution to mobile and fixed-location carriers and
service providers. Granted, Kineto has a hard sell
ahead of it. In order to achieve success, the
company will need to get UMA technology on both
handsets and carriers. Kineto has a number of strong
partners, including chip maker Philips, and has
plenty of cash in hand to make a strong play.
What To Look For: Look for Kineto to sign
partnerships with at least one more major chip maker
and a top handset vendor.
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