Google buys into home mobile device start-up

Ubiquisys Ltd, of Swindon, UK, which is commercialising 3G femtocell access points for the residential market, raised $25 million in a second round funding. The company’s existing investors Accel Partners, Atlas Venture and Advent Venture Partners, were joined in the round by Google.

The Ubiquisys ZoneGate femtocell provides mobile users with high quality mobile coverage in the home using their usual 3G cell phones. The device plugs into an existing home broadband gateway or is built into a gateway product that includes WiFi, DSL, Ethernet, phone ports and USB.

“Our mission is to empower mobile carriers to bring compelling service packages into homes using our ZoneGate solution,” said Chris Gilbert, CEO Ubiquisys. “We’re delighted by the confidence our investors have shown in our technology and its ability to deliver innovative applications via ZoneGate’s unique services platform.”

Poor indoor coverage often prevents mobile customers using cell phone services at home and is impeding take-up of multimedia 3G offerings. Ubiquisys was formed in 2004 to solve this problem by commericalising ZoneGate femtocell technology. The ZoneGate femtocell is a small ‘zero-touch’ plug-and-play device that plugs into a home broadband connection and provides high-quality 3G coverage in the home.

Unlike WiFi, ZoneGate allows people to use their usual 3G cell phones to access services. ZoneGate provides mobile coverage at landline rates and allows mobile carriers to deliver new services into customer’s homes

Ubiquisys was the first vendor to demonstrate a fully working femtocell solution at 3GSM World Congress 2006, and a year later unveiled the world's first commercial grade femtocell system.

Ubiquisys founded the Femto Forum to support and promote the uptake of femtocell technologies worldwide. It is an independent, not-for-profit membership organisation whose membership includes many leading operators and vendors.