Intel Invests In Two Wi-Fi Providers

The funding follows another undisclosed amount Intel, IBM and AT&T invested in a joint wireless venture the trio launched this month called Cometa.

Cometa aims to roll out a nationwide Wi-Fi network and sell exclusively through the channel, said Lawrence Brilliant, CEO of Cometa, in a recent interview with CRN.

"We will not disclose the investment other than to say you can look at the partners and be assured we have sufficient capital," Brilliant said. "For some of these entities, it's the first investment they've made in something like this, and they just don't want to disclose."

TeleSym plans to use the money to expand its sales and marketing efforts and speed up the development cycles of its voice-communications software; while STSN expects to use the funds to expand its hot spot footprint, the companies said in statements.

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STSN has hot spots at more than 400 hotels in the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany.

Intel formed the Intel Communications Fund in 1999 to invest in Intel voice and data communications and wireless networking initiatives.

More recently, Intel put aside $150 million of this fund to invest in Wi-Fi initiatives.

Intel expects to introduce its Banias processor for mobile devices during the first half of 2003, said a company spokeswoman. Banias is a low-power processor designed specifically for mobile devices that includes integrated 802.11a and 802.11b wireless capabilities.