Staccato Awarded $18 Million For Commercialization Of Single-Chip CMOS Wireless USB Solutions

Las Vegas, NV -- Staccato Communications announced $18 million in Series C funding. The investment, which came from existing, long-term investors, was co-led by Intel Capital's Digital Home Fund and Vision Capital, with full participation from existing investors Allegis Capital, Bay Partners, Charles River Ventures and Interwest Partners.

"The coming era of UWB and Wireless USB promises greater ease of use and simplicity for connecting PC platforms, traditional PC peripherals, mobile communications platforms and consumer electronic devices, such as digital camera and personal media players," said Scott Darling, vice president of Intel Capital. "We look forward to our continued involvement with Staccato to bring Wireless USB to market in 2006."

Dominique Pitteloud of Vision Capital, also a co-lead in the investment, said, "Every now and then forces align and a company earns an early advantage in an emerging space of great promise. Staccato owns these advantages in UWB and we are pleased to have co-led this investment round with Intel Capital."

"With today's announcement of our Ripcord family of Certified Wireless USB solutions, Staccato is well positioned to take a significant share of the emerging UWB market. This investment allows us to further strengthen Staccato's existing business as we begin commercialization, while expanding our presence to support the deployment of commercial Certified Wireless USB products worldwide," said Rick Kornfeld, president and CEO of Staccato Communications. He further added, "Intel's support for our efforts has been invaluable, and with recent positive developments on UWB regulatory and standards matters in Europe, Vision's extensive network there has given Staccato unique access to customer and partner prospect throughout the region."

Demonstrations of Staccato's Ripcord Wireless USB products will begin today at CES Unveiled (Venetian Bellini Ballroom, Sands Expo and Convention Center, Table 25), and at the WiMedia TechZone (LV Convention Center Hall 1, Booth 7923) and Pure Wireless (Flamingo Hotel, Twilight Room) from January 5-8, 2006.

SOURCE: Staccato Communications