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SIPquest Renamed to FirstHand Technologies, Receives $7 Million in Series C Funding
TMCnet Contributing Editor
SIPquest has renamed the company to FirstHand Technologies, and also announced it has secured $7 million in Series C funding. BDC Venture Capital led the funding round, with participation from existing investors Covington Capital and Skypoint Capital.
FirstHand plans to use the Series C funding to accelerate market traction. The company sells its mobile VoIP client and server software through equipment vendors, systems integrators and service providers. It aims to extend enterprise communications services directly onto mobile phones.
The FirstHand Mobile Assistant software application extends the enterprise telephony environment for RIM, Symbian, Series 60 and Microsoft ( News - Alert) Windows Mobile smart phones. Users can screen incoming calls, check the availability of co-workers, sort through the corporate directory, enable instant conferencing, and sort through call logs of calls made to their desktop phone through the software application. It also enables users to signal to the IP PBX to deliver calls to a temporary number such as a home office, hotel or conference room.
The FirstHand Mobile Console is deployed on Microsoft Windows Mobile to deliver personal command and control of communications services over WiFi ( News - Alert), WiFi and GSM and WiFi and CDMA network interfaces. The network-aware, unified GUI and support for single number calling consolidates both WiFi and cellular identities to provide a seamless experience for customers.
”Today, SIP is everywhere in telecom, in enterprise and in the consumer instant messaging services; the quest for SIP has been achieved,” said David Hattey, president and CEO of FirstHand Technologies. “The name 'FirstHand Technologies' best speaks to our innovation and leadership position enabling enterprise communications everywhere."
"We are very impressed with the FirstHand management team and their vision for enterprise mobility," said Roch Charbonneau, director, BDC Venture Capital. "Through its innovative product development FirstHand has the potential to become one of Canada's leading mobile software developers."
"BDC Venture Capital is joining a highly effective venture capital syndicate that includes both Skypoint and Covington," added Hattey. "We have been very fortunate to have such supportive, creative and well-connected venture capitalists investing in our company."
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Laura Stotler writes about IP Communications and related topics for TMCnet. She has covered VoIP and related technologies for seven years, contributing to Internet Telephony magazine and TMCnet, and as a freelance writer. To see more articles, please visit: Laura Stotler’s columnist page.
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