Siimpel raises $21.5M for imaging technology for cellphones
Siimpel Corp., an Arcadia, Calif., maker of imaging technology for cellphone cameras, has raised $21.5 million in a fourth round of funding.
SunAmerica Ventures led the round. Other investors include Motorola, Qualcomm and Micron Technology and existing backers Draper Fisher Jurvetson, Scale Venture Partners, Global Catalyst Partners, Portage Venture Partners and Zone Venture Partners.
The company improves imaging for camera technology in cellphones, using MEMS (micro-electro-mechanical systems), optics, electro-optical design, image sensors, packaging and camera electronics.
Obopay adds $29M to warchest, amid competition in mobile payments
Obopay, the Redwood City, Calif. company that lets you send payments to people from a mobile phone, has raised $29 million more in a third round of funding.
The service launched last year, and it’s not clear how much traction it has. The funding announcement was made quietly, after the fact (see wording), quite low-key given the intense competition the company is facing in mobile payments. There are at least eight other players, ranging from… Continue Reading
PixSense raises $2M more for mobile photo transfers without PC
PixSense, a Santa Clara, Calif. company that lets you automatically transfer mobile phone photos to Web sites — without syncing with a PC — has raised $2 million more from Qualcomm Ventures.
We last wrote about the company here, remarking on its surprising target for employee growth: It said last year it wanted to hire 150 by this year, but it has only 60 employees to date — suggesting it has tapered its growth plans.
GoTV Networks raises $12M for TV over mobile phones
GoTV Networks, a Sherman Oaks, Calif. company that delivers TV over the mobile phone, has raised $12 million in a second round of financing from Motorola and Qualcomm.
GoTV failed in its original incarnation, and restarted in late 2004 to focus on mobile TV, with $15 million in a recapitalization round from Bessemer Venture Partners and Charles River Ventures.
It charges customers about $5 a month, and can be had on Boost Mobile, Cingular, Sprint Nextel Corp…. Continue Reading
InvenSense, mobile phone motion sensor co., raises $11M
InvenSense, a Santa Clara company that helps eliminate the blur that occurs in mobile phone photos from normal hand movements, has raised $11 million in a second round of funding.
The company provides motion sensors to mobile phones. These can make location-based services more accurate, and improve the user interface of mobile games, the company says. The money will let the company ramp production of its dual-axis gyroscope, the company said.
QUALCOMM Ventures invested, alongside existing investors… Continue Reading
Airplay gets $14M to merge TV football and mobile games
AirPlay, a San Francisco start-up that is taking live broadcasts of professional football games, and allowing cellphone users to see the broadcasts on their phone and play interactive games at the same time, said it has raised $14 million.
The investment is a second round from a combination of strategic investors and venture funds: Qualcomm, Motorola, and venture funds JK&B Capital, ONSET Ventures and Redpoint Ventures, all participated in the financing. It was led by JK&B…. Continue Reading