VCom acquires WaveRider, MIMO IP

Broadband wireless access vendor VCom has announced that it has agreed to acquire WaveRider Communications and other subsidiaries of Wave Wireless Corp. in a cash deal worth about $1 million. The acquisition will bring VCom new products and sales channels, as well as intellectual property related to increasingly significant multiple input-multiple output technology. Under the terms of the agreement, VCom, based in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, has purchased WaveRider Communications operations in the U.S. and Canada; Canadian ISP Jetstream Internet Services; and Avendo Wireless from their parent, WaveRider Communications Inc., which itself is a subsidiary of Wave Wireless Corp. Avendo possesses MIMO intellectual property, the companies said.

Prior to this agreement, VCom most recently had been working with three other vendors--CableMatrix, AudioCodes and Emergent Solutions, on voice-over-WiMAX solutions, which were demonstrated at last month's Globalcomm 2006 trade show in Chicago. MIMO is a key part of the ongoing WiMAX technology evolution.

VCom said it expects the collective revenue of the acquired companies to contribute about $5 million CAD to its fiscal 2007 sales. Subsequent to the deal, VCom also will manufacture 900 Mhz equipment to be marketed by Wave Wireless. The companies also intend to sell each others wireless product portfolios, according to a statement. VCom has gear in the 700 MHz, 1.9 GHz, 2.5 GHz, 3.5 GHz and 5.8 GHz bands as well as its WiMAX product line, all of which will be marketed by Wave Wireless to its established customer base.