Startup to link web to mobile data networks

A new networking company that boasts a pedigree of investors such as Cisco Systems, Nortel Networks, Redback Networks, Shasta Networks, Nokia and Ericsson, will focus on the networking infrastructure between emerging mobile data networks and the internet.

Tahoe Networks follows in the footsteps of Jupiter Networks, whose investors include 3Com, Ericsson and Alcatel, which set out to dethrone router giant Cisco Systems.

Tahoe is developing a new category of networking infrastructure and operations systems for the Mobile Internet Edge, the point in mobile data networks where subscribers are aggregated into data networks, and where web protocols and services must be adapted to mobile network requirements.

"Today there are more than 800 million mobile subscribers in the world, many times more than the number of internet users," said Anthony Alles, chief executive at Tahoe.

"Looking beyond the hype of mobile data to assess its reality, we see a path for migrating those mobile users from a voice oriented, circuit-switched network to a packet-switched data network, and to enable new applications that will leverage the power of mobility," he added.

He explained that the missing link is the data networking infrastructure that will tie all of these elements together.

The company said it will target service operators with its technology and will support mobile data networks that include GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications), CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and public wireless Lans (local area networks) in Europe, Asia/Pacific and the Americas.

Tahoe is also developing a turnkey infrastructure system that it said will integrate with third-party products and provide value-added network services.

In addition, the company will work to provide capabilities to link mobile users to corporate networks and applications.