Cisco buys into remote access firm SoonR

Cisco has made a major investment in SoonR, a company that allows mobile phone users to interact with their PC desktop.

SoonR said that Cisco is the lead investor in a 'Series B' round of funding that totalled $9.5m (£4.8m).

Intel Capital and Clearstone Venture Partners, both of which had participated in the first stage of funding, also contributed to that figure.

SoonR explained that the investment will accelerate the delivery of a comprehensive platform that brings together computer desktops and the mobile world.

"SoonR users can easily access, back-up and share files on their desktop computer from their mobile phone or internet-enabled device even when the computer is turned off," said a SoonR spokesman.

"Documents created in a number of applications, such as Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, appear just as they would on a computer screen, and Outlook calendars and email are easily accessed."

Total investment in the two year-old company now stands at $15.5m.

"Cisco was among the first to recognise that a massive convergence between the desktop and mobile worlds was on the horizon, and that next-generation systems were needed to advance this trend," said Patrick McVeigh, chief executive at SoonR.

"We both believe that crucial business documents will need to be accessible and actionable through a myriad of internet-connected devices."