Root Wireless pinpoints funding |
Follow the ups and downs of a new Seattle startup in a series of behind-the-scenes posts by its founders.
Root Wireless pinpoints funding
Root Wireless, a Bellevue startup making online maps that show how the four major wireless networks perform in major cities, has raised more than $3 million in new funding, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Root Wireless spokesman Mike Brennan confirmed the new funding but declined to specify the amount, saying it would be announced Monday. He described it as an oversubscribed Series B round.
The company makes color-coded online maps that show how AT&T, Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile and Verizon networks perform down to the granular street level. It's meant to give consumers a way to compare the strength and reliability of network plans where they live and work. That could be useful information, at a time of competing claims about wireless coverage and high-profile outages.
Root Wireless, which came out of stealth mode last month, has been testing the service in New York, Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Chicago, Washington D.C., Dallas and Orange County.
My colleague John Cook profiled Root Wireless last month when the startup came out of stealth mode and announced a media partnership with CNET. The company aims to "crowdsource" network testing with a free application that runs in the background on GPS-enabled smartphones, collecting network data.
Root Wireless said last month it was planning to release a public beta app for Windows Mobile, RIM and Android phones, and was working on an iPhone app as well.
The startup was founded by former Bsquare executive Paul Griff. It raised $1 million earlier this year from angel investors including former T-Mobile exec John Stanton, former McCaw Cellular exec Scott Anderson and former Telephia CEO Jack Roberts.
About John Cook
John Cook is co-founder and executive editor of TechFlash. He has been covering the technology beat for nearly a decade, writing about startups, entrepreneurs and venture capital, most recently serving as a reporter/blogger at the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.
READ FULL BIOGRAPHYRecent Sponsor Posts
Seattle Repertory Theatre presents Glengarry Glen Ross Feb 5th to Feb 28th
One of the largest and most renowned regional theatres in the country, Seattle Repertory Theatre produces a mix of celebrated classics, recent Broadway hits and cutting-edge new works in two theatre spaces. Now playing David Mamet's American classic Glengarry Glen Ross through February 28. Join us for Sales Rep Industry night February 11 with the Puget Sound Business Journal. For details click here.
Join the Microsoft WebsiteSpark program and get software, support and visibility – at no upfront cost. You’ll benefit from fast and easy access to current Microsoft development tools, platform technology and server products including Visual Studio, Expression Studio, Silverlight, Windows Web Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 Web.
Seattle-based Adhost is a WebsiteSpark hosting partner providing dedicated servers with free Windows Web Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008 licensing for three years to Web developers enrolled in WebsiteSpark. Servers are located in our secure data center with SAS 70 Type II certification, 24x7 technical support and 24x7 client access.
WTIA 15th Annual Industry Achievement Awards
Held on March 4th at the Showbox SODO, this casual event celebrates and recognizes some of the best emerging and established companies in the Washington Tech Industry. The evening will feature a finalist company technology showcase and a variety of coffee, chocolate, and wine samples from local companies. More than 800 attendees are expected to be present at the celebration. Public online voting for Technology Leader of Tomorrow Scholarships will open February 3rd on the WTIA site.
We congratulate the 2010 finalists and look forward to unveiling the winners on March 4th. REGISTER NOW!
From the trenches
Job Listings
- Registered Health Information Technician (Forms & Records Analyst 2)
- State of Washington Department of Corrections
- Principal SDE - Project Natal - Gameplay Engineering - 711621
- Microsoft Corporation
- Senior Web Analyst - 705536
- Microsoft Corporation
- Telecommunications Consultant (I)
- Sparling Electrical & Technology Consulting
- Senior SDET - 706910
- Microsoft Corporation
