“Wireless venture capital is about to hit an all-time high,” says latest visiongain report. Released by: visiongain Web Site: http://www.visiongainintelligence.com/ Wireless investments are increasing and will continue in 2006 says new report. Email: sara.peerun@visiongain.com Keywords: wireless technology,wireless investments,telecoms,venture capital investment,wireless,networking, Update Date: 3/1/2006 6:21:46 AM Hits: 311 Descrption:  During 2005, 152 wireless-related companies received a 24% increase in funding. Wireless accounted for 7% of total VC investment last year, a figure that will rise in 2006. The bulk of telecom investment today - around 60% - is in wireless and related technology, including networking, infrastructure, semiconductors, mobile computing, content and services. "This is a great time to be a wireless start-up in search of venture funding," says analyst Lynne Gregg. "The focus of private equity investors is on the rapidly growing, global wireless market. Longer term, we expect the movement towards financing wireless start-ups outside the US to grow, as major companies are earmarking funds for start-ups in Asian countries.” Gregg, who has formerly held Director-level positions at AT&T Wireless and T-Mobile concludes: "Historically, venture capital investment has shown strong support for technology-oriented businesses, particularly companies and industries that develop and rely upon information technologies. The rationale is simple: these are growth industries.” Venture-backed M&As in the telecom/wireless remained strong in 2005 and all indicators point to continued strength in this area in 2006, particularly with IPOs as stock markets rebound. This is particularly relevant because of the dearth of IPOs in the technology sector over the past five years. Risks still remain. During 2005, there were only three venture-backed IPOs in the US telecoms sector. The stock of each of these firms has declined since their IPOs, which does not provide a great deal of confidence to investors in telecom IPOs. This visiongain report analyses the VC landscape in the telecoms industry, with a particular focus on the wireless sector. The report comprehensively details technologies and the companies behind them from a VC standpoint, and profiles the VC firms most active in the wireless telecoms space. ENDS Notes for Editors If you are interested in a more detailed overview of this report, please e-mail sara.peerun@visiongain.com, phone Sara on 020 8767 6711 or see http://www.visiongainintelligence.com/reportDetail.aspx?reportId=1275&adSelection=Y&industryIdL1=1003 About visiongain Visiongain is one of the fastest growing and most innovative independent media companies in Europe. Based in London, UK, visiongain produces a host of business-2-business conferences, newsletters, management reports and e-zines focusing on the Telecoms, Pharmaceutical and Defence sectors. Visiongain publishes reports produced by its in-house analysts, who are qualified experts in their field. Visiongain has firmly established itself as the first port-of-call for the business professional, who needs independent, high quality, original material to rely and depend on. For more information on visiongain, please visit the website: www.visiongainintelligence.com Contact infomation: 40, Tooting High St, London SW17 0RG Tel +44 (0)20 8767 6711 Fax +44 (0)20 8767 5001