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Wednesday, January 09, 2008

Cisco Leads $9.5 Million Series B Round in Mobile Platform Innovator SoonR

image SoonR yesterday announced that it has closed a strategic $9.5 million Series B investment led by Cisco, intended to help the company expand its mobile platform and advance its new partner-driven distribution strategy. Previous investors Intel Capital and Clearstone Venture Partners also participated in the round. Total investment in the two-year old company now stands at $15.5 million.

SoonR’s platform brings the computer desktop and mobile worlds together as never before. Through SoonR, users can easily access, back up and share files on their desktop computer while on the go, right from their mobile phone or Internet-enabled device -- and even when the computer is turned off. 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. Data on the user’s computer is continuously backed up, allowing it to easily be restored should the computer be lost or stolen.

SoonR’s platform is designed to provide mobile professionals with integrated and comprehensive mobile services that are so useful and intuitive that they become part of the daily work lives of users. SoonR’s partner-driven distribution strategy offers major carriers worldwide a branded, customizable and premium service with a compelling revenue model.

“Cisco was among the first to recognize that a massive convergence between the desktop and mobile worlds was on the horizon, and that next-generation solutions were needed to advance this trend,” said Patrick McVeigh, SoonR’s chief executive officer.  “We both believe that crucial business documents will need to be accessible and actionable from the ‘cloud’, or the layer of network intelligence, through a myriad of Internet-connected devices. Their vision matches ours and their focused and straight-forward decision making process allows them to move quickly in helping young companies succeed. We could not ask for a better strategic partner.”

In the last six months, SoonR has announced partnerships with TeliaSonera, a major telecommunications operator in Denmark, as well as a joint development and marketing partnership with Texas and London-based QuickOffice to provide next-generation mobile services. SoonR has forged partnerships with additional international carriers and is in pilot trials with others. The company has expanded the management team, bringing former investor, board member and telecommunications industry veteran Patrick McVeigh to the helm of the company as chief executive officer. SoonR also recently announced the appointment of Jonathan Wood, a well-respected international telecommunications executive, as senior vice president of worldwide sales and operations based in London.  

About SoonR

SoonR is a global innovator dedicated to making computer files available and useful to people anytime, through any mobile phone or Internet connected device. The SoonR service continuously and securely backs up computer files and allows users to easily search for, view, forward and share documents from wherever they are, and on whatever connected device they prefer. The company provides carriers and other partners with a branded, premium service and a compelling revenue model. The service works across worldwide carrier networks and major handset operating systems. Founded in 2005 by veterans in Internet technologies, telecommunications, wireless and mobility, the company is based in Silicon Valley and Denmark.

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