08.03.05

Edge Technologies

Posted in Technology Ventures at 8:03 pm by Ray Wu

With the proliferation of P2P, wireless and RFID technology, there is a growing technology trend that moves from centralized model to distributed edge model. This is not surprising. Looking back in history, we have experienced evolution from central model (mainframe) to distributed technology (client/server) and then back to centralized model again with web server. With distributed SOA architecture, higher computing power on devices and ubiquitous connection, there seems to be a natural trend back leveraging distributed edge to enhance communication, lower computing cost and support better performance for transient network.

There are a few interesting companies emerging from this:

• Skype: P2P VoIP
  ** VCs: DFJ, Index ventures, Bessemer Venture Partners, Mangrove Capital Partners
• Mercora: P2P radio
  ** VCs: Norwest
• Sociallight: mobile social network
• Wavemarket: location based blogging and alerts
  ** VCs: DFJ, Nokia/Bluerun, Intel, Telecom Italia
• Cognima: mobile services to upload pictures from cell phone to online service

Permalink