Intel Invests Inside Digital Home

Intel announced earlier this year that it planned to promote the “digital home,” technologies that allow data to move freely between different devices in the same location. Last week the Santa Clara, Calif.-based chipmaker revealed partial details about it investments in four such digital home technology companies via Intel Capital’s Intel Digital Home Fund.

Intel said it invested in Digital 5, which provides software for connecting consumer electronic devices. The Lawrenceville, N.J.-based company closed on $8.4 million in funding led by Blue Chip Venture Co.

3i, Philips Venture Capital Fund BV and SpaceVest also invested in the company. Digital 5 says it will use the funding for further technology development, sales and marketing efforts, and for basic operations.

Also taking in cash from Intel’s digital home housewarming efforts was Staccato Communications, a San Diego-based developer of ultrawideband wireless products and services that raised a $20 million Series B round of funding.

InterWest Partners was also a new investor in the company and was joined by previous investors Allegis Capital, Bay Partners and Charles River Ventures. The company announced that it would use the funds to help launch its all-CMOS ultrawideband products for wireless USB 1.0.

The Intel Digital Home Fund led the Series B round of funding in Trymedia Systems, a San Francisco-based secure distribution technology and services company. Individual investors also funded the round, the size of which was undisclosed.

The Intel fund also invested in Wisair’s $15.7 million Series B round. Apax Partners led the round, which included Bynet Ventures, NTT Leasing, RAD Ventures, Tamar Ventures, Vertex and individual investors. The Tel Aviv, Israel-based company provides ultrawideband chipsets and services.

Intel announced the $200 million Digital Home Fund in early January. In late December the venture group took part in New York-based Game Trust’s $5.5 million Series A round. Game Trust provides software to manage multi-player games online. The fund also makes new investments in wireless transmission technologies, 802.11, ultrawideband technology, software to manage home networks and transcribe digital files from one format to another, as well as hardware, operating systems and services.