Intel acquires wireless chip maker Mobilian

SAN FRANCISCO: Intel Corp., the world's largest semiconductor maker, has acquired privately held Mobilian Corp., which develops wireless chips for use in cell phones and other devices, an Intel spokesman said.

The terms of the deal, which closed a week ago, were not disclosed, said Dan Francisco, a spokesman at Santa Clara, California-based Intel.

Mobilian's chips combine short-range Bluetooth and 802.11b so-called WiFi technology.

"This is a critical area of focus for us -- communications," Francisco said.

Intel is investing heavily in wireless technologies that support its products, particularly its Centrino line of wireless chips for laptops, which were released earlier this year.

Mobilian, which employs about 70, had raised $70 million in funding since it was founded in early 1999.

Reuters