Monday, November 10, 2008

HP-Colubris venture spawns new wireless access point

By Mass High Tech Staff

Ninety days after announcing the acquisition of Waltham-based wireless equipment maker Colubris Inc., Hewlett Packard Co. has completed the integration of the company and announced the first products to come from the union.

Although the financial details have yet to be disclosed, HP bought Colubris in August in an effort to expand its wireless and wireline networking group ProCurve, which is being managed under HP’s Technology and Solutions Group. Today’s launch of the MSM410 wireless access point marks the first product launch to come out of the acquisition and HP’s first foray into 802.11n, the next-generation wi-fi standard.

According to executives, the new product will allow HP to penetrate wireless networks, such as in hotels, hospitals, university campuses and office buildings, that are built on gear by other vendors. No longer will customers need to embrace a complete HP network but can add the new access points to networks built using other equipment.

The new product will be available beginning in January and is expected to retail for approximately $650.

HP’s integration of Colubris came quickly, shifting all 80 Colubris employees to the parent company’s local facilities in Marlborough, including executives such as former Colubris CEO Rob Scott, who will take the role of vice president of worldwide sales for ProCurve, and former vice president of Marketing Tom Racca, who will become ProCurve’s chief mobility solutions strategist.

Founded in 2000 by CTO Pierre Trudeau, Colubris raised more than $50 million in private funding, including a $14 million round in late 2006. Investors include Newton-based GrandBanks Capital, Needham-based Prism VentureWorks, Pennsylvania-based Mid-Atlantic Venture Funds, Canada-based BDC Venture Capital and California-based DCM.