Nokia Siemens Networks (NSN), a telecoms equipment supplier, has invested £4m ($6.3m) in OpenCloud, a UK-based supplier of application server software.
A further £1m came from OpenCloud’s existing venture capital investors: UK-based Advent Venture Partners and New Zealand’s No 8 Ventures. The two VCs, along with mobile phone maker Motorola’s corporate venturing unit and US lender Silicon Valley Bank, had provided $10m in debt and equity to OpenCloud in July 2008.
In addition to the latest investment, OpenCloud has agreed its Rhino Telecom Application Server and Service Interaction Server will be used in NSN’s charge@once product.
For the past two years, OpenCloud and NSN have been working together and have 13 joint customers, including BT, Vodafone, and T Mobile.
Jeff Gordon, chief executive of OpenCloud, said: "Receiving an investment from NSN is a strong endorsement of OpenCloud’s products and strategy. This move elevates our relationship with NSN to that of a truly strategic partner."
Rick Centeno, head of charging, billing and care at NSN, said: "This investment will allow NSN to address the converged charging and service delivery platform opportunities in the market."