Cradlepoint

Cradlepoint is a Boise, Idaho-based technology company that develops cloud-managed wireless edge networking equipment.[3] The company was founded in 2006.[4]

Cradlepoint
TypePrivate
IndustryWireless WAN
Founded2006
HeadquartersBoise, Idaho
Key people
George Mulhern, CEO and Chairman[1]
Number of employees
700 (2020)[2]
ParentEricsson
WebsiteCradlepoint

In September 2020, the company announced it was being acquired by Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson, and the purchase closed in November 2020.[2]

History

Cradlepoint was founded in 2006 in Boise, Idaho, by Pat Sewall, who later brought on co-founders Ryan Adamson and Gary Oliviero.[4] Its first products were 3G and 4G cellular routers that created Wi-Fi hotspots for mobile internet.[5][6] One of its early customers was aerospace defense company NORAD, which used a Cradlepoint cellular router to connect 1,500 volunteers with roughly 140,000 calls per year coming from children trying to speak with Santa Claus.[7]

In December 2015, Cradlepoint acquired Los Gatos, CA-based networking company Pertino.[8]

In August 2016, the company announced the Cradlepoint NetCloud platform, a software-defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) architecture for businesses to manage their wired and wireless networks.[9]

In March 2017, the company received $89 million in funding from new investor Technology Crossover Ventures (TCV).[10]

In January 2018, the company launched its NetCloud Solution subscription model, bundling its hardware and software into annual or multi-year subscriptions.[11]

In January 2020, the company introduced additional analytics capabilities to its NetCloud management platform, to help businesses manage their wireless network charges.[12] In May, the company introduced its E3000 5G compatible edge router.[13] In September, the company announced it was being acquired by Swedish telecommunications company Ericsson, but would continue to operate as Cradlepoint.[3] The purchase closed in November 2020, with the company continuing as a standalone subsidiary within Ericsson’s Business Area Technologies and New Businesses segment.[2]

Products

Cradlepoint develops routers, gateways and software for wireless WAN edge networking, using 4G and 5G wireless signals to connect businesses and other mobile users such as remote front-line emergency workers. The company uses a subscription model that combines its cloud-delivered software as SaaS, with hardware, support and training.[5][11]

The company's E3000 5G-compatible edge router allows satellite offices or small businesses to use a gigabit LTE cellular signal to create a Wi-Fi network using the latest IEEE 802.11ax standard, commonly known as Wi-Fi 6.[13] Modular 5G modems can be customized for compatibility with individual carriers' 5G networks.[13]

The company's NetCloud platform manages the company's 4G LTE-enabled routers and M2M/IoT gateways. The platform also combines cloud, software-defined networking (SDN) and Network Function Virtualization (NFV) technologies, known as Network as a service.[9]

Operations

The company is headquartered in Boise, Idaho, operates a research and development center in Silicon Valley, and has international offices in the UK and Australia.[5] In September 2020, the company announced it had over 20,000 customers, 1,500 channel partners, and over 1 million SaaS subscriptions.[3] The company has 700 employees as of November 2020.[2]

References
  1. "Ericsson to acquire Cradlepoint for $1.1bn". Capacity Media. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  2. "Ericsson closes $1B Cradlepoint purchase with eye on enterprise". Fierce Wireless. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  3. "Ericsson picks up Cradlepoint for enterprise value of $1.1 billion". ZDnet. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  4. "A Idaho tech company just sold for $1 billion, creating several 'newly minted millionaires'". MVMagicValley.com. 21 September 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  5. "Ericsson acquires Cradlepoint to accelerate enterprise 5G". Computer Weekly. 18 September 2020. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  6. "Cradlepoint Gets Backing From Highway 12 Ventures". Tech Rockies. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  7. "Boise-based company helps NORAD track Santa". KCENTV. 14 December 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  8. "Cradlepoint Buys Pertino for Cloud Networking". Light Reading. 15 December 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  9. "The Cradlepoint NetCloud platform enables Network-as-a-Service". Network World. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  10. "Cloud services firm Cradlepoint raises $89 million funding from TCV". VentureBeat. 9 March 2017. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  11. "Cradlepoint Moves its LTE-focused SD-WAN to Subscription Model". SDXCentral. 17 January 2018. Retrieved 7 January 2021.
  12. "Cradlepoint NetCloud update avoids unnecessary data usage". TechTarget. 18 May 2018. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  13. "Cradlepoint's 5G-ready edge router lets branch offices ditch wired broadband". VentureBeat. 15 May 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
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