Pacifica Fund | Fund Focus | Next Generation Software, Hardware and Services

Next Generation

Core Technology

Next Generation Software, Hardware and Services

Focus: mobile and fixed wireless, broadband and optical hardware and software technologies, management systems and services. Software, hardware and services oriented toward non-PC mobile and specialized devices. We generally do not invest in content ventures.

Rationale: The US origin of the Internet using an infrastructure of PCs and circuit switched networks is somewhat an accident, based on the installed base of PCs, and flat rates for local phone access. Due to progress in optical networking, wireless data, and the advent of small, specialized communications devices, the rest of the world's Internet will not be built this way. The network in the US will also be reconstructed with new technology and services allowed by this new architecture. The core of new networks will be optically switched, carrying streams of IP packets between "edge" switching devices that do the final routing. The final mile to customers' offices, homes and mobile locations will have a greater wireless share. Short-range wireless networks will proliferate inside premises, and even among devices carried by a single user. Diverse, specialized devices will be connecting to the Internet, from cell phones to cars and MP3 players. The next generation will provide novel services and seamless data and software integration across diverse connections and devices.

Example Opportunities

"Always on" services and technology, including personal, wearable devices and software platform technologies to enable seamless services
End user services, such as data migration and translation, or business communications
Wireless hardware and infrastructure, including advanced cellular, short-range, and fixed location broadband
Broadband and optical networks, including new systems connecting and managing the 'new edge' between optical core networks and wired and wireless final mile