Networking giant Cisco is investing an undisclosed amount in ip.access - the Cambridge company which makes femtocells and picocells.

Stephen Mallison, CEO of ip.access, welcomed the investment and said Cisco's IP skills and experience would complement ip's business.

The cells provide better mobile access inside buildings - providing mobile phone access on underground train lines for instance. Femtocells are designed to provide improved access to 3G networks from home - sales are predicted to hit 10m by 2010.

Ipaccess is backed by Amadeus Capital Partners, Intel Capital and Scottish Equity Partners among others.

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