http://www.crn.in/NetworksNov02-07EuropeanVCFundsBackCriticalLinksforWorldwideExpansion.aspx

European VC Funds Back Critical Links for Worldwide Expansion

 CRN Network, Nov. 2 2007, 1200 hrs

Critical Links, a Portugal-based provider of a converged multi-function business gateway targeted at SMBs and enterprise branch offices, has raised $5.7 million in Series A funding to accelerate sales and marketing activities of its edgeBOX “Office in a Box” solution. worldwide.

Backers include European venture capital funds such as InovCapital, Change Partners and ASK/ISQ Capital, a press release said.
 
The company is expanding its direct presence in the US market and increasing its investment in sales and marketing in Europe and in key emerging markets such as India, China, Brazil and South Africa, the release said.

Since its spin-off from high-growth European software engineering services company Critical Software in early 2006, Critical Links transformed with edgeBOX, a converged multi-function device or business gateway targeted at SMEs and branch offices, through resellers, distributors, telecom service providers and managed services providers. The company recently secured key partnerships with manufacturers and service providers in the US, Europe, Asia, and Africa.
 
"edgeBOX is currently the most comprehensive, cost-effective multi-function device or "Office-in-a-Box" that consolidates Voice, Data, and IT at a price point accessible to the booming SME market" said J. Carreira, Critical Links CEO. "The rapid customer and partner network growth demands a more aggressive expansion strategy. The new funds will enable us to expand faster in our target markets and extend our offerings and services to new markets"
 
Said Luis Filipe Costa, CEO of InovCapital, on behalf of the investors, "In the global economy SME's need to take advantage of the latest ICT trends, this is a huge market that is often overlooked by systems integrators, service providers and is now successfully being addressed by the edgeBOX solution".

edgeBOX is distributed through channel partners (VARs, Systems Integrators, Service providers and OEMs) worldwide in the UK, Spain, Brazil, Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Portugal, Singapore, South Africa and Thailand among others.