Dashwire Becomes Intellectual Ventures Customer and Gains Patents for Defensive Purposes

SEATTLE and BELLEVUE, Wash., April 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Dashwire, Inc. and Intellectual Ventures (IV®) announced today that Dashwire has become a customer of IV and has acquired patents to use for defensive purposes. Dashwire is the maker of the Dashworks platform, which offers mobile and web applications that enable consumers to easily setup and personalize their smartphones and tablets, and connect mobile device content across multiple screens and services.

"Dashwire operates in the emerging market of managed cloud services with exciting products aimed at simplifying consumers' mobile device experiences," said Ford Davidson, founder and CEO of Dashwire. "In an industry where some companies choose to compete in the courtroom instead of the market, working with Intellectual Ventures enabled us to gain a strategic IP partner with years of industry experience. Intellectual Ventures has helped us establish a foundation of patent coverage so we can continue to focus on innovation and creating products that our customers love."

"Similar to the established market players – including customers that Intellectual Ventures has recently announced – emerging technology companies like Dashwire realize they need effective IP strategies in order to stay competitive within the surging mobile market," said Joe Chernesky, VP and general manager, global licensing sales at Intellectual Ventures. "We work with customers of all sizes to help them gain access to our patent portfolio, including allowing them to acquire patents that they can use in counter-assertion to defend their business from aggressors."

Intellectual Ventures engages with companies of all sizes, from small companies like Dashwire to the industry heavyweights, to meet their current business needs and provide strategic guidance on forward-thinking intellectual property. IV has a portfolio of more than 30,000 IP assets, and combines scale and expertise to structure sophisticated deals designed to help companies strengthen their market position by reducing their current risk and providing access to the invention rights they need to stay competitive.

About Dashwire, Inc.

Dashwire, Inc. was founded in 2006 to help users around the world to get the most out of their mobile device experiences by seamlessly integrating the device and world it captures with the web. Dashwire offers the industry-leading mobile web connected services platform for mobile operators, device makers, and retailers to seamlessly deliver the next generation of consumer services on open mobile platforms. Dashwire powers the award-winning m:IQ service on behalf of Best Buy Mobile. Dashwire is a privately held company headquartered in Seattle, Washington, USA. The company is backed by investors who built the wireless and technology industries at McCaw Cellular, Western Wireless, Voicestream, Nextel, China Unicom, and Microsoft. Best Buy is a strategic investor in Dashwire. Additional information can be found online at http://www.dashwire.com.

About Intellectual Ventures

Founded in 2000, Intellectual Ventures (IV) is the global leader in the business of invention. IV collaborates with leading inventors, partners with pioneering companies, and invests both expertise and capital in the process of invention. IV's mission is to energize and streamline an invention economy that will drive innovation around the world. www.intellectualventures.com

Intellectual Ventures is a registered trademark of Intellectual Ventures Management, LLC (IV). Other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective owners.

SOURCE Intellectual Ventures