To help with temporary high-speed communications, Mushroom Networks today announced PortaBella, a device which aggregates multiple wireless network connections.

The hardware can bind 5 cellular data cards with USB connections, regardless of what brand, service, or type of cards are used, by taking advantage of regular IP networking techniques to split and reassemble data.  It costs $1,595 and is available now.

Traffic analysis software is included for free.  Options include a virtual leased line module and premium support.

Modem teaming is not a new idea.  Such technology was available in the past for slow dial-up modems as a way to increase speed before always-on connections became popular and affordable.  However, with modern wireless connections, binding systems sometimes require back-end hardware – Mushroom’s version does not, Akin said.

Future versions of the device will be designed for vertical markets and for new wireless technologies such as LTE and WiMAX, Mushroom’s co-founder and CEO H. Cahit Akin said.  The company is also looking to partner with resellers and carriers, he added.

Mushroom Networks formed in 2004 and obtained funding in a seed round and a Round A.  The amounts and investors are not disclosed.