Entropic Communications (NASDAQ: ENTR), which develops home networking semiconductors, tried to price its IPO at $9 to $11. But investors thought the valuation was too rich. So, the deal came out at $6 per share. In all, the company raised $41.3 million.

No doubt, Entropic is in a hot space -- helping deliver video and music to homes (through cable set-top boxes). According to a study from iSuppli, the global market for home networking silicon is forecast to grow from $1.1 billion in 2007 to $3.1 billion by 2011.

Entropic has 55 customers, which includes biggies like Motorola (NYSE: MOT) and Jabil Circuit. The company also has key strategic investors, such as Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO).

And, for the first nine months of this year, revenues spiked from $24.9 million to $82.4 million.

The lead underwriters include Credit Suisse (NYSE: CS) and Lehman Brothers (NYSE: LEH). You can find the prospectus at the SEC website. Also, for other recent IPO information, visit DealProfiles.com.

Tom Taulli is the author of various books, including The Complete M&A Handbook and The Edgar Online Guide to Decoding Financial Statements.

With the purchase of consumer Internet router and switch manufacturer Linksys in 2003, Cisco Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ:CSCO) appeared to want to break into the consumer marketplace by offering a line of modern household Internet products. Not sure what overlying competitive strategy propelled the company, but so it was. Linksys routers, such as the popular WRT54G, are now emblazoned by the Cisco name and logo, although the design is still Linksys'.

Is Cisco wanting to become a household name like Motorola, Microsoft or Pepsi? Most likely -- but Cisco products aren't kept in the pocket (Motorola), in the pantry (Pepsi) or in front of you when working hours at the computer (Microsoft). That is, unless you have your Linksys router with the tiny Cisco label directly in front of you while typing up that Microsoft Word document.

What goal does Cisco have to be entrenched among the consumer populace? If it potentially spends hundreds of millions of dollars to brand itself for the consumer space -- like it is purported to be doing -- what will the payback be beyond having a brand that consumers know better? After all, most Cisco products are sold to IT departments and are tucked away in server closets, yes?

What does Cisco have to gain with becoming more well-known to the average joe? If you own Cisco stock, do you approve? Cisco sells more Internet-traffic equipment that anyone in the world, so perhaps Cisco is making this push just for overall branding purposes and to see if it can raise CSCO stock to where it may deserve to belong, price-wise.