Xircom Agrees to Buy Omnipoint

Xircom Inc., which makes circuitry that connects laptop computers to networks and cell phones, agreed to buy Omnipoint Technologies Inc. from VoiceStream Wireless Corp. for $52.2 million. Thousand Oaks-based Xircom will give VoiceStream 1.2 million shares in exchange for full ownership of Omnipoint. The purchase, valued on Xircom’s closing price Monday, is expected to close within three weeks. Omnipoint makes circuit cards for communications uses that are installed in computers. The company will allow Xircom to offer more wireless data services. The news was released after the close of regular trading. On Nasdaq, Xircom shares rose $2.50 to $46; Bellevue, Wash.-based VoiceStream surged $8 to $125.75.