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Penril
Defunct modem manufacturer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Penril DataComm Networks, Inc.[1][2][3][4] was a computer telecommunications hardware company[5] that made some acquisitions[6] and was eventually split into two parts: one was acquired by Bay Networks[7] and the other was a newly formed company named Access Beyond.[8] The focus of both company's products was end-to-end data transfer. By the mid-1990s, with the popularization of the internet, this was no longer of wide interest.
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History
Penril,[9][10][11] whose earnings reports[12][13][10] and other financials[14][15] were followed by The New York Times in the 1990s, made several acquisitions[16][10] but also grew internally.[12] Following its Datability acquisition[17] it renamed itself Penril Datability Networks.[18]
By the time the 1968-founded[19][20] Penril was acquired by Bay their name was Penril DataComm Networks.[7] The company, which as of 1985 "had made 14 acquisitions in 12 years,"[21] also had done extensive work regarding quality control,[22] and leveraged their product line by what The Washington Post called clever packaging: "software, cables, instructions and telephone support" sold to those less technically skilled as "Network in a Box."[23]
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Datability
Datability Software Systems Inc. was the initial name[24] of what by 1991 became 'Datability, Inc.', "a manufacturer of hardware that links computer networks."[25] The 1977-founded firm began as a software consulting company, especially in the area of databases. To speed up project development they built a program generator, which they marketed as Control 10/20[26][27] (targeted at users of Digital Equipment Corporation's DECsystem-10 and DECSYSTEM-20). After trying their hand at time-sharing they built hardware[28] to enhance bridging these computers to DEC's VAX product line. In particular they focused on Digital's LAT protocol, selling "boxes" that reimplemented the protocol, at a lower price than DEC's. They later expanded into other areas of telecommunications hardware[29] The firm relocated to a larger manufacturing plant in 1991[25] and was acquired by Penril in 1993.[10]
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Access Beyond
Access Beyond was initially housed by Penril,[30] from which it was spun off.[2] A securities analyst noted that Access began operations with no debt.[30] They subsequently merged with Hayes Corporation.[31] Some of the funds brought to the merger came from a sale by Penril of two of its divisions, each bringing about $4 million.[32][33]
Ron Howard
Ron Howard, founder of Datability,[29][34] became part of Penril when the latter acquired the former,[1] and was CEO of Access Beyond when it was spun off by Penril.[30] Access merged with Hayes Microcomputer Products[31] and was renamed Hayes Corp, at which time[35] Howard became executive VP of business development and corporate vice chairman of Hayes.[31]
People
In the matter of hiring immigrants, in an industry where recent arrivals came from a culture of six day work weeks, and subcontracting was then common,[36] these assembly line workers at Penril comprised about 25%, compared to double in other firms. Placement was overseen by government agencies.[37]
Controversy
Penril had a joint development agreement, beginning in 1990, with a Standard Microsystems Corporation (SMSC) subsidiary. A dispute arose, and the matter was brought to court.[38]
Penril was awarded $3.5 million in 1996.[39]
References
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