Convergent Technologies

Convergent Technologies
Industry Computer hardware
Fate Purchased by Unisys in 1988
Founded 1979
Founders Allen Michels
Bob Garrow
Kal Hubler
Ben Wegbreit
Products Multi-processor computer
Work stations
Personal computers

Convergent Technologies was an American computer company formed by a small group of people who left Intel Corporation and Xerox PARC in 1979.[1] Among the founders were CEO Allen Michels, VP Engineering Bob Garrow, head of marketing Kal Hubler, and operating system architect Ben Wegbreit.[2][3] The company was purchased by Unisys in 1988.

History

In 1982, Convergent formed a new division to focus on a multi-processor computer known as the MegaFrame. The MegaFrame ran a UNIX System III-derived operating system called CTIX on multiple Motorola 68010 processors. Three other I/O processor boards could also be placed in the system: the file processor, the cluster processor, and the terminal processor. All I/O processor boards were based on the Intel 80186 and ran a scaled-down version of CTOS. The MegaFrame division was headed by Ben Wegbreit; Steve Blank, in charge of division marketing, went on to found several Silicon Valley startups, including E.piphany, and as of 2012 lectures on technology startups at Stanford University and elsewhere; Jon Huie in charge of Software; Richard Lowenthal in charge of Hardware.

Michels and three other executives of the company left in 1985 to form The Dana Group.[4] Shortly after, Convergent purchased 40% of Baron Data Systems for $14.6 million.[5]

Convergent reached an agreement to acquire 3Com in March 1986, but the merger was called off at the last moment. Unisys bought Convergent Technologies in 1988,[6] after which Convergent Technologies became Unisys' Network Systems Division.

Products

A Burroughs B25 computer running CTOS

Convergent Technologies' first product was the Integrated WorkStation (IWS) tower based on the Intel 8086 microprocessor chip. The next product was a cost-reduced desktop version, called the Advanced WorkStation (AWS). Both of these workstations ran in an RS-422 clustered environment under a proprietary operating system known as Convergent Technologies Operating System (CTOS).[7]

Convergent later used the Motorola 68010 in their MiniFrame, and later Motorola 68020 and 68040 processors in their VME-based MightyFrame systems, all also running CTIX.[8]

The AWS (Advanced WorkStation), based on the Intel 8086, was eventually replaced by the NGEN (New or Next Generation) workstation, based on the Intel 80186 microprocessor. To Burroughs users the NGEN was known as the "B25" and to Prime Computer users it was known as the "Prime Producer 100" (a word-processing workstation) and also as the "Prime Producer 200".

The NGEN model was also sold with an MSDOS version running on top of CTOS. It was sold by McDonnell Douglas Computer Systems Company (previously known as Microdata Corporation) who included a copy of their Pick-based Reality Database system which ran on MSDOS.

Later models kept pace with Intel CPU development through at least the Intel 80386 era. A successor to the NGEN called the SuperGen and based on the Intel 80486 was finally introduced in 1993 by Unisys, approximately 5 years after it had acquired Convergent Technologies. Convergent also developed the first Motorola 68010 OEM UNIX product for AT&T, the AT&T 7300, and integrated a number features (Stream-based I/O, Multinational Language Support) to the Intel AT&T UNIX base (SVR3.2).

Convergent Technologies systems were also resold by Motorola under the Motorola/4-Phase brand. Motorola/4-Phase pioneered development of international character support for Unix platforms for their EMEA business using the CTOS/CTIX equipment.

A very early tablet-style personal computer system - the WorkSlate - was designed and marketed by Convergent Technologies. Its primary user interface was a spreadsheet. The tablet utilized a mini-cassette for voice- and data-recording and for loading a range of pre-packaged "Add-on" applications to handle tasks such as the management of personal expenses, calendars, etc. (At that time there was no facility to download such "apps" over the Internet, so they were available only on the mini-cassettes).[9]

References

  1. ↑ Peddie, Jon (2013). The History of Visual Magic in Computers: How Beautiful Images are Made in CAD, 3D, VR and AR. Springer Science & Business Media. ISBN 9781447149323. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  2. ↑ Lammers, Susan M. (1986). Programmers at work, Volume 1. Microsoft Press. ISBN 9780914845713. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  3. ↑ Mini-micro Systems, Volume 13. Cahners Publishing Company. 1980. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  4. ↑ McEnaney, Maura (20 October 1986). "Michels sees evolving niche for personal supercomputer". Computer Industry. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  5. ↑ McEnaney, Maura (18 November 1985). "Convergent invests in Baron". Computer World. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  6. ↑ Pollack, Andrew (11 August 1988). "Company News - Unisys Says It Will Buy Convergent". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
  7. ↑ Petrosky, Mary (20 July 1987). "CTI strivers for diversity". Network World. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  8. ↑ Shea, Tom (28 May 1984). "Convergent Shipping Miniframe". InfoWorld. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  9. ↑ Stern, Marc (16 April 1984). "Review:WorkSlate". InfoWorld. Retrieved 13 November 2017.


This article is based on material taken from the Free On-line Dictionary of Computing prior to 1 November 2008 and incorporated under the "relicensing" terms of the GFDL, version 1.3 or later.

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