Convergent Technologies (Unisys)
| 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. Among the founders were CEO Allen Michels, VP Engineering Bob Garrow, head of marketing Kal Hubler, and operating system architect Ben Wegbreit. The company was purchased by Unisys in 1988.
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[update] 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. Shortly after, Convergent purchased 40% of Baron Data Systems for $14.6 million.
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, after which Convergent Technologies became Unisys' Network Systems Division.
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). The clustered networking technology can be viewed as a precursor of Apple Computer's AppleTalk network.
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