FTP Software
Industry | Software |
---|---|
Founded | 1986Cambridge, Massachusetts | in
Founders |
|
Defunct | 1998 |
Fate | Acquired by NetManage Inc. |
Products | See § Products |
FTP Software, Inc.,
They were acquired by competitor NetManage in 1998.[4]
Origins
The core open-source software was developed at MIT starting in 1982 as the PC/IP project, a project to make PCs into first-class citizens on TCP/IP networks. This project began as a Telnet implemented by Louis J. Konopelski
FTP Software was the first of many companies to name themselves after an
Fate
Initially PC/TCP's protocol stacks and network interface drivers were linked into individual application executables, as with PC/IP. By 1990, all PC/TCP applications shared a TSR kernel, which itself (initially) used built-in network interface drivers. By 1991, John Romkey's TSR PC/TCP Packet Driver specification had largely replaced the built-in drivers.[citation needed]
The company had a good run, with a valuation of over $1 billion at one point, but suffered greatly from both internal and external pressures. It had grown rapidly and repeatedly moved physically farther away from its roots at MIT. The founders, though technically adept, were inexperienced as managers. They suffered from in-fighting, epitomized in a public divorce between two of the founders.
The company went public in 1994, and maintained profitable growth through 1995, as a dominant supplier of TCP stacks for x86-based machines. They spent two to three million dollars per year on advertising.[8] When Microsoft included a TCP stack at no extra cost in Windows 95 (as has become standard with all operating systems), FTP lost a significant revenue source. Due to management (which by that time was mostly non-founders) failing to adequately prepare for the transition into supplying network-using applications, FTP was not able meet Wall Street's expectations and its stock price declined sharply.[citation needed]
In May 1996, FTP Software announced it was providing Microsoft with various technology for Internet Explorer 2.0 for Windows 3.1, including a PPP network, 16-bit email client, and other technology.[9]
In 1998, FTP Software was bought out by former rival NetManage.[4] The deal was controversial, with some shareholders claiming it was not in their interest since the sale price was less than the amount in FTP's bank account.[10]
Comparison with other products
An extensive history of TCP on personal computers was published in 1998 by Steven Baker for Unix Review.[11]
Products
- InterDrive
- OnNet
- LanWatch
- PC/BIND
- PC/TCP
- SNMP Tools
- WinSNMP
See also
- PC/TCP Packet Driver
- Crynwr Software
References
- ^ "FTP Software Is Set To Eliminate 300 Jobs". The New York Times. July 19, 1997.
- ^ "Company News; FTP Software Cuts Price For Firefox Communications". The New York Times. May 23, 1996.
- ^ "Editorial. Championing Usenet". Amateur Computerist. 8 (1). Winter–Spring 1998.
- ^ a b "Acquisition To Broaden NetManage's Software Lines". The New York Times. June 16, 1998.
- ^ Louis J. Konopelski, "Implementing Internet Remote Login on a Personal Computer", bachelor's thesis, MIT, December 1982. Also available as MIT-LCS-TM-233
- ^ Donald W. Gillies, "Improved network security with a trusted email relay", bachelor's thesis, MIT, June 1984
- ^ Donald W. Gillies, personal communication to John Romkey, 1993
- ^ Dana Canedy (April 3, 1997). "Accounts". The New York Times.
- ^ "FTP Software to provide key technology for Microsoft's Internet Explorer Version 2.0 for Windows 3.1" Business Wire, May 1, 1996
- ^ "FTP Alumni". Archived from the original on May 31, 2001. Retrieved May 19, 2006.
- ^ Baker, Steven. "Desktop TCP/IP at middle age, UNIX Review, February 1998". Archived from the original on October 10, 2004.