Penril

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.

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]

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]

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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