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Penril
Defunct modem manufacturer

Penril DataComm Networks, Inc. was a computer telecommunications hardware company that made some acquisitions and was eventually split into two parts: one was acquired by Bay Networks and the other was a newly formed company named Access Beyond. 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,91011 whose earnings reports121314 and other financials1516 were followed by The New York Times in the 1990s, made several acquisitions1718 but also grew internally.19 Following its Datability acquisition20 it renamed itself Penril Datability Networks.21

By the time the 1968-founded2223 Penril was acquired by Bay their name was Penril DataComm Networks.24 The company, which as of 1985 "had made 14 acquisitions in 12 years,"25 also had done extensive work regarding quality control,26 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."27

Datability

Datability Software Systems Inc. was the initial name28 of what by 1991 became 'Datability, Inc.', "a manufacturer of hardware that links computer networks."29 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 10/203031 (targeted at users of Digital Equipment Corporation's DECsystem-10 and DECSYSTEM-20). After trying their hand at time-sharing they built hardware32 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 hardware33 The firm relocated to a larger manufacturing plant in 199134 and was acquired by Penril in 1993.35

Access Beyond

Access Beyond was initially housed by Penril,36 from which it was spun off.37 A securities analyst noted that Access began operations with no debt.38 They subsequently merged with Hayes Corporation.39 Some of the funds brought to the merger came from a sale by Penril of two of its divisions, each bringing about $4 million.4041

Ron Howard

Ron Howard, founder of Datability,4243 became part of Penril when the latter acquired the former,44 and was CEO of Access Beyond when it was spun off by Penril.45 Access merged with Hayes Microcomputer Products46 and was renamed Hayes Corp, at which time47 Howard became executive VP of business development and corporate vice chairman of Hayes.48

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,49 these assembly line workers at Penril comprised about 25%, compared to double in other firms. Placement was overseen by government agencies.50

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.51

Penril was awarded $3.5 million in 1996.52

References

  1. Jerry Knight (November 18, 1996). "Tales Of 2 Tech Firms -- With Very Different Endings". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1996/11/18/tales-of-2-tech-firms-with-very-different-endings/7d121685-7524-4009-ba15-0bb112bd5511 ↩

  2. "Penril Is Spinning Off Its Remote Access Business". The New York Times. November 6, 1996. https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/06/business/penril-is-spinning-off-its-remote-access-business.html ↩

  3. "Penril to Shed Units and Focus Solely on Remote-Access". Wall Street Journal. June 18, 1996. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB835054983465257000 ↩

  4. "Trailing, but gaining". The Los Angeles Times. June 22, 1997. https://www.latimes.com/bs-xpm-1997-06-22-1997173115-story.html ↩

  5. "Who decides ..." The New York Times. January 9, 2018. https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/09/magazine/who-decides-whats-sexy-and-who-pays-for-it.html ↩

  6. "Penril Corp. Acquires Data Products Firm". The Washington Post. July 4, 1985. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1985/07/04/penril-corp-acquires-data-products-firm/3f9266fb-afc6-49a6-9fad-8e678a9680f2/ ↩

  7. "Bay Networks to Buy Some Penril Datacomm Assets". The New York Times. June 18, 1996. https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/18/business/company-news-bay-networks-to-buy-some-penril-datacomm-assets.html ↩

  8. Bob Starzynski (November 11, 1996). "Penril Shareholders to Vote on Changes". BizJournals (Washington). https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/1996/11/11/newscolumn5.html ↩

  9. "Small Stocks Record Losses On Tech-Sector Weakness". Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB835027892917971500 ↩

  10. "Penril Datacomm Networks Inc. (NMS) reports earnings for Qtr". The New York Times. December 8, 1993. https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/08/business/penril-datacomm-networks-inc-nms-reports-earnings-for-qtr-to-oct-31.html?pagewanted=print ↩

  11. "Technology Briefs". Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB839800381144473500 ↩

  12. "Penril Datacomm Networks Inc. (NMS) reports earnings for Qtr". The New York Times. December 11, 1991. https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/11/business/penril-datacomm-networks-reports-earnings-for-qtr-to-oct-31.html ↩

  13. "Penril DataComm Networks Inc. reports earnings". The New York Times. October 5, 1992. https://www.nytimes.com/1992/10/05/business/penril-datacomm-networks-inc-reports-earnings-for-year-july-31.html ↩

  14. "Penril Datacomm Networks Inc. (NMS) reports earnings for Qtr". The New York Times. December 8, 1993. https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/08/business/penril-datacomm-networks-inc-nms-reports-earnings-for-qtr-to-oct-31.html?pagewanted=print ↩

  15. "Open Positions on Short Sales Off 1.5% on Nasdaq". The New York Times. May 25, 1991. https://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/25/business/open-positions-on-short-sales-off-1.5-on-nasdaq.html ↩

  16. "Open Positions on Short Sales Are 5% Higher on Nasdaq". The New York Times. August 25, 1993. https://www.nytimes.com/1993/08/25/business/open-positions-on-short-sales-are-5-higher-on-nasdaq.html ↩

  17. "Company News". The New York Times. May 15, 1992. a subsidiary of Penril .. acquired https://www.nytimes.com/1992/05/15/business/company-news-917592.html ↩

  18. "Penril Datacomm Networks Inc. (NMS) reports earnings for Qtr". The New York Times. December 8, 1993. https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/08/business/penril-datacomm-networks-inc-nms-reports-earnings-for-qtr-to-oct-31.html?pagewanted=print ↩

  19. "Penril Datacomm Networks Inc. (NMS) reports earnings for Qtr". The New York Times. December 11, 1991. https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/11/business/penril-datacomm-networks-reports-earnings-for-qtr-to-oct-31.html ↩

  20. June 1996 Peter Behr (April 29, 1998). "Buyouts Send Tech Firms Packing". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1998/04/29/buyouts-send-tech-firms-packing/00bba348-1362-4ce1-894a-00f2e8aeb3b9 ↩

  21. "Franklin Telecom to Open Sales Office in N.C." The Los Angeles Times. May 27, 1997. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-05-27-fi-62865-story.html ↩

  22. "the POST 200: 57, PENRIL DATACOMM NETWORKS INC". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1991/04/08/the-post-200/fd2275f7-b6e2-476e-9ead-bed0fc6bc06e ↩

  23. "Will Small Stocks Continue To Climb Higher?". The Washington Post. March 4, 1991. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1991/03/04/will-small-stocks-continue-to-climb-higher/0080ef3a-9bcc-4510-a623-e95608bca9dc ↩

  24. "Bay Networks to Buy Some Penril Datacomm Assets". The New York Times. June 18, 1996. https://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/18/business/company-news-bay-networks-to-buy-some-penril-datacomm-assets.html ↩

  25. Stan Hinden (May 6, 1985). "1985: A Year of Challenge". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1985/05/06/1985-a-year-of-challenge/5e90e11c-973a-464d-b519-9a912946bec0 ↩

  26. Sandra Sugawara (December 23, 1991). "Questing for Quality". Wall Street Journal. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1991/12/23/questing-for-quality/9ae7a240-a8eb-4acf-bb38-d76328ac141c ↩

  27. "What the analysts say". The Washington Post. May 15, 1995. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1995/05/15/what-the-analysts-say/4aa73deb-143e-441d-b03a-2ccdcd7a43c7 ↩

  28. "Alice Early Wed In Massachusetts". The New York Times. September 9, 1984. a computer-systems consultant for Datability Software Systems Inc. in New York https://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/09/style/alice-early-wed-in-massachusetts.html ↩

  29. Sarah Bartlett (September 22, 1991). "Neighbors Challenge New York's Tax Reputation". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/22/nyregion/neighbors-challenge-new-york-s-tax-reputation.html ↩

  30. "Datability Control 10/20 installed". Computerworld. April 13, 1981. p. 24. https://books.google.com/books?id=swMFz8ewggoC&pg=PA24 ↩

  31. "Datability Control 10/20 Simplifies Information Management". Computerworld. April 13, 1981. p. 24. https://books.google.com/books?id=swMFz8ewggoC&pg=PA24 ↩

  32. "Mead Data Central evaluating Datability box". Computerworld. March 12, 1990. p. 49. https://books.google.com/books?id=iI9LJwuAG70C&pg=PP49 ↩

  33. Ciorey Sandler (July 10, 1989). "Datability's Howard: Aiming To Get The Message Across". Digital News. p. 86. /wiki/Digital_News ↩

  34. Sarah Bartlett (September 22, 1991). "Neighbors Challenge New York's Tax Reputation". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1991/09/22/nyregion/neighbors-challenge-new-york-s-tax-reputation.html ↩

  35. "Penril Datacomm Networks Inc. (NMS) reports earnings for Qtr". The New York Times. December 8, 1993. https://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/08/business/penril-datacomm-networks-inc-nms-reports-earnings-for-qtr-to-oct-31.html?pagewanted=print ↩

  36. Bob Starzynski (September 23, 1996). "Penril DataComm plans to cut 90 jobs". BizJournals (Washington). https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/1996/09/23/story3.html ↩

  37. "Penril Is Spinning Off Its Remote Access Business". The New York Times. November 6, 1996. https://www.nytimes.com/1996/11/06/business/penril-is-spinning-off-its-remote-access-business.html ↩

  38. Bob Starzynski (September 23, 1996). "Penril DataComm plans to cut 90 jobs". BizJournals (Washington). https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/1996/09/23/story3.html ↩

  39. Evan RamstadStaff (July 30, 1997). "Hayes Micro, Access Beyond Plan to Merge, Get Infusion". Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB870227722274274000 ↩

  40. TechniPower "Penril Sells Division to Raise Money". BizJournals (Washington). July 29, 1996. https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/1996/07/29/newscolumn5.html ↩

  41. Electro-Metrics Bob Starzynski (March 10, 1997). "Access Beyond Completes Changes". BizJournals (Washington). https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/1997/03/10/newscolumn4.html ↩

  42. Ciorey Sandler (July 10, 1989). "Datability's Howard: Aiming To Get The Message Across". Digital News. p. 86. /wiki/Digital_News ↩

  43. founded 1977 "Old idea, new firm for Hayes CEO". BizJournals (Washington). March 1, 1999. https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/1999/03/01/story5.html ↩

  44. Jerry Knight (November 18, 1996). "Tales Of 2 Tech Firms -- With Very Different Endings". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1996/11/18/tales-of-2-tech-firms-with-very-different-endings/7d121685-7524-4009-ba15-0bb112bd5511 ↩

  45. Bob Starzynski (September 23, 1996). "Penril DataComm plans to cut 90 jobs". BizJournals (Washington). https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/1996/09/23/story3.html ↩

  46. Evan RamstadStaff (July 30, 1997). "Hayes Micro, Access Beyond Plan to Merge, Get Infusion". Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB870227722274274000 ↩

  47. "Hayes Microcomputer Products Inc". The New York Times. December 27, 1997. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/12/27/business/company-briefs-805548.html ↩

  48. Evan RamstadStaff (July 30, 1997). "Hayes Micro, Access Beyond Plan to Merge, Get Infusion". Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB870227722274274000 ↩

  49. Stan Hinden (April 9, 1990). "Silencing the Boom". The Washington Post. the DataComm division of Penril .. has subcontractors that manufacture modems in .. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1990/04/09/silencing-the-boom/644c6388-3dbd-4471-a312-0f2d0bd279f6 ↩

  50. Elizabeth Tucker (February 22, 1988). "High-Tech, High Hopes". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1988/02/22/high-tech-high-hopes/af3be7b0-f1b9-4363-a704-0fa3e3f088d3 ↩

  51. Bob Starzynski (October 7, 1996). "Penril Settles Suit". BizJournals (Washington). https://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/1996/10/07/newscolumn5.html ↩

  52. "Digest". The Washington Post. September 27, 1996. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/business/1996/09/27/digest/163b97e3-4c8f-49d9-925c-07e390958707 ↩