Convergent Technologies

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.

Convergent Technologies
IndustryComputer hardware
FatePurchased by Unisys in 1988
Founded1979
FoundersAllen Michels
Bob Garrow
Kal Hubler
Ben Wegbreit
ProductsMulti-processor computer
Work stations
Personal computers

History

In 1982, Convergent formed the Data Systems Division to focus on a multi-processor computer known as the MegaFrame, "the first system upgradable from super-minicomputer to mainframe". The MegaFrame ran a UNIX System III-derived operating system called CTIX on up to eight Motorola 68010 processors. 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 was in charge of Software; Richard Lowenthal was 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] Then purchased the remainder of Baron in May 1987, for $33 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,[6] after which Convergent Technologies became Unisys' Network Systems Division.

Products

IWS

Convergent's first product was the IWS (Integrated WorkStation) based on a 5 MHz Intel 8086 microprocessor, with optional Intel 8087 math coprocessor. The WS-110 integrated the processor, memory I/O, and video display control boards along with two Multibus slots into a unique "lectern" situated next to the monitor and integrated into a common base. The WS-120 placed these boards along with five Multibus slots in a floor-standing enclosure. Floor-standing mass storage units would also be integrated into a system. NCR sold the IWS as the WorkSaver 100.

AWS

The next product was a cost-reduced desktop version called the AWS (Application WorkStation) utilizing an Intel 8275 CRT controller instead of the custom video board used in the IWS. The IWS and AWS were compatible and ran in an RS-422 clustered environment under a proprietary operating system known as Convergent Technologies Operating System (CTOS).[7] The AWS was sold by Burroughs as the B20 (models B21 and B22), by Prime Computer as the Prime Producer 100 (a word processing workstation), and by NCR as the WorkSaver 200.

NGEN
A Burroughs B25 computer running BTOS

The AWS was replaced by the modular 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 as the Prime Producer 200. NCR sold the NGEN as the WorkSaver 300.[8] The NGEN was also sold with an MS-DOS 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 MS-DOS.

Later models - the NGEN Series 286, 386, and 386i - kept pace with Intel CPU development through the Intel 80386. (A successor to the NGEN called the SuperGen and based on the Intel 80486 was introduced in 1993 by Unisys, approximately 5 years after it had acquired Convergent Technologies.)

UNIX PC

Convergent developed the first Motorola 68010 OEM UNIX product for AT&T, the AT&T UNIX PC, and integrated a number features (Stream-based I/O, Multinational Language Support) to the Intel AT&T UNIX base (SVR3.2). Convergent also offered this machine directly as the S/50.

MiniFrame, MightyFrame, MegaFrame

Convergent used the Motorola 68010 in their MiniFrame, and Motorola 68020 and 68040 in their VME-based MightyFrame systems (S/80, S/120, S/221, S/222, S/320, S/640), all running CTIX.[9]

The MegaFrame (S/1280) consisted of up to eight 10 MHz Motorola 68010-based "Application Processor"s running CTIX talking to 8 MHz Intel 80186-based I/O processor boards each running their own scaled-down versions of CTOS: File Processor ("fpCTOS"), Cluster Processor ("cpCTOS"), Terminal Processor ("tpCTOS"), and SMD/Storage Processor ("spCTOS"). Each processor had its own RAM: 256 KB to 768 KB for the 80186's, and 512 KB to 4 MB for the 68010's. Up to 36 boards could be installed in a system: six in the base enclosure, with another six per expansion enclosure (five expansion enclosures maximum).[10]

Motorola resold the MiniFrame (as the 6300) and MegaFrame (as the 6600) under the Four-Phase Systems Series 6000.[11] Motorola/Four-Phase pioneered development of international character support for Unix platforms for their EMEA business using the CTOS/CTIX equipment.

WorkSlate

In 1983/84 the WorkSlate, an early tablet-style personal computer system, was designed and marketed by Convergent. Its primary user interface was a spreadsheet. The WorkSlate utilized a mini-cassette for voice- and data-recording and for loading a range of pre-packaged add-on applications called TaskWare to handle jobs 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.[12]

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. "NCR introduces line of desktop workstations". ComputerWorld. August 27, 1984.
  9. Shea, Tom (28 May 1984). "Convergent Shipping Miniframe". InfoWorld. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  10. http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/convergent/68K/megaframe/B-02-00129-00_MegaFame_Product_Overview_Jan85.pdf
  11. "Four-Phase Series 2000, 4000, 5000, and 6000" (PDF). Datapro Research Corporation. February 1985.
  12. 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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