[PC modem pioneer now Hayes Corp]
Pat--Re: Sprint and ALA. A fly on the wall of ALA would reveal quite abit. For having such huge feet they step so nimbly. Alas. sg
By GLENN MULCASTER
HAYES Microcomputer, the Atlanta company that pioneered the personal computer modem in the 1980s, has merged with another US communications company, Access Beyond.
It follows a series of partnerships in the data-networking field last year, including the merger of 3Com and US Robotics and Ascend's acquisition of Cascade.
Despite spectacular growth in modem sales in the past five years, fuelled by the explosion of bulletin boards and the migration of hobbyists and PC users to affordable commercial Internet access worldwide, privately owned Hayes faltered in the PC communications market because it could not fund enough component inventory to build its modems.
A cash-flow crisis in late 1994 almost sent it to the wall.
It survived 18 months of bankruptcy protection, despite a failed merger attempt with another southern US modem company Boca Research and the late withdrawal of Canada's Northern Telecom in a financial rescue package.
A syndicate of investors from Hong Kong and Singapore, which were already contracted as Hayes manufacturers, saved the company last year.
Access Beyond is a divisional spin-off of Penril DataComm, which sold its modem business last year to Bay Networks. The combined company, with market capitalisation of about $US250 million, will be known as Hayes Corp.
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