The IT sphere is developing more and more with each coming year. New companies and start-ups related to information technologies are emerging too. However, information technology started to develop much earlier than the 21st century. After all, some companies manufactured computers and worked on software at the end of the last century. In this article, we will tell you about Visionware, a British software company founded in Leeds. Learn more about the company’s history at leeds-future.com.
History of creation
Visionware originated from Systime Computers, which operated in Leeds in the 1970s and 1980s. The latter became the second-largest British computer manufacturer at the time. The founder of the company was John Gow. He started computer programming after graduating from the University of Leeds. Gow realised that most customers didn’t fully understand the potential of computers. That is why John and his friends founded the company. Systime Computers Ltd was established in the canteen of an abandoned Leeds mill in 1973. The newly formed company aimed not only to create hardware and software but also to provide systems engineering and support. In two years, the profit of Systime Computers amounted to £300,000 and it began to open offices and subsidiaries abroad.
A few years later, the company had grown to 1,200 employees and a turnover of £60 million. The success of the company was determined by its quality orientation. Systime Computers produced and sold high-quality equipment. However, over time, the success turned into a decline and lawsuits. A part of the company was acquired by Control Data Corporation in 1983. It was the beginning of the end.
In 1989, the company was divided into four separate ones. Former employees purchased one of them and created Visionware.
Visionware independence
Visionware focused on Windows-Unix connectivity products. This trend came to the newly created company from its predecessor. By the way, the founders of Visionware were former employees of Systime Computers, Tony Denson and Chris Holmes. At first, Visionware had 20 workers and its initial annual revenue was $300,000. The company started its activities in Leeds.
It should be noted that it specialised in software running on Windows. Accordingly, it made Unix easier to use. The company had several products, such as PC-Connect, XVision, SQL-Retriever, etc.
Visionware discontinuance
Visionware began to develop actively. As of 1992, the company worked in the European market. However, in the same year, the management decided to enter the US market. In 1993, its income amounted to about $6 million. A year later, it doubled and the number of employees was raised to 130. By the way, most of the employees lived in Leeds.
In December 1994, it became known that Visionware was acquired by the Santa Cruz Operation (SCO) for $14.75 million. The Visionware brand existed until 1995. It was followed by the merger of the companies and the creation of IXI Visionware, Ltd. Subsequently, it became SCO’s Client Integration Division.
This was the story of the Visionware company, which was created on the basis of System Computers and later transformed into a completely different project. We hope that our article was informative and that you learned more about Leeds.
Which other famous Leeds-based IT companies do you know? We look forward to your comments. Your opinion is important to us.
