Award Software

Award Software International Inc. was a BIOS manufacturer founded in 1983,[1] by Rene Vishney and Bob Stillman in San Jose, California. In 1984 the company moved its international headquarters to Los Gatos, California, United States.[2][3]

Award Software International Inc.
TypePublic
IndustryComputer hardware & software
FateMerged with Phoenix Technologies
Founded1983 (San Jose, California)
FoundersRene Vishney
Bob Stillman
Defunct28 September 1998
HeadquartersLos Gatos, California
ProductsBIOS software
Semiconductors
Data management tools
Websitehttp://www.award-bios.com
Award BIOS during booting
Award BIOS setup utility on a standard PC

History

In 1988, Bob Stillmen left the company. The company was privately held by Rene Vishney (Chairman of the Board) and his wife Deborah Lee (Marlow) Vishney (Chief Executive Officer).

In 1994, it was sold to Taiwan company GCH Systems Ltd. (now defunct).

On 24 October 1996, Award Software International Inc. announced its initial public offering.[4]

On 16 June 1997, Award Software International Inc. announced the acquisition of BIOS upgrades provider Unicore Software, Inc.[5] making it a subsidiary of Award.[6]

On 16 April 1998, Phoenix Technologies Ltd. and Award Software International Inc. announced the completion of a definitive merger agreement, where Phoenix Technologies Ltd. would become the surviving corporate entity following the merger completion on 30 June 1998.[7] The merger was completed on 28 September 1998.[8]

After merger

After the Phoenix–Award merger, later revisions of Award BIOS still attribute copyright to Award Software Inc instead of Phoenix Technologies Ltd., including the UEFI firmware.

Subsidiaries
  • Award Software Europe
  • Award Software Hong Kong, Ltd
  • Award Software Japan, KK: Established in 1997-06-03.[9]
  • Award Software International, Inc.
  • Unicore Software, Inc.

Products
Award BIOS in an Atmel AT29C010A flash memory
  • AwardBIOS: It is a BIOS developed by Award Software, and later Phoenix Technologies.
  • CardWare: It is a PC Card software product.[10]
  • EliteBIOS: It is the system management software product that Award Software designs, develops and markets to the manufacturers of desktop, server, mobile and embedded systems.[11]
  • PC DIAG: Diagnostic software
  • CheckIt POSTcard: Power On Self Test system diagnostic board[12]
    • ISA POSTcard: ISA Diagnostic hardware
    • PCI POSTcard: PCI Diagnostic hardware
  • Preboot Manager
  • SMSAccess: System management software suite[13]
    • DMIAccess: Desktop Management Interface utilities
    • LMAccess: Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 95-based hardware status monitoring and alarm application[14]
    • MPCAccess
    • RPBAccess: Remote, preboot diagnostic and repair software[15]
  • USBAccess: It is a USB-host software targeted for consumer electronics and embedded device manufacturers.[16][17]
  • WWWAccess: Product suite for Internet appliance applications using Intel x86 embedded design.[18]

See also

References
  1. "Key Dates". award.com. Archived from the original on 1997-05-21. Retrieved 2014-04-17.
  2. "Award Software at a Glance." Award Software. February 16, 1998. Retrieved on May 6, 2009.
  3. "How to Contact Award Software." Award Software. February 16, 1998. Retrieved on May 6, 2009.
  4. Award Software International Announces IPO
  5. Award Software Acquires Leading BIOS Upgrade Provider Unicore Software
  6. "Time running out for PCs at big companies." CNN. June 30, 1998. Retrieved on May 6, 2009.
  7. Phoenix Technologies Ltd. and Award Software Agree to Merge
  8. Phoenix Completes Award Merger and Sand Acquisition
  9. AWARD SOFTWARE ESTABLISHES A JAPANESE SUBSIDIARY
  10. Award Software International® Inc. Introduces CardWare® 5.0 for Microsoft Window NT 4.0
  11. AWARD SOFTWARE EliteBIOS SUPPORTS INTEL-COMPATIBLE CENTAUR IDT-C6™ MICROPROCESSOR
  12. "Unicore Software, Inc CheckIt POSTcard POSTcard mini and PCI POSTcard Power On Self Test (POST) System Diagnostic Board Version 2.0 User's Manual" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2010-12-26. Retrieved 2012-02-03.
  13. Award Announces Total Software Solution for x86 Intel Embedded Products
  14. Award Software and Motorola Computer Group Join in Embedded Motherboard Technology Relationship
  15. Award Software International® Inc. Introduces Remote, Preboot Diagnostic and Repair Software
  16. Award Software Announces First USB Host-Enabling Software for Embedded Systems, Consumer Electronics Products
  17. Award Software Announces USBAccess™ Support for Wind River Systems’ Tornado
  18. Award Software and Access Join in Strategic Alliance to Offer Internet Appliance Software Solution Including Windows Applications
  19. AWARD SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL® INC. ACQUIRES WILLOWS SOFTWARE MIDDLEWARE FOR EMBEDDED, REAL-TIME AND UNIX SYSTEMS
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