User:Jaydjenkins/Datastorm

Datastorm was a computer software company that existed between 1986 until 1996. The company was founded by Bruce Barkelew and Thomas Smith. Datastorm and their software, ProComm, was prominent in a pre-TCP/IP world where computer to computer modem connections were common. DataStorm is one of the first companies to grow from a shareware model to a large retail company. ProComm 2.4.3 for DOS is still available as shareware today.

History
After the death of Andrew Fluegelman, creator of PC-Talk a gap was left in the marketplace for dial-up and terminal emulation software. Bruce Barkelew and Tom Smith, students at the University of Missouri, created ProComm under the name PIL Software Box as shareware and incorporated in 1985 as Datastorm Technologies Inc. It was distributed through various BBSs.

Datastorm chose Columbia, MO to open their company due to the relatively low cost of living. Datastorm had no seed capital, but by 1992 they were ranked #376 in the Inc. 500.

In 1995, DataStorm sued Excalibur Communications over software infringement. DataStorm became the first company to sue a vendor for infringement of its software using the shareware model.

Datastorm was acquired by Quarterdeck in 1996 at a cost of over $70 million. Quarterdeck was later purchased by Symantec which still sells ProComm (as Procomm Plus) today.

Awards

 * 1997 Shareware Hall of Fame - This was the first year the award was created
 * 1992 Dvorak Award