Mustang Software
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Telecommunications software |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founder | Jim Harrer |
| Defunct | 2000 |
| Fate | Merged with Quintus Corporation |
| Headquarters | Bakersfield, California , United States |
Key people | Jim Harrer (founder) |
| Products | Wildcat! BBS, Qmodem Pro, Internet Message Center (IMC) |
Number of employees | 62 (1999) |
Mustang Software, Inc. was a telecommunications software firm headquartered in California. Founded in 1988, the company went public in 1995 (traded on NASDAQ under the symbol MSTG) and eventually merged with Quintus Corporation in 2000.
The company initially distributed its software through the shareware approach but shifted to shrinkware as it grew. With the advent of Internet-based distribution, Mustang moved away from physical media sales and began licensing its software digitally.
Wildcat! BBS
Throughout much of its existence, Mustang’s premier offering was Wildcat! BBS, a bulletin board system that allowed users to connect via modem and engage in online communication. Early editions supported single-user dial-in access, while later versions enabled multiple users to connect simultaneously and interact.
Originally created for DOS, Mustang introduced WINServer during the mid-1990s to support 32-bit Windows. In 1998, Mustang divested Wildcat! to Santronics Software, Inc. to concentrate on developing new software products.
Qmodem Pro
Mustang acquired the communications software Qmodem from The Forbin Project in 1992 and rebranded it as Qmodem Pro. This DOS-based application allowed users to dial into bulletin board systems. Subsequent versions were developed for both 16-bit and 32-bit Windows platforms, incorporating support for the RIP standard beginning in 1993.
Qmodem Pro remained within Mustang’s product lineup until 2000, when Quintus obtained its rights.
Internet Message Center
In response to the decline of BBS usage amid Internet expansion, Mustang introduced Internet Message Center (IMC) in 1997. IMC facilitated corporate email management by filtering, organizing, tracking, and routing messages to agents responsible for responses while maintaining detailed conversation logs. It also included analytical tools for evaluating email performance.
The rights to IMC were acquired by Quintus in 2000.
History
- September 1986: Jim Harrer establishes Mustang Software from his residence in Bakersfield, California.
- March 1987: Mustang releases the initial version of Wildcat!, enabling modem-based connections to electronic bulletin boards.
- December 23, 1988: Incorporation of Mustang Software occurs in California.
- 1991: The third iteration of Wildcat! contributes significantly to early commercial success.
- April 1995: Mustang completes its initial public offering; however, the growing popularity of web browsers reduces demand for BBS software.
- 1995–1996: Efforts to create web browsers are overshadowed by Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer; workforce is reduced from approximately 60 to 30 employees amid substantial financial losses.
- September 1997: Mustang launches Internet Message Center (IMC), a solution designed for efficient handling of corporate email communications.
- September 1998: To alleviate financial constraints, Mustang issues $1.5 million in stock and secures a $5 million equity credit line, maintaining its Nasdaq Small Cap status.
- November 19, 1998: The Wildcat! product line is sold to Santronics Software, Inc., based in Florida.
- April 1999: Mustang reports its first profit in three years with a gain of $10,299.
- Q2–Q4 1999: While expanding its national sales team to 62 employees results in moderate losses, profitability improves as IMC attracts significant corporate clients.
- October 1999: The company adopts the name Mustang.com as part of rebranding efforts.
- February 28, 2000: Mustang.com announces a stock merger valued at $290 million with Quintus Corp.; subsequently, Quintus’s IMC product is acquired by Avaya.