TeleVideo
| File:TeleVideo logo.svg | |
| Company type | Corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer hardware |
| Founded | 1975 |
| Founder | K. Philip Hwang |
| Fate | Entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2006; dissolved in 2011 |
| Headquarters | , |
| Products | Terminals, Graphic boards for Terminals, TeleVideo TS-800 series, TS-1603, TPC-1, TS-806, TS-816 |
| Website | Template:Web archive |
TeleVideo Corporation was an American enterprise that specialized in manufacturing computer terminals and reached its highest prominence during the early 1980s. Established in 1975 by K. Philip Hwang—an alumnus of Utah State University and Hanyang University—the company operated out of San Jose, California. Hwang launched the business with an initial investment of $9,000 derived from his prior entrepreneurial activities.
The terminal communication protocol developed by TeleVideo became widely adopted within the microcomputer sector and terminal emulation software, commonly identified as "TeleVideo 925 emulation." The firm also produced desktop and portable personal computers compatible with CP/M, built around the Zilog Z80 processor, which facilitated proprietary multi-user environments through serial port connections.
By 1982, TeleVideo had generated revenues of $98.5 million and proceeded with a public stock offering in March 1983, which valued founder Hwang’s equity at nearly $500 million. In April of the same year, the company unveiled the Model TS-1603—a personal computer compatible with MS-DOS 2.0—equipped with an Intel 8088 CPU, expandable memory up to 256 KB, an integrated display, modem, and keyboard. This model supported both TeleVideo PC DOS 2.0 and CP/M-86 version 1.1 operating systems.
Transitioning later towards Windows-compatible thin client solutions, TeleVideo introduced the TeleCLIENT product series incorporating Microsoft RDP 5.0 technology. In October 2005, this division was sold to Neoware Systems, which was subsequently acquired by Hewlett-Packard in 2007.
On March 14, 2006, TeleVideo sought protection under Chapter 11 bankruptcy laws. After more than thirty years and millions of units sold worldwide, the company discontinued all production and sales of terminals by September 30, 2011.
Products
- Terminals: TeleVideo models 905, 910, 912, 914, 920, 921, 922, 924, 925, 9320, 935, 950, 955, 965, 970, 990, and the Personal Terminal series including model 995-65
- Graphic terminal expansion boards: models 914GR, 924GR, and 970GR
- CP/M-based systems: TeleVideo TS-800 series including TS-802 and TS-803
- Multi-user systems running CP/M Plus and MP/M II: TeleVideo TS-804 supporting up to four simultaneous users
- CP/M-86 and MS-DOS compatible computers: TeleVideo TS-1603
- Portable CP/M computer: TeleVideo TPC-1 (comparable to Osborne-1)
- Early multi-user platforms: TeleVideo TS-806 (six-user capacity) and TS-816 (sixteen-user capacity)
- IBM AT-compatible machine: TELECAT 286 desktop featuring an Intel 80286 processor running at either six or eight MHz (trademark registered in 1986)