Xircom
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Computer networking hardware, mobile technologies |
| Founded | 1988 |
| Founder | Dirk Gates, Kirk Mathews |
| Defunct | 2003 |
| Fate | Acquired by Intel Corporation in 2001; workforce reduced by 2003 |
| Headquarters | Thousand Oaks, California , United States |
Area served | Worldwide (including Europe and Asia Pacific) |
| Products | Memory expansion cards, LAN adapters, modem devices, remote access servers, wireless adapters (NetWave), PC Cards (RealPort), Remote Access Server cards (NetAccess), REX 6000 PDA, PortGear USB converters, handheld connectivity solutions |
Number of employees | Over 2,000 |
| Parent | Intel Corporation (since 2001) |
Xircom, Inc. was a United States-based company specializing in computer networking hardware and mobile technologies, with its headquarters located in Thousand Oaks, California. As one of the pioneers in creating network computing solutions tailored for laptops, Xircom offered a range of products such as memory expansion cards, LAN adapters, modem devices, and remote access servers. These innovations enabled laptop users to efficiently share information across networks.
The company maintained production facilities in Penang, Malaysia, and operated international branches throughout Europe and the Asia Pacific region. In 2001, Intel acquired Xircom, and by early 2003, Intel had significantly reduced the Thousand Oaks workforce.
History
Established in 1988 by Dirk Gates and Kirk Mathews, Xircom concentrated on providing modem and Ethernet connectivity solutions specifically for portable computers. The firm expanded to employ over 2,000 people, achieving annual revenues of $500 million and reaching a market valuation above $2 billion. Its product lineup incorporated wireless communication standards such as IEEE 802.11, GPRS, and Bluetooth.
Xircom played a key role in advancing networking technology by launching the NetWave wireless adapters—recognized as the first wireless networking devices designed for portable computers—offering a then-cutting-edge raw data transfer rate of 1M bit/sec. This breakthrough laid important groundwork for the development of modern WiFi systems.
Additionally, the company cultivated an innovative corporate culture that promoted creativity and operational effectiveness among its employees.
Pocket LAN Adapter
At a time when printer ports were the only universal interface on laptops in 1988, Xircom introduced the Pocket LAN Adapter to connect notebooks to networks through these ports. This innovation helped cement Xircom's reputation as a leading supplier of mobile networking hardware.
RealPort
Xircom gained recognition for its PC Card offerings, notably the RealPort series developed by boutique design firm Next Planet. The 32-bit RealPort CardBus Ethernet 10/100+Modem 56 integrated multiple functions—including 10/100 Mbit/s Ethernet, a 56K modem, and GSM connectivity via an external mobile phone—into a single dongle-free PC Card. This design solved a common problem faced by mobile users: fragile dongles and connectors. By embedding connectors directly into the card itself, RealPort cards delivered durable and dependable communication capabilities.
NetAccess
The NetAccess product line featured Remote Access Server (RAS) cards such as ISDN variants alongside the world’s first multiport modems (MPM-4 and MPM-8).
REX 6000
The REX 6000 was an ultra-slim personal digital assistant developed by Xircom. It earned distinction as the world’s smallest full-featured PDA due to its Type II PC Card form factor. Synchronization was achieved by inserting it into a PC’s PCMCIA slot. Compared to its predecessor—the Franklin REX 5000—it introduced enhancements including a touchscreen interface.
PortGear & PortStation
Xircom acquired Entrega, a niche manufacturer specializing in USB upgrade boards for legacy PCs as well as USB-to-serial, parallel, and Ethernet converters. These products were rebranded under the PortGear name and included specialized drivers enabling USB support on Windows NT v4 platforms.
Handheld products
Prior to being acquired by Intel in 2001, Xircom was recognized for creating advanced connectivity solutions tailored for handheld computing devices. Their product lineup included CompactFlash cards such as Ethernet adapters, modems, and GSM modules, alongside SpringPort expansions for Handspring devices and sled accessories compatible with Palm handhelds.
Acquisition
On January 15, 2001, Intel revealed plans to purchase Xircom for an estimated $748 million.
External links
- Official website (archived)