Shiva Corporation

Shiva Corporation was a Massachusetts technology company specializing in computer networking, remote-access systems, and related network equipment. Founded in Cambridge in 1985 by MIT graduates Frank Slaughter and Daniel J. Schwinn, the company developed products for connecting users and distributed networks across dial-up and other remote links. Its business addressed a period when personal computers, corporate networks, and emerging Internet access were becoming more closely integrated, creating demand for remote-access servers, client software, protocol support, and network gateways. The company expanded beyond its original portfolio through acquisitions. In 1990, Shiva acquired FastPath from Novell. FastPath was an AppleTalk-to-Ethernet gateway, giving Shiva a product associated with connectivity between Apple computer networks and Ethernet infrastructure. In 1995, Shiva purchased British networking-products company Spider Systems, which became Shiva Europe Ltd. The transaction broadened Shiva's European presence and added networking capabilities to the company's portfolio. In 1996, Shiva acquired AirSoft Inc., a Cupertino-based supplier of remote-networking software, for approximately $65 million. The acquisition brought AirSoft's PowerBurst software into Shiva. PowerBurst was designed to improve the speed and accuracy of remote access by caching files on the client and checking cached data before completing later access requests. The deal also linked Shiva to AirSoft president Jagdeep Singh, who later co-founded QuantumScape, although that later company was separate from Shiva's business. Shiva's technology also reached a broad consumer audience through software supplied for 16-bit versions of Microsoft's Internet Explorer running on Windows 3. Users connecting to the Internet over dial-up could encounter Shiva branding because the company provided part of the TCP/IP stack used by Internet Explorer versions 3, 4, and 5. This exposure reflected Shiva's role as an infrastructure and software supplier rather than a consumer-facing Internet service provider. In October 1998, Intel acquired Shiva and integrated it into Intel's Network Products Division. The transaction occurred while Shiva was involved in a shareholder class-action lawsuit alleging that the company had concealed information about deteriorating business conditions. The case was settled in 1999, with Shiva agreeing to pay $4.35 million. The settlement figure is reported in contemporary reference material and is not treated here as evidence of an admission beyond the settlement itself. Shiva's standalone corporate identity later re-emerged in connection with Simple Access Inc., which acquired it in November 2002 and adopted the Shiva Corporation name. In 2003, the company was acquired by Mernet Secure Network. Mernet was subsequently acquired by Eicon Networks in February 2004. Eicon later became known as Dialogic Corporation in 2006. As a result of these successive ownership changes, Shiva Corporation is best understood as a historical networking brand and corporate identity rather than an active independent company.

Shiva Corporation was established in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1985 by MIT graduates Frank Slaughter and Daniel J. Schwinn. It entered the computer-networking market at a time when businesses were connecting personal computers and local networks across telephone lines and other remote links. Its focus was remote access and associated networking equipment, placing it within the infrastructure layer of the developing personal-computing and Internet ecosystem. The company grew partly through acquisitions. In 1990, it added FastPath, an AppleTalk/Ethernet gateway acquired from Novell. FastPath extended Shiva's portfolio into protocol and network interoperability, particularly for environments using AppleTalk and Ethernet. In 1995, Shiva acquired Spider Systems, a British network-products company. Spider Systems became Shiva Europe Ltd., giving the company an identifiable European operating presence. Shiva's 1996 acquisition of AirSoft Inc. in Cupertino, California, added remote-networking software. The transaction was valued at approximately $65 million and brought PowerBurst into Shiva's product family. PowerBurst sought to improve remote-access performance by caching files on client systems and validating cached information before using it to satisfy later requests. AirSoft's president at the time was Jagdeep Singh, who subsequently became associated with the founding of QuantumScape in 2010; that later development was outside Shiva's corporate history. Shiva also achieved indirect visibility among home and small-office Internet users. It supplied part of the dial-up TCP/IP software stack used with 16-bit Internet Explorer on Windows 3. The component was associated with Internet Explorer versions 3, 4, and 5, meaning that users could encounter the Shiva name even when they had not purchased a Shiva-branded product directly. This role illustrates how Shiva's technology was embedded in broader software distribution channels. Intel acquired Shiva in October 1998 and incorporated it into the Intel Network Products Division. Around the time of the acquisition, Shiva faced a shareholder class-action lawsuit alleging that it had not disclosed information concerning deterioration in the company's condition. The litigation was resolved in 1999 through a settlement under which Shiva agreed to pay $4.35 million. The available reference does not establish additional details about the court's findings or the settlement's allocation. The Shiva name later appeared again after Simple Access Inc. acquired the business in November 2002 and adopted the Shiva Corporation identity. This was followed by an acquisition by Mernet Secure Network in 2003. Eicon Networks acquired Mernet in February 2004. Eicon was subsequently known as Dialogic Corporation from 2006. These transactions fragmented the original company's independent identity and ended Shiva's existence as a separately operating, independently recognizable networking company. The historical brand is therefore chiefly associated with remote-access products, networking gateways, embedded dial-up technology, and a succession of corporate owners.

• 2006

  Eicon becomes Dialogic

  [1]Shiva Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Eicon Networks subsequently became known as Dialogic Corporation.

• 2004

  Eicon Networks acquisition of Mernet

  [1]Shiva Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Eicon Networks acquired Mernet in February, continuing the transfer of the Shiva-related business.

• 2003

  Mernet Secure Network acquisition

  [1]Shiva Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Mernet Secure Network acquired the company.

• 2002

  Simple Access adopts Shiva identity

  [1]Shiva Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  After acquiring Shiva, Simple Access Inc. adopted the Shiva Corporation name.

• 1999

  Class-action lawsuit settled

  [1]Shiva Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Shiva settled litigation concerning alleged nondisclosure of worsening business conditions for $4.35 million.

• 1998

  Intel acquisition

  [1]Shiva Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Intel acquired Shiva and integrated it into the Intel Network Products Division.

• 1996

  AirSoft acquired

  [1]Shiva Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Shiva acquired AirSoft for approximately $65 million, adding PowerBurst remote-access software.

• 1995

  Spider Systems acquired

  [1]Shiva Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  The British network-products company became Shiva Europe Ltd.

• 1990

  FastPath acquired from Novell

  [1]Shiva Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Shiva expanded its portfolio with FastPath, an AppleTalk-to-Ethernet gateway.

• 1985

  Shiva Corporation founded

  [1]Shiva Corporationen.wikipedia.org

  Frank Slaughter and Daniel J. Schwinn founded the networking company in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Enterprise networking and remote-access infrastructure provider, with products focused on connecting users, personal computers, and distributed networks over dial-up and other remote links.

• Network gateway

  FastPath

  FastPath was an AppleTalk-to-Ethernet gateway acquired from Novell in 1990. It enabled communication between AppleTalk-based networks and Ethernet environments, expanding Shiva's offerings beyond remote-access systems into network interoperability and gateway equipment.

• Remote-networking software · 1996

  PowerBurst

  PowerBurst was software obtained through Shiva's 1996 acquisition of AirSoft. It was intended to improve remote-access speed and accuracy by caching files on the client and validating cached data before using it to fulfill later access requests.

• Networking software

  Dial-up TCP/IP stack components

  Shiva supplied part of the dial-up TCP/IP stack used with 16-bit Internet Explorer on Windows 3. The technology was associated with Internet Explorer versions 3, 4, and 5, giving the company broad indirect exposure among users connecting to the early consumer Internet.

• 1999

  Shareholder class-action lawsuit and settlement

  Shiva faced a class-action lawsuit alleging that it had concealed information about deteriorating company conditions. The litigation was settled in 1999, with Shiva agreeing to pay $4.35 million. The available reference does not indicate that the settlement constituted an admission of wrongdoing.

  Source

Read more

• 2002

  Reintroduce the Shiva corporate identityStrategy

  Background

  After the Intel period, Simple Access Inc. acquired the business associated with Shiva.

  Action taken

  Simple Access acquired Shiva in November 2002 and adopted the Shiva Corporation name.

  Aftermath

  The Shiva identity returned as a corporate name before the business was transferred again through later acquisitions.

  Source

• 1998

  Sell Shiva to IntelM&A

  Background

  Shiva was operating in the networking and remote-access market during a period of consolidation in the technology sector.

  Action taken

  Intel acquired Shiva in October 1998 and integrated it into the Intel Network Products Division.

  Aftermath

  Shiva ceased operating as an independent company under its previous structure.

  Source

• 1996

  Acquire AirSoft Inc.M&A

  Background

  Shiva sought to strengthen its remote-networking software portfolio and acquire technology intended to improve the performance of remote access.

  Action taken

  Shiva acquired AirSoft Inc. of Cupertino for approximately $65 million and added its PowerBurst software.

  Aftermath

  The acquisition broadened Shiva's remote-access offering and added a software-based performance optimization product.

  Acquisition price. $65 million (1996)

  Source

1. 1Shiva Corporationen.wikipedia.org