USRobotics
U.S. Robotics Corporation, often abbreviated as USR, is an American technology company specializing in modems, routers, switches, and other networking hardware designed for reliable connectivity in business, industrial, and remote management applications.[1][2]Founded in 1976 in a garage in Skokie, Illinois, by Casey Cowell and four partners, the company drew its name from the fictional "U.S. Robots and Mechanical Men" in Isaac Asimov's science fiction works, reflecting its early focus on innovative communication devices.[3][4]
USRobotics launched its first modem product in 1979 and quickly grew into a leader in dial-up technology, with its Courier and Sportster modem lines becoming industry standards for speed and reliability during the 1980s and 1990s, powering much of the early internet expansion.[3][5]
By the mid-1990s, the company had expanded into wireless networking and handheld computing through the Palm brand, achieving annual revenues exceeding $2 billion before its acquisition by 3Com Corporation in 1997 for approximately $6.6 billion, which integrated USR's modem expertise into broader networking solutions.[6][7]
Following the 3Com merger, USRobotics faced challenges from the shift to broadband but was divested in 2000; it was later acquired by private equity firm Platinum Equity in 2005 and then by UNICOM Global in 2013, refocusing on legacy modems, cellular connectivity, console servers, and Ethernet devices for mission-critical uses like point-of-sale systems and out-of-band management.[8][9][10]
Today, as a subsidiary of UNICOM Systems, USRobotics continues to innovate in robust, industrial-grade hardware, including 56K dial-up modems, USB cellular modems, and serial-to-Ethernet converters, serving sectors requiring dependable, low-maintenance networking amid evolving digital demands.[11][12][13]