Tymshare

Tymshare. It was a pioneering American computer service bureau and a dominant force in the early commercial time-sharing and data communications industry. Founded during a period of rapid mainframe computer advancement, the company built one of the first large-scale, public packet-switched networks, which evolved into a major precursor to modern enterprise networking. Its innovations in remote computing and value-added network services laid critical groundwork for the commercial internet and influenced the development of corporate information technology infrastructure.

History

The company was founded in 1964 in Los Angeles by engineers Tom O'Rourke and LaRoy Tymes, its name a portmanteau of Tymes and "share," reflecting the time-sharing business model. Initial funding was secured from notable venture capital firm Davis & Rock, an early backer of Intel. The company quickly established itself by renting access to powerful SDS 940 computers, a machine co-developed with the Project Genie team at the University of California, Berkeley. To expand its geographic reach beyond California, it developed innovative multiplexer technology, created by Tymes, which allowed efficient data transmission over leased lines. This led to the creation of the TYMNET network, a virtual circuit packet-switched network that became its most significant asset. Major growth was fueled by contracts with the U.S. Department of Defense and large corporations like General Electric, establishing it as a leading remote computing service prior to the widespread adoption of minicomputers.

Products and services

Its core offering was commercial time-sharing, providing businesses with terminal-based access to shared mainframe resources for tasks like scientific computing, financial modeling, and software development. The flagship TYMNET network enabled this access globally, functioning as a value-added network that managed data transmission and error correction for clients. The company also developed and sold specialized software, including the Tymshare BASIC programming language and applications for computer-aided design and manufacturing. It offered transaction processing services and was an early provider of electronic data interchange capabilities. Later, it introduced the Tymshare Series 100 minicomputer system, designed to integrate with its network services, and ventured into the burgeoning personal computer market with products like the Tymshare 1500.

Impact and legacy

The company's most enduring contribution was the architecture and operation of TYMNET, which became one of the two major public data networks alongside Telenet. This network demonstrated the commercial viability of packet switching years before the adoption of the TCP/IP protocol suite, directly influencing the design of later enterprise networks and X.25 standards. Its business model proved that outsourced computing and network management were viable services for major corporations, paving the way for the application service provider and modern cloud computing industries. Furthermore, the company served as an important early training ground for numerous engineers and executives who would later shape Silicon Valley, with alumni founding or leading companies such as Tandem Computers, Sybase, and Cisco Systems.

Corporate timeline

After its 1964 founding in Los Angeles, the company relocated its headquarters to Cupertino, California. It underwent a significant initial public offering in 1970, trading on the New York Stock Exchange. Throughout the 1970s, it expanded internationally, establishing operations in Europe and Japan. In 1977, it sold the TYMNET network to GTE but continued to operate and market its services. The company was acquired by the McDonnell Douglas corporation in 1984 for approximately $300 million, ending its run as an independent entity. Under McDonnell Douglas, its assets were eventually absorbed, with remnants of its networking technology influencing the McDonnell Douglas Information Systems group before fading from the market.

Key people

Co-founders Tom O'Rourke, who served as the first CEO, and LaRoy Tymes, the principal architect of TYMNET, were the central technical and entrepreneurial visionaries. Early employee Jimmy Treybig later applied lessons in fault-tolerant computing to found Tandem Computers. Norman Abramson, a consultant, contributed to early network design concepts. Executive Paul Severino later co-founded the networking company Wellfleet Communications. Ann Hardy, a pioneering female computer scientist at the company, played a key role in software development for the SDS 940 and the Tymshare BASIC language.

Category:Defunct computer companies of the United States Category:Companies based in Santa Clara County, California Category:Computer networking companies