ProComm
Launched: 1985
Innovation: It was one of the first major shareware programs. And one of the first to implement a graphical interface, thanks to the adoption of the innovative RIP format.
Procomm was a program for remote computer connection via modem, created by Bruce Barkelew and Thomas Smith in 1985. They later founded PIL Software Systems to market it.
The program enjoyed widespread popularity, as it was distributed under a shareware license.
It also has the merit of being one of the first to support the Remote Imaging Protocol (RIP), which allowed the use of a graphics terminal. It overcame the ANSI escape codes of most systems, which only allowed one character mode in 16 colors.
Evolution:
After the death of Andrew Fluegelman (creator of PC-Talk) in July 1985, a gap remained in the offerings of terminal emulation and dial-up communications software.
This led to the creation of this software, which would enjoy a long history.
Procomm 1.1 was the first version of the once-popular shareware terminal program. Version 1.00 of this product was released under the name TERMULATOR. However, when it became popular, it was called "Procomm Plus," available for DOS and Windows.
The product was passed down from company to company:
In 1995, it was released under the brand name PIL Software Systems.
In 1986, its creators founded Datastorm Technologies Inc.
Datastorm was acquired by Quarterdeck in 1996 for over $70 million. Quarterdeck was later acquired by Symantec.
Support for the latest version of ProComm, version 4.8, was discontinued in 2002.
However, ProComm 2.4.3 for MS-DOS is still available as shareware.
