Spyglass, Inc.: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Former Internet software company}} |
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{{distinguish|text=[[Spyglass Entertainment]]}} |
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{{Infobox company |
{{Infobox company |
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| name |
| name = Spyglass, Inc. |
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| logo |
| logo = Spyglass Inc Logo.png |
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| caption |
| caption = |
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| type |
| type = Public |
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| traded_as |
| traded_as = SPYG |
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| genre |
| genre = <!-- Only used with media and publishing companies --> |
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| fate = Acquired by OpenTV (now [[Kudelski Group]]) |
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| fate = acquired by OpenTV |
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| predecessor |
| predecessor = |
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| successor |
| successor = |
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| foundation |
| foundation = {{start date and age|1990}} |
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| founder |
| founder = NCSA, [[University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign]] |
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| defunct |
| defunct = 2000 |
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| location_city |
| location_city = [[Naperville, Illinois]] |
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| location_country = |
| location_country = United States |
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| locations |
| locations = |
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| area_served |
| area_served = |
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| key_people |
| key_people = |
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| industry |
| industry = Software |
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| products |
| products = Internet browser intellectual property |
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| services |
| services = |
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| revenue |
| revenue = |
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| operating_income = |
| operating_income = |
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| net_income |
| net_income = |
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| aum |
| aum = <!-- Only used with financial services companies --> |
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| assets |
| assets = |
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| equity |
| equity = |
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| owner |
| owner = |
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| num_employees |
| num_employees = |
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| parent |
| parent = |
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| divisions |
| divisions = |
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| subsid |
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| homepage |
| homepage = <!-- {{URL|examplesite.com|ExampleSite.com}} --> |
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| footnotes |
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}} |
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'''Spyglass, Inc.''' was an Internet software company. It was founded in 1990, in [[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign]], [[Illinois]], as an offshoot of the [[University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign]], and later moved to [[Naperville, Illinois]].<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Graser |first=Marc |date=2000-03-28 |title=OpenTV open to Spyglass |url=https://variety.com/2000/biz/news/opentv-open-to-spyglass-1117779912/ |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref> Spyglass was created to commercialize and support technologies from the [[National Center for Supercomputing Applications |National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA)]]. It focused on data visualization tools, such as graphing packages and 3D rendering engines. |
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'''Spyglass, Inc.''' (former NASDAQ ticker symbol SPYG), was an Internet software company based in [[Champaign, Illinois|Champaign]], [[Illinois]]. |
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Spyglass became well known for its version of the [[Mosaic (web browser)|Mosaic web browser]]. The company was acquired by OpenTV in 2000, now part of [[Kudelski Group]], in a $2.5 billion stock swap.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2000-07-25 |title=OpenTV completes SpyGlass Acquisition |url=https://www.dmnews.com/opentv-completes-spyglass-acquisition/ |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=DMNews |language=en-US}}</ref> |
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The company, founded in 1990, was an offshoot of the [[University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign]] and created to commercialize and support technologies from the [[National Center for Supercomputing Applications]] (NCSA). For several years, it focused on data visualization tools, such as graphing packages and 3D rendering engines.<ref name="eric">{{cite web|url=http://www.ericsink.com/Browser_Wars.html|title=Memoirs From the Browser Wars|date=15 April 2003|accessdate=16 February 2011|first=Eric|last=Sink}}</ref> It became most known for its version of the [[Mosaic (web browser)|Mosaic]] web browser. |
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==Mosaic== |
==Mosaic== |
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In May 1994, Spyglass licensed NCSA's |
In May 1994, Spyglass licensed NCSA's Mosaic browser for several million dollars, with the intent to develop their own Web browser.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |title=Spyglass to commercialize future Mosaic versions |first=Ellis |last=Booker |newspaper=Computerworld |date=29 Aug 1994 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AXUevDTWEy0C&pg=PA16}}</ref> However, NCSA's development effort had resulted in different features, user interfaces, and codebases for each of its major platforms: [[UNIX]], [[Microsoft Windows]], and [[classic Mac OS]]. Spyglass therefore created its own Mosaic codebase in which most source code and all features were shared between platforms.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ericsink.com/Browser_Wars.html|title=Memoirs From the Browser Wars|last=Sink|first=Eric|date=15 Apr 2003|website=Eric Sink}}</ref> |
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Spyglass offered a 30-day trial version for download, but did not actually sell the product to end-users. Instead, it licensed the code to re-sellers that delivered either an unmodified Spyglass Mosaic (e.g., [[O'Reilly Media|O'Reilly and Associates]]) or a browser based on the Spyglass codebase (as did [[CompuServe]], [[IBM]] and [[Ipswitch, Inc.|Ipswitch]]).<ref>{{cite |
Spyglass offered a 30-day trial version for download, but did not actually sell the product to end-users. Instead, it licensed the code to re-sellers that delivered either an unmodified Spyglass Mosaic (e.g., [[O'Reilly Media|O'Reilly and Associates]]) or a browser based on the Spyglass codebase (as did [[CompuServe]], [[IBM]] and [[Ipswitch, Inc.|Ipswitch]]).<ref>{{cite news |first1=Rick |last1=Ayre |first2=Thomas |last2=Mace |title=Just Browsing |newspaper=PC Mag |date=12 March 1996 |publisher=Ziff Davis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9rGvyMX6n8cC&pg=RA1-PA142}}</ref> Among the browsers produced under license using Spyglass Mosaic's codebase was also [[Microsoft]]'s [[Internet Explorer]]. |
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In addition to the major desktop platforms, Spyglass ported Mosaic to other systems including [[Nintendo 64]] for the [[SharkWire Online]] system.<ref name=" |
In addition to the major desktop platforms, Spyglass ported Mosaic to other systems including [[Nintendo 64]] for the [[SharkWire Online]] system.<ref name="Memoirs">{{cite press release | title=SharkWire Online(TM) by InterAct Allows Gamers To Get Online, In-Touch and Ahead | agency=PR Newswire | publisher=InterAct Accessories, Inc. | location=Hunt Valley, MD | date=May 12, 1999 |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> | url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sharkwire-onlinetm-by-interact-allows-gamers-to-get-online-in-touch-and-out-ahead-74514522.html | access-date=January 7, 2015}}</ref> |
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===Browser wars=== |
===Browser wars=== |
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{{Main|Browser wars}} |
{{Main|Browser wars}} |
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[[Netscape Communications Corporation]], co-founded by [[Marc Andreessen]], released its flagship [[Netscape Navigator]] browser in October 1994, and the company soon became the web browser industry leader. Microsoft recognized the potential of the web, and |
[[Netscape Communications Corporation]], co-founded by [[Marc Andreessen]], released its flagship [[Netscape Navigator]] browser in October 1994, and the company soon became the web browser industry leader.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Lewis |first=Peter H. |date=1995-03-01 |title=BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY; Netscape Knows Fame And Aspires to Fortune |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/03/01/business/business-technology-netscape-knows-fame-and-aspires-to-fortune.html |access-date=2022-07-29 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Microsoft recognized the potential of the web, and after the company lost out to [[AOL]] for [[BookLink]]'s browser in November 1994,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/10/business/america-online-buys-2-internet-companies.html|title=America Online Buys 2 Internet Companies|date=1994-11-10|work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref>Wallace, James (1997), Overdrive, John Wiley & Sons. {{ISBN|0-471-18041-6}}.</ref> Microsoft reached a licensing deal with Spyglass in January 1995. Spyglass' Mosaic code became the basis for Internet Explorer, which was released as an add-on to [[Windows 95]] in the [[Microsoft Plus!]] software package.<ref name=":1" /> |
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Microsoft and Spyglass reached an updated agreement in 1997, following a dispute over Microsoft only paying the minimum amount required for each quarterly royalty.<ref name="win">{{cite web|url=http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/news2/microsoft-and-spyglass-kiss-and-make-up.aspx|title=Microsoft and Spyglass kiss and make up|last=Thurrott|first=Paul|date=22 January 1997|access-date=9 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120919002551/http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/news2/microsoft-and-spyglass-kiss-and-make-up.aspx|archive-date=19 September 2012}}</ref> [[Internet Explorer 6]] and older acknowledged Spyglass and NCSA Mosaic in the 'About' panel,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Museum |first=Web Design |title=Internet Explorer 6.0 {{!}} Web Design Museum |url=https://www.webdesignmuseum.org/old-software/web-browsers/internet-explorer-6-0 |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=www.webdesignmuseum.org |language=en}}</ref> but the message was removed starting with [[Internet Explorer 7]] in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Museum |first=Web Design |title=Internet Explorer 7.0 {{!}} Web Design Museum |url=https://www.webdesignmuseum.org/old-software/web-browsers/internet-explorer-7-0 |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=www.webdesignmuseum.org |language=en}}</ref> |
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After Microsoft lost out to [[AOL]] for [[BookLink]]'s browser in November 1994, their talks with Spyglass progressed.<ref>Wallace, James (1997), Overdrive, John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-18041-6.</ref> In 1995, Microsoft licensed Mosaic from Spyglass as the basis of [[Internet Explorer 1|Internet Explorer 1.0]], which was released as an add-on to [[Windows 95]] in the [[Microsoft Plus!]] software package. The deal stipulated that Spyglass would receive a base quarterly fee for the Mosaic license plus a royalty from Microsoft's Internet Explorer revenue.<ref name="bw">{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/january/new0122d.htm|title=MICROSOFT'S $8 MILLION GOODBYE TO SPYGLASS|accessdate=9 February 2011|first=Peter|last=Elstrom|date=22 January 1997|publisher=[[Bloomberg Businessweek]]}}</ref> |
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Microsoft subsequently bundled Internet Explorer with Windows, and thus (making no direct revenues on IE) paid only the minimum quarterly fee. In 1997, Spyglass threatened Microsoft with a contractual audit, in response to which Microsoft settled for {{USD|8 million}}.<ref name="bw" /><ref name="win">{{cite web|url=http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/news2/microsoft-and-spyglass-kiss-and-make-up.aspx|title=Microsoft and Spyglass kiss and make up|last=Thurrott|first=Paul|authorlink=Paul Thurrott|date=22 January 1997|accessdate=9 February 2011}}</ref> |
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⚫ | Spyglass created and marketed a commercially supported [[web server]] for [[Unix]] and [[Windows NT]], variously called '''Spyglass Server''' and '''Server SDK'''. The product was announced in March 1995<ref name="directions">{{cite news |newspaper=Computerworld |title=Web servers move in different directions |date=27 March 1995 |first=Ellis |last=Booker |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3JS8X7n5yIoC&pg=PA16}}</ref> and became available in July 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/945256/0000950137-97-004112.txt|title=Spyglass, Inc. Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997|access-date=9 February 2011}}</ref> Like the [[Netscape]] server that was already on the market, the Spyglass Server included an [[application programming interface]] that allowed [[server-side]] applications to run in the server's process. The two server platforms differed in their approach to security, with Spyglass using the [[Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol]] (SHTTP), while Netscape used its own [[Secure Sockets Layer]] (SSL).{{r|directions}} Spyglass did not offer their server as a retail product, instead licensing it in volume to [[original equipment manufacturer]]s, as it did with its browser.{{r|directions}} The largest licensee was [[Oracle Corporation]].{{Citation needed|date=May 2015}} |
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== Acquisition == |
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All versions of the Internet Explorer created before [[Internet Explorer 7]] (released October 18, 2006) acknowledged Spyglass as the licensor for the IE browser code. The About window on these versions contained the text "Distributed under a licensing agreement with Spyglass, Inc." |
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On March 26, 2000, OpenTV revealed plans to acquire Spyglass in a $2.5 billion stock swap. OpenTV said it planned to use Spyglass' Prism server software with its own interactive TV services, and OpenTV would continue the company's expansion in the mobile browser market.<ref name=":2" /> The deal was finalized later that year.<ref name=":3" /> |
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⚫ | |||
⚫ | Spyglass created and marketed a commercially supported [[web server]] for [[Unix]] and [[Windows NT]], variously called Spyglass Server and Server SDK |
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OpenTV, in turn, was fully acquired by the [[Kudelski Group]] on March 29, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KUDELSKI GROUP COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF OPENTV {{!}} Kudelski Group |url=https://www.nagra.com/media-center/press-releases/kudelski-group-completes-acquisition-opentv |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=www.nagra.com}}</ref> |
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==End of Spyglass== |
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On March 26, 2000, [[OpenTV]] bought out Spyglass in a stock swap worth $2.5 billion. The acquisition was completed July 24, 2000. In the deal, they received both Device Mosaic, an embedded web browser, and Prism, a [[content delivery]] and transformation system.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/327661|title=OpenTV Buys Spyglass|last=Boulton|first=Clint|date=27 March 2000|accessdate=9 February 2011}}</ref> |
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==References== |
==References== |
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==External links== |
==External links== |
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* |
* {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011145500/http://www.omimo.be/encyc/buyersguide/Players/Object1020.html |date=October 11, 2007 |title=Brief profile of Spyglass from www.omimo.be }} |
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{{Internet Explorer}} |
{{Internet Explorer}} |
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[[Category:1994 software]] |
[[Category:1994 software]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Software companies established in 1990]] |
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[[Category: |
[[Category:Software companies disestablished in 2000]] |
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[[Category:Companies formerly listed on |
[[Category:Companies formerly listed on the Nasdaq]] |
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[[Category:Defunct companies based in Illinois]] |
[[Category:Defunct companies based in Illinois]] |
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[[Category:Defunct software companies of the United States]] |
[[Category:Defunct software companies of the United States]] |
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[[Category:Internet Explorer]] |
[[Category:Internet Explorer]] |
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[[Category:2000 mergers and acquisitions]] |
Revision as of 19:31, 21 September 2023
![]() | |
Company type | Public |
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SPYG | |
Industry | Software |
Founded | 1990 |
Founder | NCSA, University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign |
Defunct | 2000 |
Fate | Acquired by OpenTV (now Kudelski Group) |
Headquarters | , United States |
Products | Internet browser intellectual property |
Spyglass, Inc. was an Internet software company. It was founded in 1990, in Champaign, Illinois, as an offshoot of the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign, and later moved to Naperville, Illinois.[1] Spyglass was created to commercialize and support technologies from the National Center for Supercomputing Applications (NCSA). It focused on data visualization tools, such as graphing packages and 3D rendering engines.
Spyglass became well known for its version of the Mosaic web browser. The company was acquired by OpenTV in 2000, now part of Kudelski Group, in a $2.5 billion stock swap.[1][2]
Mosaic
In May 1994, Spyglass licensed NCSA's Mosaic browser for several million dollars, with the intent to develop their own Web browser.[3] However, NCSA's development effort had resulted in different features, user interfaces, and codebases for each of its major platforms: UNIX, Microsoft Windows, and classic Mac OS. Spyglass therefore created its own Mosaic codebase in which most source code and all features were shared between platforms.[4]
Spyglass offered a 30-day trial version for download, but did not actually sell the product to end-users. Instead, it licensed the code to re-sellers that delivered either an unmodified Spyglass Mosaic (e.g., O'Reilly and Associates) or a browser based on the Spyglass codebase (as did CompuServe, IBM and Ipswitch).[5] Among the browsers produced under license using Spyglass Mosaic's codebase was also Microsoft's Internet Explorer.
In addition to the major desktop platforms, Spyglass ported Mosaic to other systems including Nintendo 64 for the SharkWire Online system.[6]
Browser wars
Netscape Communications Corporation, co-founded by Marc Andreessen, released its flagship Netscape Navigator browser in October 1994, and the company soon became the web browser industry leader.[7] Microsoft recognized the potential of the web, and after the company lost out to AOL for BookLink's browser in November 1994,[8][9] Microsoft reached a licensing deal with Spyglass in January 1995. Spyglass' Mosaic code became the basis for Internet Explorer, which was released as an add-on to Windows 95 in the Microsoft Plus! software package.[7]
Microsoft and Spyglass reached an updated agreement in 1997, following a dispute over Microsoft only paying the minimum amount required for each quarterly royalty.[10] Internet Explorer 6 and older acknowledged Spyglass and NCSA Mosaic in the 'About' panel,[11] but the message was removed starting with Internet Explorer 7 in 2006.[12]
Web server technology
Spyglass created and marketed a commercially supported web server for Unix and Windows NT, variously called Spyglass Server and Server SDK. The product was announced in March 1995[13] and became available in July 1995.[14] Like the Netscape server that was already on the market, the Spyglass Server included an application programming interface that allowed server-side applications to run in the server's process. The two server platforms differed in their approach to security, with Spyglass using the Secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol (SHTTP), while Netscape used its own Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).[13] Spyglass did not offer their server as a retail product, instead licensing it in volume to original equipment manufacturers, as it did with its browser.[13] The largest licensee was Oracle Corporation.[citation needed]
Acquisition
On March 26, 2000, OpenTV revealed plans to acquire Spyglass in a $2.5 billion stock swap. OpenTV said it planned to use Spyglass' Prism server software with its own interactive TV services, and OpenTV would continue the company's expansion in the mobile browser market.[1] The deal was finalized later that year.[2]
OpenTV, in turn, was fully acquired by the Kudelski Group on March 29, 2010.[15]
References
- ^ a b c Graser, Marc (2000-03-28). "OpenTV open to Spyglass". Variety. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
- ^ a b "OpenTV completes SpyGlass Acquisition". DMNews. 2000-07-25. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
- ^ Booker, Ellis (29 Aug 1994). "Spyglass to commercialize future Mosaic versions". Computerworld.
- ^ Sink, Eric (15 Apr 2003). "Memoirs From the Browser Wars". Eric Sink.
- ^ Ayre, Rick; Mace, Thomas (12 March 1996). "Just Browsing". PC Mag. Ziff Davis.
- ^ "SharkWire Online(TM) by InterAct Allows Gamers To Get Online, In-Touch and Ahead" (Press release). Hunt Valley, MD: InterAct Accessories, Inc. PR Newswire. May 12, 1999. Retrieved January 7, 2015.
- ^ a b Lewis, Peter H. (1995-03-01). "BUSINESS TECHNOLOGY; Netscape Knows Fame And Aspires to Fortune". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
- ^ "America Online Buys 2 Internet Companies". The New York Times. 1994-11-10.
- ^ Wallace, James (1997), Overdrive, John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 0-471-18041-6.
- ^ Thurrott, Paul (22 January 1997). "Microsoft and Spyglass kiss and make up". Archived from the original on 19 September 2012. Retrieved 9 February 2011.
- ^ Museum, Web Design. "Internet Explorer 6.0 | Web Design Museum". www.webdesignmuseum.org. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
- ^ Museum, Web Design. "Internet Explorer 7.0 | Web Design Museum". www.webdesignmuseum.org. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
- ^ a b c Booker, Ellis (27 March 1995). "Web servers move in different directions". Computerworld.
- ^ "Spyglass, Inc. Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 30, 1997". Retrieved 9 February 2011.
- ^ "KUDELSKI GROUP COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF OPENTV | Kudelski Group". www.nagra.com. Retrieved 2022-07-29.
External links
- Brief profile of Spyglass from www.omimo.be at the Wayback Machine (archived October 11, 2007)