Exabyte (company)

Exabyte Corp. was a manufacturer of magnetic tape data storage products headquartered in Boulder, Colorado, United States. Exabyte Corp. is now defunct, but company's technology is sold by TANDBERG DATA under both brand names. Prior to the 2006 demise, Exabyte offered tape storage and automation solutions for servers, workstations, LANs and SANs. Exabyte manufactured VXA and LTO based products. The company controlled VXA technology but did not play a large role in the LTO community.

Corporate history

The company was formed in 1985 by a group of ex-StorageTek engineers who were interesting in using consumer videotape technology for data storage. The company advanced technology for computer backups in 1987 when they introduced the Data8 magnetic tape format.

Acquisitions

Exabyte's history of acquisitions includes:
* 1992 - R-Byte, Inc., a maker of 4mm tape systems. [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EKF/is_n2007_v40/ai_15095427]
* 1993 - Tallgrass Technologies of Lenexa, KS. Tallgrass manufactured 4mm DDS drives, backup software, and had a significant distribution channel. [http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EKF/is_n1949_v39/ai_13444898]
* 1993 - Everex's "Mass Storage Division" (MSD). Everex did its research and development in Ann Arbor, MI and manufactured its products in Fremont, CA. Everex MSD made QIC products.
* October 1994 - Grundig Data Scanner GmbH, for $2.9 million and renamed "Exabyte Magnetics GmbH". This subsidiary designed and manufactured helical scan tape heads. [http://www.secinfo.com/dQ32a.b3.htm]

Ecrix merger

Exabyte acquired the VXA Packet Technology tape drive format after a 2001 merger with Ecrix. Exabyte has a worldwide network of OEMs, distributors and resellers including partners such as IBM, HP, Fujitsu Limited, Fujitsu Siemens Computers, Apple Computer, Toshiba, Logitech, Imation, Tech Data, Ingram Micro and CDW.

Demise

* On 30 June 2006, Exabyte announced that they are looking for a buyer. [http://www.exabyte.com/company/press/display.cfm?id=3863 Press Release]
* On 30 August 2006, Tandberg Data announced that they were buying Exabyte's assets for 28 million USD.
** [http://www.tandbergdata.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=251&Itemid=60 Tandberg's press release]
** [http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=86414&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=900377&highlight= Exabyte's press release]
* The acquisition was completed on 20 November 2006.

External links

* [http://www.exabyte.com Company Homepage]
* [http://www.tandbergdata.com Tandberg Tape Backup Drives]
* [http://www.jetcafe.org/~npc/articles/exabyte-tape-drives.html Exabyte tape drives]
* [http://www.exabyte.com/support/faq/drivetype_mam.cfm Identifying Mammothtape and 8 mm tape drives]
* [http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Exabyte-Corporation-Company-History1.html Company history, 1985-2000]
* [http://www.exabyte.com/technology/summaries/backup-appliance.cfm Backup Appliance]