Starfish Software

Last updated
Starfish Software
Company type
  • 1998–2003: Subsidiary of Motorola
  • 2003–2006: Subsidiary of Pumatech, Inc. (Intellisync)
  • 2006–2008: Subsidiary of Nokia
Industry Wireless software
Founded1994;32 years ago (1994)
Headquarters Santa Cruz, California, U.S.
Key people
ProductsTrueSync

Starfish Software was an American software company founded in 1994 in Santa Cruz, California, by Philippe Kahn and Sonia Lee, best known for developing early device-synchronisation technologies, including the first over-the-air synchronisation system, TrueSync, before being acquired by Motorola in 1998 and later by Pumatech in 2003.

History

Starfish Software was founded in 1994 [1] by Philippe Kahn and Sonia Lee, as a spin-off from the Simplify business unit from Borland and Kahn's severance from Borland. It was located in Santa Cruz, California.

Starfish developed intellectual property for device synchronization, especially for wireless devices. TrueSync was the first over-the-air synchronization system. Starfish was acquired by Motorola for $325 million in 1998. [2] The outspoken founding couple founded another company, LightSurf, in the same year, to develop mobile phone photograph technology. [3]

In 2000, the company helped start the SyncML Initiative to standardize synchronization communication protocols. [4] In March 2003, Starfish was acquired by Pumatech in San Jose, California, [5] which was headed by turn-around CEO Woodson Hobbs. [6] Pumatech later changed its name to Intellisync, and was acquired by Nokia in 2005. [7]

References

  1. ↑ "EX-99.1: Starfish Software, Inc. Audited Financial Statements". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission . 2003. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  2. ↑ "Motorola to Acquire Starfish Software Inc". Press release. Motorola. July 14, 1998. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  3. ↑ Bob Parks (October 2000). "Wired Magazine, The Big Picture - Borland International Inc.'s Philippe Kahn" . Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  4. ↑ "SyncML: The new era in synchronization". Original web site. Archived from the original on April 7, 2000. Retrieved August 26, 2013.
  5. ↑ "Pumatech Buys Starfish From Motorola" . The Wall Street Journal. 2003-03-31. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  6. ↑ "Pumatech Takes Starfish Off of Motorola's Hands" . The Wall Street Journal. 2003-04-10. Retrieved 2026-01-28.
  7. ↑ "Nokia to extend leadership in enterprise mobility with acquisition of Intellisync". Press release. November 16, 2005. Archived from the original on August 19, 2009. Retrieved August 26, 2013.


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