TouchStone Software Corp has acquired the CardWare product line from Phoenix Technologies Inc, and won a licensing agreement with Compaq Computer Corp for the technology. Cardware, which Phoenix bought as part of its acquisition of Award Software International Inc a year ago (CI No 3,390), is intended to simplify end-user PC card use. Devices such as modem, ATA, SRAM, flash and zoomed video cards can be inserted, removed and exchanged in Windows NT environments without reboot, and the technology also supports Compaq’s power management suspend and resume modes. Compaq will use the technology for its Mobile PC range. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.
TouchStone, which makes the CheckIT range of PC diagnostics tools, is based in North Andover, Massachusetts. Earlier this year the company agreed to acquire systems management firm Unicore Software Inc, Unicore was also previously a wholly-owned subsidiary of Award until it was spun-off as a separate unit last October. Unicore’s CEO Pierre Narath has now taken over as the president and CEO of TouchStone, replacing Kenneth Forbes (CI No 3,572). รก
