Award Software Explained

Award Software International Inc. was a BIOS manufacturer founded in 1983^[1] by Rene Vishney and Bob Stillman in San Jose, California. In 1984, the company moved its international headquarters to Los Gatos, California, United States.^{[2] [3]}

History

In 1988, Bob Stillman left the company. The company was held privately by Rene Vishney (chairman of the board) and his wife, Deborah Lee (Marlow) Vishney (Chief Executive Officer).

In 1993, it was sold to Taiwan company GCH Systems Ltd. (now defunct).^[4]

On 24 October 1996, Award Software International Inc. announced its initial public offering.^[5]

On 16 June 1997, Award Software International Inc. announced the acquisition of BIOS upgrades provider Unicore Software, Inc.^[6] making it a subsidiary of Award.^[7]

On 16 April 1998, Phoenix Technologies Ltd. and Award Software International Inc. announced the completion of a definitive merger agreement where Phoenix Technologies Ltd. would become the surviving corporate entity following the merger completion on 30 June 1998.^[8] The merger was completed on 28 September 1998.^[9]

Subsidiaries

• Award Software Europe
• Award Software Hong Kong, Ltd
• Award Software Japan, KK: Established in 1997-06-03.^[10]
• Award Software International, Inc.
• Unicore Software, Inc.

Products

• AwardBIOS: It is a BIOS developed by Award Software, and later Phoenix Technologies.
  • Note: Later revisions of AwardBIOS still attribute copyright to Award Software Inc. instead of Phoenix Technologies Ltd., even well after the merger was completed in 1998. This also applies to UEFI firmwares.^[11]
• CardWare: It is a PC Card software product.^[12]
• EliteBIOS: It is the system management software product that Award Software designs, develops and markets to the manufacturers of desktop, server, mobile and embedded systems.^[13]
• PC DIAG: Diagnostic software
• CheckIt POSTcard: Power On Self Test system diagnostic board^[14]
  • ISA POSTcard: ISA Diagnostic hardware
  • PCI POSTcard: PCI Diagnostic hardware
• Preboot Manager
• SMSAccess: System management software suite^[15]
  • DMIAccess: Desktop Management Interface utilities
  • LMAccess: Microsoft Windows NT and Windows 95-based hardware status monitoring and alarm application^[16]
  • MPCAccess
  • RPBAccess: Remote, preboot diagnostic and repair software^[17]
• USBAccess: It is a USB-host software targeted for consumer electronics and embedded device manufacturers.^{[18] [19]}
• WWWAccess: Product suite for Internet appliance applications using Intel x86 embedded design.^[20]
  • APIAccess: Integrates Win32 applications into real-time systems. Formerly Willows Toolkit for UNIX and Willows RT for Embedded Systems from Willows Software.^[21]

See also

• BIOS features comparison

External links

• Award website (archive)
• Award Software has merged with Phoenix Technologies (archive)
• Unicore Software, Inc. (archive)
• Archives of Award Taiwan website (English)
• Taiwan Venutures Capital Corp · SC 13G · Award Software International Inc · On 2/14/97
• Archives of AwardBIOS motherboard download page

Notes and References

1. Web site: Key Dates . https://web.archive.org/web/19970521095351/http://www.award.com/corporat/facts.htm . award.com . 1997-05-21 . 2014-04-17.
2. Web site: 1998-02-16 . Award Software at a Glance . 2023-09-04 . 1998-02-16 . https://web.archive.org/web/19980216055216/http://www.award.com/corporat/frabout.htm . bot: unknown .
3. Web site: Logowik . 2022-12-31 . Award Software International Inc Logo PNG vector in SVG, PDF, AI, CDR format . 2023-09-04 . logowik.com . en.
4. Web site: What Is Award Software? (from Phoenix Technologies) . 2023-09-04 . www.solvusoft.com.
5. https://web.archive.org/web/19971122141430/http://www.award.com/press/96_10_24.htm Award Software International Announces IPO
6. https://web.archive.org/web/19971122054540/http://www.award.com/Press/97_6_16.htm Award Software Acquires Leading BIOS Upgrade Provider Unicore Software
7. "Time running out for PCs at big companies." CNN. June 30, 1998. Retrieved on May 6, 2009.
8. https://web.archive.org/web/19981202192141/http://www.award.com/press/98_4_15m.htm Phoenix Technologies Ltd. and Award Software Agree to Merge
9. https://web.archive.org/web/19981202192141/http://www.award.com/press/98_4_15m.htm Phoenix Completes Award Merger and Sand Acquisition
10. https://web.archive.org/web/19970619000223/http://www.award.com/press/97_6_3.htm AWARD SOFTWARE ESTABLISHES A JAPANESE SUBSIDIARY
11. Web site: Installation of the Windows Longhorn [Build 5231 Beta 2] . .
12. https://web.archive.org/web/19970520003857/http://www.award.com/press/96_1118b.htm Award Software International® Inc. Introduces CardWare® 5.0 for Microsoft Window NT 4.0
13. https://web.archive.org/web/20060311144425/http://www.idt.com/?id=467 AWARD SOFTWARE EliteBIOS SUPPORTS INTEL-COMPATIBLE CENTAUR IDT-C6™ MICROPROCESSOR
14. Web site: Unicore Software, Inc CheckIt POSTcard POSTcard mini and PCI POSTcard Power On Self Test (POST) System Diagnostic Board Version 2.0 User's Manual . 2012-02-03 . https://web.archive.org/web/20101226060457/http://biosagentplus.com/techsupport/award/postcardmini.pdf . 2010-12-26 . dead .
15. https://web.archive.org/web/19970129032404/http://www.award.com/press/96_9_4.htm Award Announces Total Software Solution for x86 Intel Embedded Products
16. https://web.archive.org/web/19971122054452/http://www.award.com/Press/97_10_14.htm Award Software and Motorola Computer Group Join in Embedded Motherboard Technology Relationship
17. https://web.archive.org/web/19970129032217/http://www.award.com/press/96_11_19.htm Award Software International® Inc. Introduces Remote, Preboot Diagnostic and Repair Software
18. https://web.archive.org/web/19981206035337/http://www.award.com/press/98_1_8.htm Award Software Announces First USB Host-Enabling Software for Embedded Systems, Consumer Electronics Products
19. https://web.archive.org/web/19980216055059/http://www.award.com/press/98_2_3.htm Award Software Announces USBAccess™ Support for Wind River Systems’ Tornado
20. https://web.archive.org/web/19981202031156/http://www.award.com/press/98_2_2.htm Award Software and Access Join in Strategic Alliance to Offer Internet Appliance Software Solution Including Windows Applications
21. https://web.archive.org/web/19970619000329/http://www.award.com/press/97_3_5a.htm AWARD SOFTWARE INTERNATIONAL® INC. ACQUIRES WILLOWS SOFTWARE MIDDLEWARE FOR EMBEDDED, REAL-TIME AND UNIX SYSTEMS