In 2010 Sky integrated Amstrad's satellite division as part of Sky so they could make their own set-top boxes in-house. The company had offices in Kings Road, Brentwood, Essex. == History == === 1960s and 1970s === Amstrad (also known as AMSTrad) was founded in 1968 by Alan Sugar at the age of 21, the name of the original company being AMS Trading (Amstrad) Limited, derived from its founder's initials (Alan Michael Sugar).
Amstrad was a British electronics company, founded in 1968 by Alan Sugar at the age of 21.
In 2010 Sky integrated Amstrad's satellite division as part of Sky so they could make their own set-top boxes in-house. The company had offices in Kings Road, Brentwood, Essex. == History == === 1960s and 1970s === Amstrad (also known as AMSTrad) was founded in 1968 by Alan Sugar at the age of 21, the name of the original company being AMS Trading (Amstrad) Limited, derived from its founder's initials (Alan Michael Sugar).
Alan Sugar: The Amstrad Story (1991), paperback . == External links == Electronics companies established in 1968 Home computer hardware companies Electronics companies of the United Kingdom Computer companies of the United Kingdom Companies formerly listed on the London Stock Exchange Companies based in Brentwood, Essex 1968 establishments in England Defunct computer hardware companies
In 2010 Sky integrated Amstrad's satellite division as part of Sky so they could make their own set-top boxes in-house. The company had offices in Kings Road, Brentwood, Essex. == History == === 1960s and 1970s === Amstrad (also known as AMSTrad) was founded in 1968 by Alan Sugar at the age of 21, the name of the original company being AMS Trading (Amstrad) Limited, derived from its founder's initials (Alan Michael Sugar).
During the 1970s they were at the forefront of low-priced hi-fi, TV and car stereo cassette technologies.
It was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in April 1980.
During the late 1980s, Amstrad had a substantial share of the PC market in the UK.
Their first electrical product was the Amstrad 8000 amplifier. === 1980s === In 1980, Amstrad went public trading on the London Stock Exchange, and doubled in size each year during the early '80s.
Amstrad began marketing its own [computer]s in an attempt to capture the market from Commodore and Sinclair, with the Amstrad CPC range in 1984.
Later "Plus" variants of the 464 and 6128, launched in 1990, increased their functionality slightly. In 1985, the popular Amstrad PCW range was introduced, which were principally word processors, complete with printer, running the LocoScript word processing program.
The Amsoft division of Amstrad was set up to provide in-house software and consumables. On 7 April 1986 Amstrad announced it had bought from Sinclair Research "the worldwide rights to sell and manufacture all existing and future Sinclair computers and computer products, together with the Sinclair brand name and those intellectual property rights where they relate to computers and computer related products", which included the ZX Spectrum, for £5 million.
Amstrad launched two new variants of the Spectrum: the ZX Spectrum +2, based on the ZX Spectrum 128, with a built-in cassette tape drive (like the CPC 464) and, the following year, the ZX Spectrum +3, with a built-in floppy disk drive (similar to the CPC 664 and 6128), taking the 3" disks that many Amstrad machines used. In 1986 Amstrad entered the IBM PC-compatible arena with the PC1512 system.
In 1988 Amstrad attempted to make the first affordable portable personal computer with the PPC512 and 640 models, introduced a year before the Macintosh Portable.
Amstrad's final (and ill-fated) attempts to exploit the Sinclair brand were based on the company's own PCs; a compact desktop PC derived from the PPC 512, branded as the Sinclair PC200, and the PC1512 rebadged as the Sinclair PC500. Amstrad's second generation of PCs, the PC2000 series, were launched in 1989.
Amstrad has been a major supplier of set top boxes to UK satellite TV provider Sky since its launch in 1989.
Later "Plus" variants of the 464 and 6128, launched in 1990, increased their functionality slightly. In 1985, the popular Amstrad PCW range was introduced, which were principally word processors, complete with printer, running the LocoScript word processing program.
Amstrad later successfully sued Seagate, but following bad press over the hard disk problems, Amstrad lost its lead in the European PC market. === 1990s === In the early 1990s, Amstrad began to focus on portable computers rather than desktop computers.
In 1990, Amstrad tried to enter the video game console market with the Amstrad GX4000, similar to what Commodore did at the same time with the C64 GS.
It lacked most features that the Apple Newton included, but had a lower price at $450. As Amstrad began to concentrate less on computers and more in communication, they purchased several telecommunications businesses including Betacom, Dancall Telecom, Viglen Computers and Dataflex Design Communications during the early 1990s.
The console, based on the Amstrad 464 Plus hardware, was a commercial failure, because it used outdated technology, and most games available for it were straight ports of CPC games that could be purchased for much less in their original format. In 1993, Amstrad was licensed by Sega to produce a system which was similar to the Sega TeraDrive, going by the name of the Amstrad Mega PC, to try to regain their image in the gaming market.
Ultimately, it was the only manufacturer producing receiver boxes and dishes at the system's launch, and has continued to manufacture set top boxes for Sky, from analogue to digital and now including Sky's Sky+ digital video recorder. In 1997, Amstrad PLC was wound up, its shares being split into Viglen and Betacom instead.
Betacom PLC was then renamed Amstrad PLC. The same year, Amstrad supplied set top boxes to Australian broadcaster Foxtel, and in 2004 to Italian broadcaster Sky Italia. === 21st Century === In 2000, Amstrad released the first of its combined telephony and e-mail devices, called the E-m@iler.
This was followed by the E-m@iler Plus in 2002, and the E3 Videophone in 2004.
Betacom PLC was then renamed Amstrad PLC. The same year, Amstrad supplied set top boxes to Australian broadcaster Foxtel, and in 2004 to Italian broadcaster Sky Italia. === 21st Century === In 2000, Amstrad released the first of its combined telephony and e-mail devices, called the E-m@iler.
This was followed by the E-m@iler Plus in 2002, and the E3 Videophone in 2004.
Amstrad was once a FTSE 100 Index constituent but since 2007 is wholly owned by Sky UK.
Amstrad's UK E-m@iler business is operated through a separate company, Amserve Ltd which is 89.8% owned by Amstrad and 10.2% owned by DSG International plc (formerly Dixons plc). Amstrad has also produced a variety of home entertainment products over their history, including hi-fi, televisions, VCRs, and DVD players. ==== BSkyB takeover ==== In July 2007, BSkyB announced a takeover of Amstrad for £125m, a 23.7% premium on its market capitalisation.
In 2010 Sky integrated Amstrad's satellite division as part of Sky so they could make their own set-top boxes in-house. The company had offices in Kings Road, Brentwood, Essex. == History == === 1960s and 1970s === Amstrad (also known as AMSTrad) was founded in 1968 by Alan Sugar at the age of 21, the name of the original company being AMS Trading (Amstrad) Limited, derived from its founder's initials (Alan Michael Sugar).
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