EShop
Encyclopedia
eShop was a company founded in May, 1991. It was started as a software company to develop products for Go Corporation's PenPoint operation system. In later years, it developed software for the Windows for Pen Computing
and Magic Cap
platforms. In 1993, it was renamed to eShop and developed electronic commerce software, focusing primarily on the "business-to-consumer" marketplace.
eShop was acquired by Microsoft
in June, 1996, where eShop's technology formed the basis of Microsoft Merchant Server
.
Other, unreleased and/or little-known software included ports of SimCity
to the PenPoint and Magic Cap platforms, a custom shared whiteboarding application that operated over a low-baud-rate telephone system, a Telescript-based shopping system for AT&T
's PersonalLink service, and a post-it note system for PenPoint.
, 1-800-Flowers
, Spiegel
, and Good Guys.
In 1995, the eShop Browser was updated to allow for connections through users' existing Internet connections.
is the most notable founder of eShop. He left the company in the fall of 1994 to begin work at General Magic
. Pierre had discussed the importance and his desire to be involved in "consumer-to-consumer" commerce, but since eShop was only interested in business-to-consumer market, his ideas were never picked up. Pierre would later launch eBay
.
Windows for Pen Computing
Windows for Pen Computing was a software suite for Windows 3.1x, that Microsoft designed to incorporate pen computing capabilities into the Windows operating environment...
and Magic Cap
Magic Cap
Magic Cap was an object-oriented operating system for PDAs developed by General Magic. Tony Fadell was in charge of the platform. Darin Adler was an architect....
platforms. In 1993, it was renamed to eShop and developed electronic commerce software, focusing primarily on the "business-to-consumer" marketplace.
eShop was acquired by Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
in June, 1996, where eShop's technology formed the basis of Microsoft Merchant Server
Microsoft Merchant Server
Microsoft Merchant Server, released in October 1996, was Microsoft's solution for the growing Business-to-Consumer sales business taking place on the Internet...
.
Products
- InkWare NoteTaker
- InkWare Photo
- eShop Plaza
Other, unreleased and/or little-known software included ports of SimCity
SimCity
SimCity is a critically acclaimed city-building simulation video game, first released in 1989, and designed by Will Wright. SimCity was Maxis' first product, which has since been ported into various personal computers and game consoles, and spawned several sequels including SimCity 2000 in 1994,...
to the PenPoint and Magic Cap platforms, a custom shared whiteboarding application that operated over a low-baud-rate telephone system, a Telescript-based shopping system for AT&T
AT&T
AT&T Inc. is an American multinational telecommunications corporation headquartered in Whitacre Tower, Dallas, Texas, United States. It is the largest provider of mobile telephony and fixed telephony in the United States, and is also a provider of broadband and subscription television services...
's PersonalLink service, and a post-it note system for PenPoint.
eShop Plaza
eShop Plaza was a custom client/server system. Users installed a Windows application that connected to the eShop servers through the old X.25 CompuServe and Sprint networks. The application was called the "eShop Browser" and allowed users to browse stores within the Plaza. At launch, this included stores such as Tower RecordsTower Records
Tower Records was a retail music chain that was based in Sacramento, California. It currently exists as an international franchise and an online music store....
, 1-800-Flowers
1-800-Flowers
1-800-Flowers is a floral and gift retailer and distribution company in the United States. It was one of the first retailers to use a 24 x 7 toll-free telephone number and the Internet for direct sales to consumers....
, Spiegel
Der Spiegel
Der Spiegel is a German weekly news magazine published in Hamburg. It is one of Europe's largest publications of its kind, with a weekly circulation of more than one million.-Overview:...
, and Good Guys.
In 1995, the eShop Browser was updated to allow for connections through users' existing Internet connections.
Lost opportunity
Pierre OmidyarPierre Omidyar
Pierre Morad Omidyar is a French-Iranian American entrepreneur and philanthropist/economist, and the founder/chairman of the eBay auction site...
is the most notable founder of eShop. He left the company in the fall of 1994 to begin work at General Magic
General Magic
General Magic was a company co-founded by Bill Atkinson, Andy Hertzfeld and Marc Porat that developed a new kind of handheld communications device they called a "personal intelligent communicator", which was a PDA precursor that stressed communications....
. Pierre had discussed the importance and his desire to be involved in "consumer-to-consumer" commerce, but since eShop was only interested in business-to-consumer market, his ideas were never picked up. Pierre would later launch eBay
EBay
eBay Inc. is an American internet consumer-to-consumer corporation that manages eBay.com, an online auction and shopping website in which people and businesses buy and sell a broad variety of goods and services worldwide...
.
External links
- InkWare NoteTaker announced, an article about PenPoint products
- "IBM, Microsoft do some power shopping", an article on CNET