MicroSystems International
Encyclopedia
Microsystems International Limited (MIL) was a telecommunications microelectronics
company based in Ottawa, founded in 1969. MIL was an early attempt to create a merchant semiconductor house by Nortel Networks (then Northern Electric). MIL was purchased and folded into Nortel's research arm Bell-Northern Research
in 1974.
MIL is historically important as the producers of one of the world's earliest microprocessor
s, the MIL MF7114, who's design was based on the Intel 4004
. MIL also produced a series of early microcomputer
s using this chip, including the MIL CPS-1, which may be the earliest example of a microcomputer system that was shipped in completed form, as opposed to a kit that had to be assembled. Several other upgraded models followed.
, Intel and Monsanto Company). It was purchased and folded into Nortel's research arm Bell-Northern Research
in 1974.
and Michael Cowpland
. The pair left the company to found much of the high tech industry in Ottawa
, Canada
. They started Mitel
together. Cowpland later started Corel
. Matthews later started Newbridge Networks
. Cowpland's boss at MIL cautioned him against leaving the security of a large company just a few months before MIL was wound up.
Microelectronics
Microelectronics is a subfield of electronics. As the name suggests, microelectronics relates to the study and manufacture of very small electronic components. Usually, but not always, this means micrometre-scale or smaller,. These devices are made from semiconductors...
company based in Ottawa, founded in 1969. MIL was an early attempt to create a merchant semiconductor house by Nortel Networks (then Northern Electric). MIL was purchased and folded into Nortel's research arm Bell-Northern Research
Bell-Northern Research
Bell-Northern Research was a telecommunications research and development organizations jointly owned by Bell Canada and Northern Telecom...
in 1974.
MIL is historically important as the producers of one of the world's earliest microprocessor
Microprocessor
A microprocessor incorporates the functions of a computer's central processing unit on a single integrated circuit, or at most a few integrated circuits. It is a multipurpose, programmable device that accepts digital data as input, processes it according to instructions stored in its memory, and...
s, the MIL MF7114, who's design was based on the Intel 4004
Intel 4004
The Intel 4004 was a 4-bit central processing unit released by Intel Corporation in 1971. It was the first complete CPU on one chip, and also the first commercially available microprocessor...
. MIL also produced a series of early microcomputer
Microcomputer
A microcomputer is a computer with a microprocessor as its central processing unit. They are physically small compared to mainframe and minicomputers...
s using this chip, including the MIL CPS-1, which may be the earliest example of a microcomputer system that was shipped in completed form, as opposed to a kit that had to be assembled. Several other upgraded models followed.
Creation
Electronic manufacturers were at that time forced to create custom integrated circuits due to the lack of industry standard ICs. MIL was an attempt to create a merchant company that could supply such standard devices as well as custom devices for Northern Electric products. Northern Electric entered the field partly at the urging of the Canadian federal government even though it has strong doubts of the viability of the company. MIL failed in the marketplace against other attempts to do the same thing (notably Texas InstrumentsTexas Instruments
Texas Instruments Inc. , widely known as TI, is an American company based in Dallas, Texas, United States, which develops and commercializes semiconductor and computer technology...
, Intel and Monsanto Company). It was purchased and folded into Nortel's research arm Bell-Northern Research
Bell-Northern Research
Bell-Northern Research was a telecommunications research and development organizations jointly owned by Bell Canada and Northern Telecom...
in 1974.
Terry Matthews and Michael Cowpland
MIL's most lasting contribution is that it was the meeting place for the entrepreneurs Terry MatthewsTerry Matthews
Sir Terence Hedley Matthews OBE, FIEE, FREng is a Welsh business magnate, serial high tech entrepreneur, and Wales's first billionaire....
and Michael Cowpland
Michael Cowpland
Michael Cowpland is a British-born entrepreneur, businessman, and the founder and one-time president, chairman and CEO of Corel, a Canadian software company.-Early life:...
. The pair left the company to found much of the high tech industry in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. They started Mitel
Mitel
Mitel Networks, is a high-tech company providing unified communications solutions for business. The company previously produced TDM PBX systems and applications but after a change in ownership in 2001 now focuses almost entirely on Voice-over-IP products.Mitel is headquartered in Ottawa,...
together. Cowpland later started Corel
Corel
Corel Corporation from the abbreviation is a computer software company headquartered in Ottawa, Ontario, that specializes in graphics processing, similar to Adobe Systems...
. Matthews later started Newbridge Networks
Newbridge Networks
Newbridge Networks was an Ottawa, Ontario, Canada company founded by Welsh-Canadian entrepreneur Sir Terry Matthews. It was founded in 1986 to create data and voice networking products after Matthews was forced out of his original company Mitel...
. Cowpland's boss at MIL cautioned him against leaving the security of a large company just a few months before MIL was wound up.