What is "infogear"

InfoGear Technology Corporation, founded in 1995, was a startup technology and services company focused on the market for Internet appliances.

The original product concept was developed as part of an internal innovation project at National Semiconductor – code named Project Mercury. Bob Ackerman, a strategy and technology consultant working with National Semiconductors’ Demetris Paraskevopoulos, first discovered the project in National’s labs. Ackerman worked with his colleague Jeff Oscodar and the National team to spin the project out into a start-up company in 1995.

InfoGear had offices in California and an R&D center in Israel. InfoGear developed a line of Internet appliances, of which the best known was the iPhone, an award-winning Internet screenphone. The first-generation iPhone shipped in 1997 and the second in 1999. It was ultimately distributed in the United States, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand. The iPhone trademark was developed and owned by InfoGear.

The InfoGear Network provided user-relevant information and services in conjunction with e-commerce, content and service partners.

InfoGear was acquired by Cisco Systems on March 16, 2000.