Commodore - Formed in 1958 in Canada, manufacturing punchcard systems, typewriters and cash tills. They bought Micro Office Systems in 1974, who reworked Motorola's 6800 chip to produce the 6502. In 1977, Commodore released their first home computer, the PET (Personal Electronic Transactor), which was followed by the VIC 20. After followed the Commodore 64, which was to be the single most popular computer of all time. They could then invest in the Amiga technology to produce the A1000 in 1985. Since then, the Amiga formed Commodore's main product portfolio, although they produced some PCs (286s and 386s).
Escom - Escom was founded in 1987 in Germany by Manfred Schmitt, and now claims to be Europe's second largest PC manufacturer. In 1994, as well as the takeover of Commodore, it also purchased over 200 former Rumbelows outlets.
Viscorp - Viscorp was fouded in 1990 by Roger Remillard, in Chicago. Short for Visual Information Services Corporation, they specialise in interactive television products. They received a licence to use Amiga chips, in early 1996, principally for their ED (Electronic Device), which is an interactive TV set-top box that is to be released at the end of this year, allowing internet access, among other things, from a home TV.
