GST Computer Systems

GST Computer Systems was a group of computer businesses established in Cambridge, England, in June 1979 by Jeff Fenton. It began as a contract software-development company and later expanded into software consultancy, consumer software publishing, computer-game distribution, software training, and desktop publishing. The group worked with several important British and international computer companies, including Atari, Sinclair Research, Torch Computers, Acorn Computers, Monotype Corporation, and Kwik-Fit. A major early phase of GST's development came through its work with Sinclair Research. In 1983, GST produced the 68K/OS operating system and development software connected with Sinclair's planned 68000-based computer initiatives. Although Sinclair ultimately rejected 68K/OS, GST's work positioned the company as a specialist in systems software and helped establish relationships in the emerging British microcomputer market. GST subsequently created development tools for the Sinclair QL, a 68000-based personal computer launched by Sinclair in 1984. In 1985, Atari Corporation asked GST to port software from the Sinclair QL to the newly introduced Atari ST. GST adapted its word processor, 1st Word, for the Atari platform. The software was bundled with Atari ST computers during the first two years of the machine's commercial life, giving GST substantial visibility among Atari users and making it one of the platform's leading software suppliers. The company's Atari-related work included productivity software and development tools as well as products distributed through associated labels. The group operated through several specialist divisions. GST Professional Services provided software consultancy and was later sold, becoming OTIB A.T. GST Software Products developed and published retail software, with Timeworks Publisher becoming its best-known product. GST Training Centre offered classroom-based software training in Cambridgeshire. Electric Software served as a games label, publishing titles for home computers such as the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and MSX-compatible systems during the early 1980s. GST's most commercially significant product was Timeworks Publisher, its first desktop-publishing application, released in 1987. In the United States, the product was distributed by Chicago-based Timeworks, Inc. under the name Publish-It!. It became a leading budget desktop-publishing package and was subsequently marketed under a succession of names and labels, including NEBS PageMagic, Macmillan Publisher, and Canon Publisher. The product's files used the .DTP extension, and later versions retained downward compatibility with earlier documents. Competition from Microsoft Publisher after 1993 weakened the position of Timeworks, Inc., although the software lineage continued through later products such as Greenstreet Publisher 4. In 2001, GST merged with eGames Europe to form Greenstreet Software. The successor company concentrated on developing and publishing software for Microsoft Windows, thereby moving away from GST's original focus on British microcomputers and the Atari ST. In July 2008, the business was reconstructed and traded as Greenstreet Online Limited. Greenstreet Online was declared insolvent and entered voluntary liquidation in November 2012. GST Computer Systems is therefore best understood as a defunct historical software group whose principal legacy lies in early British computer software, Atari ST productivity applications, and the long-running Timeworks Publisher desktop-publishing product family.

GST Computer Systems was founded in Cambridge, England, in June 1979 by Jeff Fenton. The company initially operated as a contract software-development house, building technical expertise in systems programming and application development for the expanding British microcomputer industry. Rather than beginning as a conventional boxed-software publisher, GST developed its business through engineering contracts and partnerships with computer manufacturers and other commercial organizations. In 1983, GST became involved with Sinclair Research. It developed 68K/OS, an operating system associated with Sinclair's 68000-based computer work, although Sinclair later rejected the system. GST also produced development software for the Sinclair QL, Sinclair's 68000-based personal computer. These projects gave GST experience in operating systems, compilers, and platform-specific development tools, and helped connect the company to several influential computer manufacturers. GST's relationship with Atari became especially important. In 1985, Atari Corporation approached the company to port software from the Sinclair QL to the newly launched Atari ST. GST adapted its 1st Word word processor for the Atari platform. Atari bundled 1st Word with every Atari ST during the first two years of the computer's life, creating a large installed base for GST's software and making the company one of the leading software suppliers for the Atari ST. The broader GST group developed a number of related operations. GST Professional Services worked as a software consultancy before being sold and becoming OTIB A.T. GST Software Products was responsible for retail software, while GST Training Centre supplied classroom-based software training in Cambridgeshire. Electric Software operated as a games label and released titles for home computers including the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and MSX-compatible machines during the early 1980s. The group also worked with organizations such as Torch Computers, Acorn Computers, Monotype Corporation, and Kwik-Fit. In 1987, GST developed its first desktop-publishing application, Timeworks Publisher. Timeworks, Inc., a software publisher based in Chicago, distributed the product in the United States under the name Publish-It!. The application occupied the lower-priced end of the desktop-publishing market and became a leading budget product. Its commercial life continued through multiple licensing and branding arrangements. It was marketed under names including NEBS PageMagic, Macmillan Publisher, and Canon Publisher; the NEBS name was changed after objections from Adobe. The various editions were linked by their use of the .DTP file extension, and later releases retained compatibility with earlier documents. The product lineage eventually reached Greenstreet Publisher 4. The desktop-publishing business faced a major competitive challenge after Microsoft Publisher gained traction from 1993 onward. This contributed to the eventual decline of Timeworks, Inc., although the software itself continued to be rebranded and sold. GST therefore had a legacy extending beyond its original corporate identity: its applications remained available through successor companies and third-party publishing arrangements. In 2001, GST merged with eGames Europe to form Greenstreet Software. The successor shifted its principal emphasis toward software for Microsoft Windows, reflecting the decline of the Atari ST and other early home-computer platforms. In July 2008, the business was reconstructed and traded as Greenstreet Online Limited. That company was declared insolvent and entered voluntary liquidation in November 2012. GST Computer Systems is consequently a defunct software group remembered for its work on early British personal computers, its Atari ST productivity software, its Electric Software games label, and the durable Timeworks Publisher product family.

• 2012

  Successor enters liquidation

  [1]GST Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  Greenstreet Online Limited was declared insolvent and entered voluntary liquidation in November.

• 2008

  Successor trades as Greenstreet Online Limited

  [1]GST Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  Following a reconstruction in July, the successor business traded as Greenstreet Online Limited.

• 2001

  GST merges with eGames Europe

  [1]GST Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  The merger created Greenstreet Software, a successor focused on Windows software development and publishing.

• 1993

  Microsoft Publisher intensifies competitive pressure

  [1]GST Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  Competition from Microsoft Publisher contributed to the eventual decline of Timeworks, Inc., the US publisher associated with Publish-It!.

• 1987

  Timeworks Publisher is developed

  [1]GST Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  GST created Timeworks Publisher, a desktop-publishing application later distributed in the United States as Publish-It! and sold under several subsequent brands.

• 1985

  GST ports software to the Atari ST

  [1]GST Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  Atari Corporation engaged GST to port software from the Sinclair QL to the Atari ST, including the 1st Word word processor.

• 1983

  GST begins work connected with Sinclair Research

  [1]GST Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  GST developed 68K/OS and development software associated with Sinclair Research's 68000-based computer projects and the Sinclair QL.

• 1979

  GST Computer Systems is founded

  [1]GST Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org

  Jeff Fenton founded GST Computer Systems in Cambridge, England, in June 1979 as a contract software-development company.

A specialist British software developer and publisher serving early personal-computer platforms, with particular strengths in systems software, productivity applications, Atari ST software, and affordable desktop publishing.

• Operating system · 1983

  68K/OS

  An operating system developed for Sinclair Research's 68000-based computer work. Sinclair ultimately rejected the system, but the project demonstrated GST's systems-software capabilities during the early British microcomputer era.

• Word-processing software · 1985

  1st Word

  GST's word-processing package was ported from the Sinclair QL to the Atari ST in response to Atari Corporation's request. Atari bundled it with Atari ST computers during the platform's first two years, making it one of GST's most visible products.

• Desktop-publishing software · 1987

  Timeworks Publisher

  GST's first desktop-publishing application, developed in 1987. It was distributed in the United States as Publish-It! and later appeared under several labels, including NEBS PageMagic, Macmillan Publisher, and Canon Publisher. Its document lineage used the .DTP file extension.

• Computer games

  Electric Software games

  A GST games label that produced and published titles for early home-computer systems, including the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and MSX-compatible computers during the early 1980s.

• Desktop-publishing software

  Greenstreet Publisher 4

  A later continuation of the Timeworks Publisher product lineage. It retained downward compatibility with earlier files and represented the product family's continuation under the Greenstreet name.

• 2008

  Reconstruction as Greenstreet Online LimitedStrategy

  Background

  The Greenstreet successor underwent a corporate reconstruction in the late 2000s.

  Action taken

  In July 2008, the business was reconstructed and traded as Greenstreet Online Limited.

  Aftermath

  The successor later became insolvent and entered voluntary liquidation in 2012.

  Source

• 2001

  Merge with eGames EuropeM&A

  Background

  GST's original microcomputer markets had matured, creating a need for a successor structure and a broader software publishing focus.

  Action taken

  GST merged with eGames Europe to create Greenstreet Software.

  Aftermath

  The successor concentrated on software development and publishing for Windows.

  Source

• 1987

  Enter the desktop-publishing marketProduct launch

  Background

  GST had developed software for several early personal-computer platforms and sought a major retail application category beyond systems and word-processing tools.

  Action taken

  GST developed Timeworks Publisher and arranged US distribution through Timeworks, Inc. under the Publish-It! name.

  Aftermath

  The product became a leading budget desktop-publishing application and continued through multiple brand and distribution arrangements.

  Source

• 1985

  Expand from Sinclair software into Atari ST productsStrategy

  Background

  The launch of the Atari ST created demand for software adapted from other 68000-based systems, including the Sinclair QL.

  Action taken

  GST ported 1st Word and other products from the Sinclair QL to the Atari ST after being approached by Atari Corporation.

  Aftermath

  The Atari bundle gave GST broad distribution and helped establish it as a leading software supplier for the Atari ST.

  Source

1. 1GST Computer Systemsen.wikipedia.org