IMS Associates

IMS Associates, Inc., also known as IMSAI, was an American computer company founded by William Millard in 1973 and based in San Leandro, California. The name IMS stood for “Information Management Sciences.” The company began in computer consultancy and engineering, providing software and engineering services to mainframe users, including businesses and the United States Government. In the mid-1970s, it shifted from consulting toward computer manufacturing and became known for the IMSAI 8080, one of the early commercial successes in personal computing. The IMSAI 8080 grew out of work on a proposed computer system for General Motors dealerships. After that project stopped, Millard and chief engineer Joe Killian turned to the Intel 8080 microprocessor. IMS Associates began developing the computer and advertised it in Popular Electronics in 1975. The company shipped its first kits on December 16, 1975, and subsequently offered assembled units. The supplied account reports that between 17,000 and 20,000 units were eventually produced by IMS Associates. In 1976, the company completed its transition from consultancy to manufacturing and changed its name to IMSAI Manufacturing Corporation. As competition and the arrival of the Zilog Z80 affected sales, Millard redirected the business toward retailing. In 1977 he established a franchised retail chain initially called Computer Shack, later renamed ComputerLand after legal threats from Radio Shack. ComputerLand sold products from IMSAI and other computer makers. The retail expansion drew resources and attention away from IMSAI’s manufacturing business, which filed for bankruptcy in October 1979. The company is no longer operating under its original corporate identity. After the parent company folded, former employees Thomas “Todd” Fischer and Nancy Freitas continued product support and manufacturing through Fischer-Freitas Company using the IMSAI name and trademark. The supplied account states that the IMSAI word mark later expired in 2004. IMS Associates’ historical significance rests chiefly on the IMSAI 8080 and its place in the formative period of personal computing.

IMS Associates began as a computer consultancy founded by William Millard in May 1972. Millard initially operated from his home, drawing on work similar to his earlier computer-related work for the city and county of San Francisco. In 1973 he established IMS Associates, Inc. The firm obtained software contracts and provided advanced engineering and software management to mainframe users, including businesses and the United States Government. Its name, IMS, stood for “Information Management Sciences.” A proposed system for General Motors dealerships became the turning point toward manufacturing. In 1974, a client wanted a workstation system combining terminals, a small computer, a printer, and specialized software, with several workstations sharing a hard disk. Development of that project was eventually stopped. Millard and chief engineer Joe Killian then focused on the Intel 8080 microprocessor, which they regarded as a more capable basis for a computer than the Intel 4004 they had previously encountered. Development of the IMSAI 8080 proceeded at full scale. The company placed an advertisement in Popular Electronics by October 1975, which drew a positive response, and shipped its first kits on December 16, 1975. Fully assembled units followed. The supplied account estimates that IMS Associates ultimately produced between 17,000 and 20,000 units. The product established the company as an early participant in the personal-computer market. In 1976, IMS Associates completed its transition from consultancy to manufacturing and changed its name to IMSAI Manufacturing Corporation. The market changed as well: the Zilog Z80, introduced in 1976, offered advantages over the 8080, and IMSAI sales fell. In 1977 Millard shifted the company’s direction again, this time toward computer retail. He established a franchised chain initially called Computer Shack; following legal threats from Radio Shack, the name became ComputerLand. The chain sold IMSAI computers as well as products from Apple, North Star, Cromemco, and other manufacturers. The manufacturing business faced difficulties during this retail expansion. IMSAI developed the VDP-80, an all-in-one computer that performed poorly, and many franchise dealers declined to carry most IMSAI products, apart from popular models such as the IMSAI 8080. The account describes company resources as having been diverted to fund ComputerLand’s expansion, while Millard’s attention also shifted toward the retail chain. IMS Associates, Inc. filed for bankruptcy in October 1979. After the parent company folded, former early employees Thomas “Todd” Fischer and Nancy Freitas continued support and manufacturing through Fischer-Freitas Company, using the IMSAI name and trademark on products including the IMSAI Series Two. The supplied account says that the IMSAI word mark expired on April 6, 2004, because the required renewal documents had not been correctly submitted. The company’s lasting historical association is with the IMSAI 8080 and the early personal-computing era; the computer also appeared in a prominent role in the 1983 film WarGames.

• 2004

  IMSAI word mark expires

• 1983

  IMSAI 8080 appears in WarGames

• 1979

  IMS Associates files for bankruptcy

• 1977

  ComputerLand retail chain is established

• 1976

  Company becomes IMSAI Manufacturing Corporation

• 1975

  IMSAI 8080 is advertised and begins shipping

• 1974

  Dealership workstation project leads toward microcomputers

• 1973

  IMS Associates, Inc. is founded

• 1972

  William Millard begins computer consultancy

An early personal-computer manufacturer that evolved from computer consultancy and engineering into retailing through the ComputerLand franchise business.

• IMSAI 8080

  A microcomputer based on the Intel 8080, introduced in 1975 and IMS Associates’ best-known product.

• IMSAI VDP-80

  An all-in-one computer developed by IMSAI; the supplied account says it worked poorly.

• IMSAI Series Two

  A later product associated with continued IMSAI-branded manufacturing and support by Fischer-Freitas Company.

• Shift from consultancy to computer manufacturingOther

• Shift toward ComputerLand retailingOther

• Required EST Standard Training for executives and key employeesOther

1. 1IMS Associates, Inc.en.wikipedia.org
2. 2IMS Associateswikidata.org