440:
579:
611:
597:
34:
362:, began to push down profits. But any losses in this market were overshadowed by the massive expansion of cable television, which quickly took over from the betting systems as the company's primary profit center. In October 1982 they won a $ 100 million contract to supply over 300 cable TV stations with head end systems.
265:. As this market began to saturate, the company split into three parts in 1997; CommScope took the cable infrastructure products, NextLevel the consumer television side, and General Semiconductor the power electronics products. NextLevel took over the GI name the next year. This new GI was purchased by
556:
was GI's original cable TV brand, active from 1948 into the early 1990s. Around 1993, GI dropped the
Jerrold name from their product lines. The Jerrold brand was prominent on both addressable and non-addressable cable TV converter boxes that were used on non-cable ready sets and cable-ready sets with
332:
began to drag down profits. As part of this, the company's interest in several cable television stations were sold off, mostly through their
Jerrold division. As soon as the company's financials improved, the buying spree started anew, buying another five companies by 1975. This had turned them into
473:
2400/2500 Series: There were no on-screen displays: everything was controlled from the remote and front panel. Two alphanumeric displays indicated the current satellite and transponder. A GI 2000PS was needed to use a dish motor. Digital Stereo Audio was available on VideoCipher channels, C/Ku
312:
In the 1950s, the company president Moses
Shapiro began buying a variety of electronics companies, mostly from the New York area. An early purchase was F. W. Sickles Company, a radio manufacturer, which was fully merged in 1951. In April 1957 they added Radio Receptor Company, in 1959 Harris
370:
signals, VideoCipher II. This product took some time to start to sell, but by 1987 they were seeing demand outstrip supply. By the end of the year they had total sales of $ 1.16 billion. This success was short-lived, and by 1990 they were once again operating at a loss.
313:
Transducer, and among their more notable purchases, closed
General Transistor in 1960. Most of these were left to operate as wholly-owned but independent divisions. The buying continued through the 1960s, added Signalite in 1966 and Universal Controls and
365:
Through the mid-1980s the company suffered a series of reversals. Looking for new markets, in 1986 they bought M/A-COM's cable division. M/A-COM had earlier purchased VideoCipher, who had developed the industry-standard system for scrambling and decoding
199:
in 1923 as an electronics manufacturer. During the 1950s, the company began a series of acquisitions under the direction of Moses
Shapiro. Among the more notable purchases was General Transistor in 1960, which led to GI becoming a major producer of
430:
On
November 8, 2018, CommScope announced that it would acquire ARRIS in a cash deal valued at $ 7.4 billion including the repayment of debt. This acquisition brings back together two of the former General Instrument companies from the 1997 split.
341:
Shapiro retired in 1975 and was replaced by Frank Hickey, who focused the company on its two most profitable markets, cable television and gaming. The gaming market was primarily through their purchase of
American Totalisator, who ran
387:(HDTV) market. To continue operations they laid off large numbers of staff, mostly at the headquarters. In 1992 they demonstrated their HDTV system and won a contract for 100,000 compressors. This led Rumsfeld to launch an
353:
By 1980, Hickey had managed to sell off most of the poorly-performing divisions and company debt had been reduced from 100% of assets to 20%. The success with
American Totalisator began to wane as other companies, notably
399:
The HDTV market stabilized the company for a time, but by the mid-90s other entrants were once again eroding the company's profits. In 1997 the company split into three parts, General
Semiconductor (power electronics),
415:
Network
Systems a few months later. After being called Connected Home Solutions, it was renamed Home and Networks Mobility in 2007. When Motorola split on January 4, 2011, this division became part of
942:
379:
In August 1990, the company was purchased in a friendly leveraged buyout of $ 1.6 billion by the FLGI Holding. In October 1990, they announced that Hickey would be replaced by
277:. ARRIS was then purchased by CommScope in 2018, once again bringing together all of GI's original television divisions. General Semiconductor continues to operate separately.
1036:
463:
was a system for picking up free and encrypted analog and digital satellite subscription channels. It also included an interactive guide. The product line included:
1041:
724:
throughout the industry. J. L. Seely, manager of MOS Operations at General Instrument Microelectronics Division, also wrote about four-phase logic in late 1967.
904:"ARRIS Acquires Motorola Home: Creates Premier Video Delivery and Broadband Technology Company Powerful Combination Transforms Industry, Accelerates Innovation"
538:
917:
1046:
701:, 86xx, 87xx series of game chips and a single-chip speech synthesizer, the SP0256 Narrator. A version of the SP0256 appeared in Mattel's
1031:
857:
946:
359:
830:
227:, but this market faced significant competition in the late 1970s. At this time, GI became well known for their IC's including the
808:
651:
404:(cable infrastructure) and NextLevel Systems (cable and satellite systems). NextLevel took over the GI name in February 1998.
1003:
738:
616:
GI Microelectronics monogram used in the 1980s (both as seen etched and silkscreened on chips and printed circuit boards)
321:
in December 1967, which became the company's consumer-facing brand for television-related products, mostly through their
20:
411:
in January 2000 for $ 17 billion and became the new Broadband Communication Sector (BCS) along with an acquisition of
562:
474:
compatible. The 2400 was re-branded in the early 1990s by Rural Cable and sold with a fixed C band dish pointed at
254:
field, emerging as the primary supplier in this market by the late 1980s. They sold off their IC division to form
522:
467:
2700 Series: on screen displays, C/Ku switching, digital sound, satellite memory increases with the model number.
439:
63:
876:
720:
moved to General Instrument Microelectronics Division in New York. Wanlass and other GI engineers promoted
690:
239:
943:"General Instrument Microelectronics Renamed Microchip Technology Incorporated as Wholly Owned Subsidiary"
383:. He sold off several divisions to cut overhead. The company then began investing heavily in the emerging
632:
384:
262:
763:
484:
350i Super: extensive on-screen displays, 50 satellites (C or Ku with external switch), digital sound.
706:
647:
228:
487:
450i/550i/650i: extensive on-screen displays, C/Ku pre-programmed satellites, digital sound, extras.
481:
350 Regular: simple receiver with a separate dish mover (some will have a stationary G5 satellite).
881:
534:
388:
290:
141:
132:
537:. It invented and manufactured multibeam sonars used in ocean floor mapping. It was acquired by
329:
184:
104:
636:
624:
510:
423:
announced that it would acquire Motorola Mobility's Home unit (the former GI company) from
367:
314:
255:
247:
232:
224:
475:
8:
673:
553:
420:
318:
274:
213:
990:"To the Digital Age: Research Labs, Start-up Companies, and the Rise of MOS Technology"
542:
427:
for $ 2.35 billion in cash and stock. The acquisition was completed on April 17, 2013.
412:
205:
219:
The company changed markets continually. Through the 1970s they focused mostly on the
903:
416:
347:
286:
220:
804:
578:
490:
4DTV: interactive program guide, two favorite lists, C/Ku band, many other features.
721:
498:
322:
251:
250:
which remain in production as of 2024. They also became increasingly active in the
192:
610:
596:
328:
1970 saw a series of layoffs and downsizing as the poorly performing parts of the
989:
861:
494:
380:
294:
137:
33:
733:
158:
918:"CommScope To Acquire Arris International In About $ 7.4 Bln Deal, Incl. Debt"
858:"ARRIS To Acquire Motorola Home Business For $ 2.35 Billion In Cash And Stock"
1025:
717:
659:
557:
premium pay services. "Jerrold" is the middle name of the company's founder,
448:
350:
and by 1979 they supplied 90% of all the off-track systems in North America.
306:
208:(ICs). By the late 1960s, the company was mostly depending on sales into the
196:
188:
180:
110:
67:
635:), with both off-the-shelf and custom circuits. GI spun the division off as
743:
702:
558:
518:
355:
235:
258:
in 1987, leaving them almost entirely dependent on the television market.
456:
177:
126:
694:
665:
514:
243:
209:
201:
710:
698:
401:
343:
968:
408:
266:
533:
Underseas Lab, a division of General Instrument Corp., located in
452:
655:
628:
424:
270:
333:
a $ 500-million-a-year company, but left them deeply in debt.
212:
industry, which was further bolstered by the 1967 purchase of
470:
2600 Series: similar to 2400 except with on-screen displays.
289:, was chairman from 1969 to 1975. Frank G. Hickey served as
1004:"Advances in the state-of-the-art of MOS device technology"
834:
669:
513:
was a division of General Instrument Corp. It manufactured
460:
505:
654:, a 16-bit CPU, used in the GIMINI TV-game set and in
246:
that were used in a huge variety of designs, and the
1037:
Defunct semiconductor companies of the United States
391:
in 1993, after which he left the company in August.
521:industry. It is now owned by horse-track operator
855:
1023:
877:"Google Sells Cable-Box Unit for $ 2.35 Billion"
565:in 1971. Shapp's given name was Milton Shapiro.
1042:Defunct computer companies of the United States
261:GI became a major leader in the development of
602:GI Microelectronics monogram used in the 1970s
447:General Instrument produced receivers for old
285:Moses Shapiro, father of former Monsanto head
796:
672:version of this chip is the basis of today's
528:
790:International Directory of Company Histories
1001:
874:
631:technology and Electrically Alterable ROM (
896:
849:
802:
788:"General Instrument Corporation History".
623:GI Microelectronics was a manufacturer of
32:
868:
642:In 1980, their product catalog included:
497:used with one-way data services, such as
407:The "new" GI Corporation was acquired by
803:Lindenauer, Andrew (December 28, 2000).
438:
309:in 1923 as an electronics manufacturer.
269:in 2000, which was in turn purchased by
856:ARRIS Group, Inc. (December 19, 2012).
664:8-bit Microcontroller: the PIC1650, an
584:General Instrument wordmark introduced
506:American Totalisator Corporation/AmTote
434:
1024:
783:
781:
779:
777:
775:
773:
568:
811:from the original on January 22, 2021
459:units as well as digital equipment.
443:Videocipher II satellite descrambler
273:who spun out the television side to
1047:Defunct computer hardware companies
823:
770:
739:General Instrument (disambiguation)
689:Other products included the famous
317:in 1967. A more major purchase was
21:General Instrument (disambiguation)
13:
1032:Private equity portfolio companies
945:. 14 December 1987. Archived from
766:. Multichannel News. October 1990.
14:
1058:
875:Tess Stynes (December 20, 2012).
223:market through their purchase of
16:American electronics manufacturer
906:(Press release). April 17, 2013.
609:
595:
577:
305:The company initially formed in
995:
982:
961:
523:Magna Entertainment Corporation
455:satellites. They also produced
374:
346:systems. GI expanded this into
64:Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
935:
910:
756:
300:
1:
749:
585:
336:
39:
764:"GI chooses Rumsfeld as CEO"
563:Pennsylvania's 40th governor
7:
727:
709:variant came with a set of
493:InfoCipher 1500P: an early
79:; 27 years ago
53:; 85 years ago
10:
1063:
1002:J. L. Seely (March 1967).
627:circuits and a pioneer in
548:
529:Underseas Lab (Harris ASW)
394:
385:high definition television
293:from 1975 to 1990, as did
280:
263:high definition television
195:equipment. They formed in
18:
157:
149:
117:
99:
91:
73:
47:
31:
792:. St. James Press. 1995.
685:Telecommunications chips
419:. On December 19, 2012,
882:The Wall Street Journal
646:16-bit Microprocessor:
535:Westwood, Massachusetts
389:initial public offering
291:chief executive officer
142:chief executive officer
133:chief executive officer
1008:Solid State Technology
831:"Motorola acquires GI"
444:
805:"The Rumsfeld Resume"
442:
185:Horsham, Pennsylvania
105:Horsham, Pennsylvania
674:PIC microcontrollers
637:Microchip Technology
559:Milton Jerrold Shapp
541:and is now owned by
539:Channel Technologies
511:American Totalisator
435:VideoCipher Division
368:satellite television
315:American Totalisator
256:Microchip Technology
248:PIC microcontrollers
233:Mattel Intellivision
225:American Totalisator
19:For other uses, see
988:Ross Knox Bassett.
949:on 13 December 2004
569:GI Microelectronics
319:Jerrold Electronics
297:from 1990 to 1993.
214:Jerrold Electronics
206:integrated circuits
28:
691:AY-3-8910/11/12/14
543:L-3 Communications
445:
187:, specializing in
176:) was an American
170:General Instrument
27:General Instrument
26:
860:(Press release).
417:Motorola Mobility
348:off-track betting
287:Robert B. Shapiro
221:off-track betting
167:
166:
131:Frank G. Hickey,
1054:
1016:
1015:
999:
993:
986:
980:
979:
977:
975:
969:"PONG in a chip"
965:
959:
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722:four-phase logic
613:
599:
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581:
499:X*Press X*Change
323:cable television
252:cable television
193:cable television
87:
85:
80:
61:
59:
54:
41:
36:
29:
25:
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992:. 2007. p. 130.
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862:Thomson Reuters
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381:Donald Rumsfeld
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339:
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295:Donald Rumsfeld
283:
138:Donald Rumsfeld
125:Moses Shapiro,
120:
113:
107:
83:
81:
78:
57:
55:
52:
43:
42:1994 until 1997
38:Logo used from
24:
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5:
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734:GTE mainStreet
729:
726:
705:. The popular
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189:semiconductors
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97:
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95:Split/Acquired
93:
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70:
49:
45:
44:
37:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
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723:
719:
718:Frank Wanlass
714:
712:
708:
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684:
681:
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671:
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663:
661:
660:Intellivision
657:
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649:
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612:
598:
580:
566:
564:
561:, who became
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307:New York City
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204:, and later,
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197:New York City
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111:United States
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76:
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69:
68:United States
65:
50:
46:
35:
30:
22:
1011:
1007:
997:
984:
972:. Retrieved
963:
951:. Retrieved
947:the original
937:
926:. Retrieved
924:. 2018-11-08
921:
912:
898:
887:. Retrieved
885:. p. B2
880:
870:
851:
839:. Retrieved
825:
813:. Retrieved
807:. CBS News.
798:
789:
758:
744:Morris Chang
715:
703:Intellivoice
688:
641:
622:
552:
532:
519:horse racing
509:
446:
429:
406:
398:
378:
375:Rumsfeld era
364:
356:Control Data
352:
340:
330:conglomerate
327:
311:
304:
284:
260:
236:game console
231:used in the
218:
181:manufacturer
173:
169:
168:
100:Headquarters
695:sound chips
515:tote boards
457:Videocipher
301:Shapiro era
244:sound chips
202:transistors
178:electronics
153:Electronics
1026:Categories
928:2018-11-08
922:NASDAQ.com
889:2020-08-21
837:. Jan 2000
750:References
713:built in.
711:allophones
707:SP0256-AL2
693:series of
668:chip. The
337:Hickey era
325:products.
242:series of
210:television
119:Key people
974:26 August
953:8 January
841:9 January
716:In 1965,
699:AY-3-85xx
639:in 1987.
402:CommScope
344:racetrack
240:AY-3-8910
183:based in
1014:: 55–62.
809:Archived
728:See also
517:for the
495:satmodem
476:Galaxy 5
409:Motorola
360:Datatrol
267:Motorola
163:Motorola
150:Products
127:Chairman
815:July 3,
554:Jerrold
549:Jerrold
453:Ku band
395:Breakup
281:History
82: (
74:Defunct
56: (
48:Founded
697:, the
656:Mattel
648:CP1600
425:Google
413:Zenith
271:Google
238:, the
229:CP1600
159:Parent
682:EAROM
633:EAROM
421:ARRIS
275:ARRIS
976:2011
955:2009
843:2015
835:CNET
817:2021
670:CMOS
666:NMOS
652:1610
650:and
588:1980
461:4DTV
451:and
358:and
191:and
92:Fate
84:1997
77:1997
58:1939
51:1939
679:ROM
658:'s
629:MOS
625:LSI
62:in
1028::
1012:10
1010:.
1006:.
920:.
879:.
833:.
772:^
586:c.
545:.
525:.
216:.
174:GI
140:,
108:,
66:,
40:c.
978:.
957:.
931:.
892:.
864:.
845:.
819:.
676:.
501:.
478:.
449:C
172:(
86:)
60:)
23:.
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