Black Box Corporation

Black Box is a multinational information technology (IT) and consulting services company headquartered in Texas, United States.[1][2]

Black Box Corporation
TypePrivate
IndustryTechnology
FoundedLawrence, Pennsylvania
June 25, 1976
HeadquartersPlano, Texas
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Sanjeev Verma
(CEO)
ServicesIT Services
5G
Data Centers
Cyber Security
Unified communications
KVM
Digital Signage
Network Management
Network Security
WAN Optimization
Number of employees
3800
ParentEssar Group
Websitewww.blackbox.com

Black Box operates in 75 locations across 35 countries.[3] [4] In 2022, Black Box had more than 3,800 employees worldwide.[5]

History

Early in 1976

Eugene Yost and Richard Raub established Expandor Inc. in the US in 1976. Six of the eleven items in their inaugural catalogue, known as Black Boxes, were printer switches.[6][7] Expandor Inc. changed its name to Black Box Corporation in 1982 as it released its well-known "Black Box Catalog.[8]

Following a temporary dip in operations during Black Monday of 1987, Odyssey Partners bought the company through a leveraged buyout in 1988. In 1989, one of its divisions, “Interlan,” was sold to Racal.[9]

1990s

After suffering losses from debt servicing, Black Box Corporation underwent a restructuring in 1990, moving its lucrative catalogue sales operation from Simi Valley, California, to Lawrence, Pennsylvania.[10] Its telecoms product business was divided into a subsidiary called Micom Communications Corporation. Under the name MB Communications, an initial public offering was registered at NASDAQ in December 1992. The Micom Communications unit was spun off, and acquired by Northern Telecom (Nortel) in June 1996.[11]

In May 1997, Black Box Corporation’s board of directors announced that it authorized management to buy back the company's stock, depending on market prices and other factors. In 1998, the company started offering on-site data and infrastructure services in the United Kingdom, which expanded throughout Europe and Pacific Rim.[12]

The profitable catalog sales business moved from Simi Valley in California to Lawrence, Pennsylvania and changed its name to Black Box Incorporated.[13][14]

2000s

From 2000 to 2010, Black Box Corporation formed partnerships in the USA with key IT service providers, including Cisco, Avaya, NEC, and Unify. There were about 120 acquisitions overall.[15][16]

AGC Networks

In Mumbai, AGC Networks Limited was established in 1986 under the name Tata Telecom Ltd. Tata Industries Ltd encouraged the business (TIL). Manufacturing electronic private automated branch exchanges (EPABX) was one of its main goals, and it also offered services like software integration, installation, commissioning, and service support.[17]

With the Japanese company OKI Electric Industrial Co. Ltd. (OKI), Tata Industries Limited signed a technical assistance and license agreement as well as a supplemental agreement. The company established new service facilities in Guwahati, Nagpur, Pune, Jammu, and Baroda in 1990. With Japan Radio Co. Ltd. (JRC), the business signed a technology transfer and license agreement in 1991 for equipment with 30 and 120 digital UHF channels.[18]

In order to create a new business called "Trans India Network Systems Private Limited," Tata Telecom and AT&T Network Systems International Inc. USA entered into a joint venture agreement in 1994. Its goal was to produce OPTIMUX and 2Mb/S systems, MAR systems, SLC 120 network access systems, and related modules.[12]

As AT&T left, Tata Telecom and Avaya Systems established a joint venture in 1996. In India, Tata Telecom introduced a line of call centre products in 2000 that it had purchased from its joint venture partner Avaya Communications (formerly Lucent Technologies). Tata Telecom, the joint venture between Tata and Lucent Technologies, was known as a Tata-Avaya. Once the Tata Group sold its 25.1% ownership in Tata Telecom to its joint venture partner, Avaya Inc., the company Avaya Global Connect was created.[19]

AGC Networks Limited was created in 2010 after Essar Group purchased Avaya Global Connect from Avaya Inc.[20]

Transcend United Technologies, established in the US, was purchased by AGC Networks in 2011. Via this acquisition, AGC Networks widened its market reach to the States.[21]

Another business, Ensource Business, was purchased by AGC Networks in 2015.[22]

Rebranding

In 2019, Black Box Corporation was acquired by AGC Networks.[23] In 2021, AGC Networks changed its name to Black Box.[24]

Services and operations

The business is organized as follows:

  • Black Box Global Solutions Integration (GSI) provides Connected Buildings, Digital Workplaces, Customer Experience, Data Centers, and Enterprise Networking Services.
  • Black Box Technology Product Solutions (TPS) provides professional Audio Video, Networking, Cabling, KVM and IoT products.
  • Black Box Xcelerate Services focuses on Consulting & Design, Project Management, Field Services, and Customer Success and Support Services.[25][26]

Locations

Black Box has operations in the following locations:[25][26]

Asia Pacific
China, India, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Bangladesh, and Hong Kong.
America
Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Colombia, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Canada, and the USA.
Europe
Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and United Kingdom.
Oceania
Australia and New Zealand.
Middle
East Saudi Arabia and UAE.
Africa
Kenya.

References
  1. Bureau, BW Online (28 September 2022). "Middleweight Rank 2: Globally Aligned". BW Businessworld. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  2. "Where Do We Start?". Black Box Corporation. 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  3. "Corporate Presentation" (PDF). 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  4. "Public Annual Report" (PDF). 2022. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  5. Results, Annual (March 2022). "Black Box Ltd. - Results Performance, Latest Financials, Stock Scores, and Fundamental Analysis". Trendlyne.com. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  6. "Eugene Yost, Obituary". Legacy.com. December 13, 2006. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017.
  7. "Vault Guide to Top Tech Employers (2009)". Archived from the original on 2017-12-01.
  8. "Black Box Corporation". PC Magazine. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  9. "What does Rohm and Hass think about the Black Box Protocol Converter A/S-1?". Computerworld. November 24, 1980. p. 62. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  10. "Black Box Hopes to Raise $98 Million With Offerings". Los Angeles Times. July 17, 1990. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  11. "Schedule 13 D/A: Tender Offer Statement". June 17, 1996. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2016.
  12. "Black Box History | Black Box Information". The Economic Times.
  13. "Black Box Corporation History". Funding Universe. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  14. "Form SC 13G/A". US SEC. February 14, 1994. Archived from the original on October 18, 2016. Retrieved October 13, 2016.
  15. Network World. IDG Network World Inc. 1989-06-05.
  16. Press, St. James (1998). "History of Black Box Corporation – FundingUniverse". www.fundinguniverse.com. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  17. "AGC Networks Limited" (PDF). careratings.com.
  18. "Black Box Ltd". Business Standard India.
  19. "BLACK BOX > Company History > Computers - Software > Company History of BLACK BOX - BSE: 500463, NSE: BBOX". Moneycontrol.com.
  20. "Essar to acquire Avaya stake in AGC Networks". The Hindu. 30 May 2010.
  21. Shinde, Shivani (18 March 2013). "AGC Networks acquires US-based Transcend United Technologies". Business Standard India.
  22. "AGC Networks acquire business of Ensourse Inc". Moneycontrol.
  23. Bureau, ET (January 2019). "AGC Networks completes acquisition of Black Box Corporation". The Economic Times. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  24. News Service, India Infoline (November 2021). "AGC Networks sheds 2% after renamed as 'Black Box Limited'". www.indiainfoline.com. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
  25. Corporation, Black Box (2022). "Corporate Presentation" (PDF). Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  26. "Global IT Products & Network Solutions Provider | Black Box". Black Box Corporation. 2022. Retrieved 2022-11-10.
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