GST Computer Systems

{{short description|Group of computer companies based in Cambridge}}

{{More citations needed|date=November 2019}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}

{{Infobox company

| name = GST Computer Systems

| type = Private

| founded = {{start date and age|1979|6}}

| founder = Jeff Fenton

| defunct = 2012

| hq_location = Cambridge, England

| fate = Liquidation

| subsid = {{flatlist|

• GST Professional Services
• GST Software Products
• GST Training Centre
• Electric Software

}}

}}

GST was a group of computer companies based in Cambridge, England, founded by Jeff Fenton in June 1979. The company worked with Atari, Sinclair Research, Torch Computers, Acorn Computers, Monotype Corporation and Kwik-Fit, amongst others.

The group included:

• GST Computer Systems: the original name of the company.
• GST Professional Services: a software consultancy that was sold and became OTIB A.T.
• GST Software Products: produced retail software, most notably Timeworks Publisher.
• GST Training Centre: a class based software training provider in Cambridgeshire, UK.
• Electric Software: a games software label, producing titles for home computers such as the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and MSX-compatible models in the early 1980s.{{cite web|url=http://www.videopac.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=7828&sid=381cfc24fa933d5f37e53d1175d9ae9b|title=Videopac 64: Shark Hunter|date=2007-08-10|work=videopac.org|accessdate=2009-03-26|archive-date=28 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728155557/http://www.videopac.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=7828&sid=381cfc24fa933d5f37e53d1175d9ae9b|url-status=dead}}

GST Computer Systems started as a contract software development company. In 1983, it became involved with Sinclair Research, producing the 68K/OS operating system (later rejected by Sinclair) and development software for the Sinclair QL.{{cite web|url=http://greenstreet-online.com/about.html|title=About Greenstreet|work=Greenstreet Online|accessdate=2009-03-26|archive-date=13 April 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413202213/http://greenstreet-online.com/About.html|url-status=dead}} In 1985 it was approached by Atari Corporation to port products from the QL on to the just to be launched Atari ST. The word processing package 1st Word was bundled with every Atari ST for the first two years of its life and GST became the leading software supplier for the Atari ST platform.

In 1987 GST developed its first desktop publishing application, Timeworks Publisher. This was sold in the US by Timeworks, Inc. (a Chicago based software publisher) as Publish-It!. This product went on to become the world-leading budget DTP product until competition from Microsoft Publisher in 1993 caused the eventual demise of Timeworks, Inc. The product was sold under new names including NEBS PageMagic (changed after objections from Adobe), Macmillan Publisher, Canon Publisher, and many other brands, distinguished by use of the {{mono|.DTP}} file extension. The latest version was sold as Greenstreet Publisher 4 and is downwards file compatible with earlier versions.

In 2001 GST merged with eGames Europe as a new company, Greenstreet Software. It remains a developer and publisher of computer software for Windows operating systems. In July 2008 the company was reconstructed and traded as Greenstreet Online Limited.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/greenstreet-software-goes-into-liquidation|title=Greenstreet Software goes into liquidation|website=GamesIndustry.biz|language=en|access-date=2020-01-22}}

In November 2012, Greenstreet Online Limited was declared insolvent, and went into voluntary liquidation.{{Cite web|url=https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/06595178|title=GREENSTREET ONLINE LIMITED – Overview (Free company information from Companies House)}}