MicroAge
{{Short description|Technology services and solutions provider}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Frontier Technology, LLC
| logo = MicroAge logo 2024.webp
| logo_size = 220px
| type =
| industry =
| fate =
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| founded = {{Start date and age|1976}}
Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
| founder = Jeffrey D. McKeever
Alan P. Hald
| defunct =
| hq_location_city = Phoenix, Arizona
| hq_location_country = United States
| area_served =
| key_people = Rob Zack, CEO; Tracey Hayes, VP-Sales; Larry Fulop, VP-Technology & Marketing; Larry Gentry, EVP-Services; Tim McCulloch, CTO
| products = Technology
| owner =
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| website = {{url|https://microage.com/}}
}}
Frontier Technology, LLC,{{cite web|url=https://microage.com/terms-and-conditions/|title=Legal Information: Terms & Conditions|website=MicroAge.com|accessdate=April 7, 2024|archive-date=April 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240405112140/https://microage.com/terms-and-conditions/|url-status=live}} doing business as MicroAge, is a privately-held American technology products and services company founded in 1976 and based in Phoenix, Arizona.
History
In 1976, founders Jeffrey D. McKeever and Alan Hald opened up a franchise for one of the first hobby computer stores in the United States, The Byte Shop, in Tempe, Arizona. The company grew quickly and, in 1979, opened the first MicroAge Computer Store at Paradise Valley Mall in Phoenix, Arizona. The store sold computers popular in the early home computer age, such as the Apple II, NorthStar Horizon, IMSAI 8080 and Altair 8800.
MicroAge developed into a major national distributor as well as having its own chain of stores, becoming the most widely known franchiser in the computer industry with over 1,400 franchises worldwide, including locations in Europe, Japan and the USSR. Its primary competitor at the time was ComputerLand, another well-known franchising operation. The company was listed on the Fortune 500 list from 1995 to 2001. It employed over 6,000 people and generated revenues in excess of $6 billion at its zenith.
By February 2000, the company was composed of four subsidiary parts: MicroAge Teleservices, MicroAge Technology Services, Pinacor, and Quality Integration Services.{{citation |url= https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814249/0000950147-00-000268.txt |title= MicroAge Inc. Annual Report For Fiscal Year Ending 10-31-99 (Form 10-K) |publisher= U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission |date= February 14, 2000 |access-date= November 13, 2019 |archive-date= November 13, 2019 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20191113192129/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/814249/0000950147-00-000268.txt |url-status= live }} In November 2000, MicroAge Teleservices was sold to that subsidiary's largest customer, United Parcel Service.{{Cite news |date=November 13, 2000 |title=UPS would own LV call center under proposal |url=https://lasvegassun.com/news/2000/nov/13/ups-would-own-lv-call-center-under-proposal/ |access-date=April 7, 2024 |work=Las Vegas Sun |archive-date=November 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113190826/https://lasvegassun.com/news/2000/nov/13/ups-would-own-lv-call-center-under-proposal/ |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |last=Walter |first=Nicholas |date=May 11, 2010 |title=UPS call center to close |url=https://www.santamariasun.com/news/ups-call-center-to-close-14796643 |access-date=April 7, 2024 |work=Santa Maria Sun |archive-date=April 7, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240407190009/https://www.santamariasun.com/news/ups-call-center-to-close-14796643 |url-status=live }} In December 2000, MicroAge Technology Services was sold to CompuCom, included MicroAge's network of service and support locations.{{Cite news |date=December 22, 2000 |title=MicroAge sells subsidiary |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2000/12/18/daily62.html |access-date=April 7, 2024 |work=Phoenix Business Journal |archive-date=February 18, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060218025013/http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2000/12/18/daily62.html |url-status=live }} In May 2001 some assets of Pinacor were sold to ScanSource.{{Cite news |last=Weinstein |first=Randi |date=May 1, 2001 |title=MicroAge subsidiary sold for $21M |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2001/04/30/daily42.html |access-date=April 7, 2024 |work=Phoenix Business Journal |archive-date=June 18, 2004 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040618034622/http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2001/04/30/daily42.html |url-status=live }}
On October 1, 2020, MicroAge announced that it had acquired Semaphore Co., an Atlanta-based cloud services organization.{{Cite news |date=October 1, 2020 |title=Semaphore Co Joins MicroAge in Move to Corner Cloud Technology Services Market |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/semaphore-co-joins-microage-in-move-to-corner-cloud-technology-services-market-301144535.html?tc=eml_cleartime |access-date=April 7, 2024 |work=MicroAge |via=PR Newswire |archive-date=October 23, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221023103644/https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/semaphore-co-joins-microage-in-move-to-corner-cloud-technology-services-market-301144535.html?tc=eml_cleartime |url-status=live }}
On July 15, 2022, MicroAge announced that it had acquired cStor, a cybersecurity, infrastructure, and digital transformation organization based in Scottsdale, Arizona, for an undisclosed sum.{{Cite web |last=Trumbull |first=Ty |date=July 18, 2022 |title=Microsoft Partner MicroAge Acquires cStor |url=https://www.channele2e.com/investors/mergers-acquisitions/microsoft-microage-acquires-cstor/ |access-date=July 20, 2022 |website=ChannelE2E |language=en-US |archive-date=July 18, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220718172124/https://www.channele2e.com/investors/mergers-acquisitions/microsoft-microage-acquires-cstor/ |url-status=live }}