WiLAN

In 1992, Hatim Zaghloul and Michel Fattouche co-founded WiLAN{{cite news |url=https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/wi-lan-caught-between-a-rock-and-a-hard-place/article1194297/ |title=Wi-LAN caught between a rock and a hard place |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=21 November 2000 |accessdate=20 September 2017}} after they developed together the Wideband Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (WOFDM),United States Patent Document patent number 5,282,222{{Primary source inline|date=May 2017}} and Multi-code Direct-sequence Spread Spectrum (MCDSSS).United States Patent number 5,555,269 and the reissued patent number 38,802{{Primary source inline|date=May 2017}} Through WiLAN's efforts, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has allowed OFDM technology over the 2.4 GHz unlicensed ISM band for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 standards. MC-DSSS (MultiCode-Direct-sequence Spread Spectrum) is central to high speed CDMA applications, the main technology currently used by many cellphone networks.

In March 1998, WiLAN had its initial public offering.{{cite news | url=https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/wi-lan-chief-keeps-cool-whether-shares-are-hot-or-cold/article770792/

| title= Wi-LAN chief keeps cool whether shares are hot or cold | date= 7 November 2000 | last= Jang | first= Brent | newspaper= The Globe and Mail | accessdate= 20 September 2017}}

In November 1999, WiLAN and Philips invited companies to attend a meeting to form an alliance to promote the OFDM technology and its applications.{{cite news |url=https://sec.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/wi-lan-jumps-16-after-cibc-issues-target-price/article4161662/ |title=Wi-LAN jumps 16% after CIBC issues target price |newspaper=The Globe and Mail |date=18 March 2000 |accessdate=20 September 2017}} WiLAN was a founding member of the WiMAX Forum together with Ensemble, CossSpan, Harris, and Nokia.

From its founding in 1992 to 2000, WiLAN had success as interest and investment in the tech industry grew. However, in 2000, when the world's first tech bubble collapsed, WiLAN's fortunes changed. At the start of 2000, WiLAN's share price was at $80. By the end of that year, WiLAN's share price had dropped by 90 per cent.

{{cite news | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/investment-ideas/undervalued-wi-lan-a-buying-opportunity/article15234690/

| title= Undervalued Wi-LAN a buying opportunity | date= 3 November 2013 | last= Shufelt | first= Tim | newspaper= The Globe and Mail | accessdate= 18 November 2016}}

In 2006, WiLAN changed their business model. Instead of focusing on research and development and trying to commercialize its patent technology, WiLAN divested its various technology product lines to refocus its business on licensing intellectual property and patent rights.

WiLAN's company goals would center around licensing its own technology patents to third-party companies, as well as licensing patents it had acquired.

In line with WiLAN's refocus on patent licensing, in late 2005 the company brought in Jim Skippen, who had previous experience in licensing technology from working at Mosaid as a senior vice president of patent licensing and general counsel.{{cite news | url=http://business.financialpost.com/fp-tech-desk/the-rise-of-wi-lan?__lsa=64d2-ef07 | title= The rise of WiLAN | newspaper= Financial Post | date= 30 September 2011 | last= Sturgeon | first= Jamie | accessdate= 12 December 2016}}

WiLAN also moved from its original location in Calgary, Alberta, Canada to Ottawa, where the company has remained since.{{cite news | url=https://www.pressreader.com/canada/ottawa-citizen/20070112/282686157746474| title= Wi-LAN finds new life in Ottawa | date= 12 January 2007 | last= Bagnall | first= James | newspaper= Ottawa Citizen | accessdate= 20 September 2017}} That same year, WiLAN acquired Tri-Vision, a company that developed a key ingredient in the V-Chip technology. WiLAN also signed a $50 million license deal with Nokia, allowing Nokia to use WiLAN's wireless patents.{{cite news | url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/nokia-licenses-wi-lan-patents-for-49-2m-1.615172 | title= Nokia licenses Wi-LAN patents for $49.2M | newspaper= CBC News | date= 4 December 2006 | accessdate= 29 November 2016 }}

By 2012, WiLAN owned or controlled more than 3,000 patents.{{cite news | url=http://albertaventure.com/2012/03/the-one-that-got-away/

| title= Wi-Lan left Alberta to make it big in Ottawa. Will other tech start-ups stay? | date= 1 March 2012 | last= Czarnecka | first= Marzena | newspaper= Alberta Venture | accessdate= 18 November 2016}}

In 2015, WiLAN announced that it had gained a new portfolio of 7,000 patents in technology related to access memory, flash memory, semiconductor manufacturing, and other technologies. Labeled the "Qimonda portfolio", in June 2015, WiLAN announced it had signed a multi-year licensing agreement with Samsung, allowing Samsung to use technology in WiLAN's new Qimonda portfolio.{{cite news | url= https://www.wsj.com/articles/wi-lan-licenses-qimonda-patent-portfolio-to-samsung-1433263874 | title= Wi-LAN Licenses Qimonda Patent Portfolio to Samsung | newspaper= The Wall Street Journal | last= King | first= Carolyn | date= 2 June 2015 | accessdate= 20 September 2017}}

In late 2015, WiLAN announced that, beginning in October 2015, it would undergo a significant company restructuring.{{cite news | url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/wi-lan-to-restructure-spin-off-rd-slash-dividend/article27095432/

| title= Wi-LAN to restructure, spin off R&D, slash dividend | date= 4 November 2015 | newspaper= The Globe and Mail | accessdate= 23 November 2016}} As part of this restructuring, WiLAN announced that it would spin off its research and development unit and cut its dividend to shareholders. The restructuring would affect 30 per cent of WiLAN's workforce. The company would also focus on licensing patent portfolios owned by other companies and helping companies monetize their patents.

In April 2017, WiLAN acquired International Road Dynamics, a Saskatoon-based road traffic management system engineering company, for $63.5 million.{{Cite news|url=https://thestarphoenix.com/business/local-business/international-road-dynamics-acquired-for-63-5-million|title=International Road Dynamics acquired for $63.5 million|date=2017-04-18|work=Saskatoon Star-Phoenix}} In May 2017, they acquired VIZIYA, a software services provider, for $40 million.{{Cite news|url=http://business.financialpost.com/news/fp-street/wi-lans-acquisition-of-viziya-marks-move-into-the-industrial-internet-of-things|title=Wi-Lan's acquisition of VIZIYA marks move into the industrial Internet of Things|date=2017-05-10|work=Financial Post|access-date=2018-01-30|language=en-US}} The acquisition of VIZAYA was part of a broader restructuring at WiLan from a patent licensing company to a more diversified technology holding company. As part of the restructuring, a new holding company, Quarterhill Inc., was created, which contains WiLan Inc., International Road Dynamics, and VIZIYA as subsidiaries.

1. Hopper, DS-SSSS modem, 19.2-115kbit/s, 902-926 MHz unlicensed band – 1993–1999.
2. Hopper Plus, AWE, DS-SSSS CSK modem, up to 1Mbit/s, 2.4 GHz and 5.7 GHz unlicensed bands – 1994–2000.
3. BWS, Libra Product Lines, OFDM modem, up to 16Mbit/s, 2.4 GHz – 1999–2006.
4. Semiconductors

1. 2004 Calgary Export Achievement Award for Collaborative Partnerships by the Haskayne School of Management.{{cite news |url=http://www.printaudit.com/downloads/pdf/article_smart_tech.pdf |title=SMART Technologies wins Haskayne award |newspaper=Calgary Herald |accessdate=24 June 2013}}
2. Export Achievement Award from Alberta Venture Magazine in 2004{{cite web|url=http://albertaventure.com/2004/05/winners-circle-12/ |title=Winner's Circle | Alberta Venture Magazine, Alberta business, Canadian business, Business Awards, Alberta news, Alberta industry |publisher=Albertaventure.com |date=2004-05-06 |accessdate=2011-10-09}}
3. Wireless Communications Association International "Wemmie" Award in 2003.{{cite web|url=http://www.canadait.com/cfm/index.cfm?It=106&Id=13839&Se=357&Sv=&Lo=442 |title=Company News |publisher=CanadaIT.com |date=2003-01-10 |accessdate=2011-10-09}} The award was for the Banco Del Pichincha non-line-of-sight network in Ecuador.
4. Alberta Professional Engineers, Geologists and Geophysicists Association 2002 APEGGA Achievement Award for substantial technological progress.{{cite web|url=http://www.apegga.org/Members/Publications/newsreleases/apr26_cgy.pdf |title=News Release |accessdate=2011-10-09}}
5. 1999 recipient of the CATA Alliance Award of Distinction for Emerging Technology.{{cite web|url=http://www.wi-lan.com/company/news-and-events/News-Details/2000/Wi-LANandCSITeamUptoProvideFull-ServiceInstallationsforWirelessNetworks/default.aspx |title=Company – News & Events – News Details |publisher=WiLAN |date=2000-01-19 |accessdate=2011-10-09}}
6. 1998 ASTECH Award for "Small Business"{{cite web|url=http://enel.ucalgary.ca/People/Fattouche/awards.htm |title=Awards |publisher=Enel.ucalgary.ca |date=2000-10-06 |accessdate=2011-10-09}}
7. One of four finalists for the 1997 ASTECH Award for "Small Business"
8. 1993 Electronic Industries Association of Alberta (EIAA) "Award for best technology".
9. Wireless Communications Association (WCA) International "Wemmie" in the "Most Effective Educational Program" category for the Northern Lights School Division network in Northern Alberta.{{cite web|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-69272209.html|title=Wi-LAN Wins Prestigious Wireless Industry Award|publisher=Business Wire|date=18 January 2001|accessdate= 2011-10-09}} {{dead link|date=February 2019|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|

• Patent
• Patent Troll{{Cite web | url=https://fortune.com/2018/08/02/apple-lost-145-million-infringement-verdict-canadian-patent-troll-wilan/ | title=Apple Just Lost a $145 Million Infringement Verdict to a Canadian Patent Troll }}
• Intellectual property

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{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.wi-lan.com/ Official website]
• {{OpenCorp|WiLAN}}

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Category:Patent monetization companies of the United States

Category:Canadian companies established in 1992

Category:1992 establishments in Ontario

Category:Companies formerly listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange

Category:Companies formerly listed on the Nasdaq