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Bitstream Inc.
Bitstream Inc.
Bitstream Inc.
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Bitstream Inc. was an American type foundry that produced digital typefaces. It was founded in 1981 by Matthew Carter, Mike Parker, Cherie Cone, and Rob Friedman, all former employees of the Mergenthaler Linotype Company.[2] It was located in Marlborough, Massachusetts. The font business, including MyFonts, was acquired by Monotype Imaging in March 2012.[3][4] The remainder of the business, responsible for Pageflex and Bolt Browser, was spun off to a new entity named Marlborough Software Development Holdings Inc.[5][6] It was later renamed Pageflex, Inc following a successful management buyout in December 2013.[7]

Key Information

Products

[edit]

Bitstream created a library of "classic" fonts (usually under different names for trademark reasons) in digital form. For example, Times Ten was released as Dutch 801, Akzidenz-Grotesk as Gothic 725, Aurora as News 706, Antique Olive as Incised 901, Bembo as Aldine 401, Berthold Block as Gothic 821, Bodoni Campanile as Modern 735, Choc as Staccato 555, Codex as Calligraphic 421, Cochin as Engravers' Oldstyle 205, Coronet as Ribbon 131, Eurostile as Square 721, Frutiger as Humanist 777, Gill Sans as Humanist 521, Kabel as Geometric 231, Memphis as GeoSlab 703, Metro as Geometric 415, Mistral as Staccato 222, Melior as Zapf Elliptical, Optima as Zapf Humanist, Oscar as Formal 436, Old English Text as Cloister Black, Peignot as Exotic 350, Perpetua as Lapidary 333, Plantin as Aldine 721, Profil as Decorated 035, Palatino as Zapf Calligraphic, Rockwell as Geometric Slabserif 712, Syntax as Humanist 531, Torino as Industrial 736 and Univers as Zurich. The Bitstream font collection is most widely used through its inclusion with the CorelDRAW software, as well as other Corel products such as WordPerfect Office.

The company received extensive criticism for its strategy of cheaply offering digitisations of pre-existing typefaces that it had not designed. While technically not illegal, font designer John Hudson would describe its selling of large numbers of typefaces on CD at discount prices as "one of the worst instances of piracy in the history of type".[8]

Bitstream developed a number of fonts on its own, such as Amerigo, by Gerard Unger Charter, by Matthew Carter, Carmina by Gudrun Zapf, Chianti by Dennis Pasternak, Iowan Old Style by John Downer, Arrus by Richard Lipton and the freeware Bitstream Vera family of fonts.

One of their best known fonts is Swiss 721 BT, which is a Helvetica clone with condensed versions and a rounded version. It was among the first digitally available Swiss family typefaces, being designed for that purpose in 1982.

Another Bitstream product is Font Fusion, a font rasterizing engine developed jointly with Type Solutions, Inc., which was later owned entirely by Bitstream.[9]

The[which?] multi-byte character set was named Bitstream International Character Set (BICS).

History

[edit]

The company had a high level of involvement in BeOS, with older BeOS releases using a Bitstream renderer, and the latest development releases from 2001 using Font Fusion. The OS, including its freeware releases, included a large number of Bitstream fonts, including their clones of Times New Roman, Helvetica and Courier.

On December 2, 1998, Bitstream Inc. announced acquisition of all outstanding stock of Type Solutions, Inc. In addition, Sampo Kaasila, its founder and president and the creator of TrueType, agreed to join Bitstream's team as Director of Research and Development.

In January 1999, Bitstream launched MyFonts, an open marketplace offering fonts from various foundries and a forum where users could interact with type experts.[10]

In January 2009, Bitstream introduced the BOLT Browser, a Java ME-based Web browser for mobile phones. It was distributed free of charge to consumers and was built using the company's ThunderHawk mobile Web browsing technology for mobile network operators and handset manufacturers. The product was discontinued by the end of 2011.[11]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
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Bitstream Inc.

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from Grokipedia
Bitstream Inc. was an American software and typeface design company founded in 1981 in , by Mike Parker, , Cherie Cone, and Rob Friedman, and is recognized as the world's first digital font foundry dedicated to producing and licensing digital typefaces for computers and printing systems. The company pioneered scalable font technologies, developing hundreds of typeface families including notable designs such as (designed by for low-resolution screens), Iowan Old Style BT, and the Vera collection of open-source fonts released in 2003. Over its three decades of operation, expanded beyond fonts to create software solutions for , mobile web browsing (such as the Bolt browser), and variable data publishing (via Pageflex technology), serving industries including publishing, automotive, and embedded devices. In 1999, it launched MyFonts.com, an that grew to offer over 89,000 fonts from nearly 900 foundries by 2011. In November 2011, Bitstream announced the sale of its core font business—including the typeface library, Font Fusion rendering engine, MyFonts.com, and related patents—to Holdings for $50 million in cash, a transaction completed in March 2012 that allowed Bitstream to spin off its remaining mobile and publishing divisions into Marlborough Software Development Holdings Inc. (later renamed Pageflex Inc. following a 2013 ). The acquisition bolstered Monotype's dominance in digital , integrating Bitstream's innovations into its portfolio, while Bitstream's non-font assets continued operations under Pageflex Inc. Bitstream's legacy endures through its influential type designs, which remain widely used in digital and print media today.

History

Founding and Early Innovations (1981–1989)

Bitstream Inc. was founded in 1981 in , by typographers , Mike Parker, Cheri Cone, and Rob Freedman, marking it as the first type foundry dedicated exclusively to the creation and distribution of digital typefaces. The founders, drawing from their experience at Mergenthaler Linotype, sought to address the growing demand for high-quality digital fonts amid the shift from traditional metal type and to computer-based systems. This pioneering venture positioned Bitstream at the forefront of the digital typography revolution, focusing on the development of scalable fonts that could support the nascent industry. From its inception, Bitstream's primary efforts centered on digitizing classic for compatibility with emerging laser printers and digital output devices, such as those using raster imaging processors. The company built an initial library of fonts by converting established designs into vector-based formats, enabling sharper reproduction at various resolutions. A key early release was Swiss 721 BT in 1982, a digitized variant of the iconic , which included standard, condensed, and extended weights to meet diverse printing needs. This approach not only preserved the aesthetic integrity of historical type designs but also made them accessible for the first wave of personal computers and professional equipment. In the mid-1980s, Bitstream introduced the Speedo scalable outline font format, a that allowed fonts to be rendered smoothly and consistently across different output resolutions without . This innovation was essential for high-fidelity printing on devices like the Apple , facilitating the widespread adoption of . Complementing this technical advancement, Bitstream established early partnerships with hardware manufacturers, including licensing its fonts for integration with Adobe's page description language, which became the standard for professional printing systems. These collaborations ensured Bitstream's typefaces were embedded in key output technologies, solidifying the company's role in bridging traditional with digital innovation.

Expansion and Product Launches (1990–2009)

During the 1990s, Bitstream Inc. pursued strategic acquisitions to bolster its technological capabilities in digital typography. In late 1998, the company acquired Type Solutions, Inc., a firm specializing in advanced and conversion technologies, which enhanced Bitstream's ability to handle complex font formats and integrate them across diverse platforms. This move, involving the full acquisition of Type Solutions' stock, brought key expertise, including the leadership of founder Sampo Kaasila, into Bitstream's fold and supported the evolution of its rendering engines. Building on this expansion, Bitstream diversified into with the launch of MyFonts.com in January 1999, establishing the first major dedicated to digital fonts. As a wholly-owned , MyFonts provided designers and developers with a centralized platform to browse, preview, and purchase typefaces from independent foundries, democratizing access to premium fonts beyond traditional retail channels. By , the site had grown to feature over 89,000 fonts from nearly 900 foundries, underscoring its role in scaling Bitstream's distribution network and fostering a global community of type creators. In the early 2000s, Bitstream emphasized open-source contributions and typeface innovations to address evolving demands in screen-based and print media. The company introduced the font family in 2003, an open-source developed in collaboration with the GNOME Foundation for versatile, royalty-free use in software interfaces and documents. Vera's clean, humanist design prioritized legibility across digital displays, influencing subsequent open-source font projects like DejaVu. Around the same time, Bitstream released an upgraded version of the in 2004, originally designed by , under the name Charter BT Pro; this edition expanded the character set and optimized readability for both low-resolution screens and high-quality print outputs. These releases highlighted Bitstream's commitment to bridging traditional with modern computing needs. As the decade progressed, ventured into mobile technologies to capitalize on the rise of smartphones. In January 2009, the company launched BOLT, a ME-based mobile browser designed for emerging devices with limited processing power, enabling faster rendering of full desktop websites through server-side compression and adaptation. BOLT's architecture, building on Bitstream's prior browser technologies, targeted feature phones and early smartphones, providing enhanced web access in markets with constrained bandwidth and hardware. This entry marked Bitstream's shift toward software solutions beyond fonts, positioning it as a player in the burgeoning mobile ecosystem.

Acquisition and Restructuring (2010–2013)

In November 2011, Bitstream Inc. faced strategic challenges that led to a major restructuring, culminating in the sale of its core font business to Holdings Inc. On November 10, 2011, Monotype announced its agreement to Bitstream's font business, including the MyFonts.com website and related patents, for $50 million in cash. This transaction was positioned as a way to consolidate Monotype's position in digital while allowing Bitstream to refocus its remaining operations on outside of fonts. The acquisition was completed on March 19, 2012, following shareholder approval and regulatory clearance, with Bitstream's font division becoming fully integrated into Monotype. Concurrently, as part of the deal structure, Bitstream spun off its non-font assets—such as the Pageflex software—to a newly formed entity called Marlborough Software Development Holdings Inc. (MSDH), distributing shares to Bitstream shareholders on the same date. This separation marked the end of Bitstream as an independent , with its BITS delisted shortly thereafter. Amid these changes, Bitstream discontinued its BOLT mobile web browser by the end of 2011, citing economic pressures and shifting priorities in the mobile sector as the service's proxy servers were shut down on December 14. The remaining business under MSDH struggled financially, reporting a $3.2 million loss on $1.8 million in revenue during its first partial year. In December 2013, MSDH underwent a led by key executives, including CEO Pinhas Romik, resulting in its renaming to Pageflex Inc. and a shift toward private ownership focused on technologies.

Products and Technologies

Typefaces and Font Collections

Bitstream Inc. developed and licensed several hundred digital typefaces, including both proprietary designs created in-house and conversions of historical classics such as and . These efforts positioned Bitstream as a key player in the early digital market, focusing on high-quality, scalable outline fonts suitable for both professional printing and emerging digital displays. Among its notable contributions, Bitstream released Swiss 721 BT in the 1980s as a close approximation of , providing designers with an affordable alternative family available in multiple weights and widths. Other notable approximations included Dutch 801 BT, a digital version of , widely used in early . In 2003, the company introduced Bitstream Vera, an open-source typeface superfamily designed by Jim Lyles, featuring variants like Vera Sans, Vera Serif, and Vera Mono under a permissive license that encouraged widespread adoption in projects, particularly distributions. Another significant design was , designed by in the late 1980s and optimized for clarity on low-resolution outputs like 300 dpi laser printers, which later proved effective for early digital screens in the 2000s. Bitstream played a pivotal role in popularizing the Adobe Type 1 font format by releasing hundreds of its typefaces in this outline-based standard, ensuring compatibility with systems and enabling precise scaling across print and on-screen applications. The company's contributions to open-source typography extended beyond Vera, fostering accessibility for non-commercial use and influencing distributions like . Bitstream's sales model centered on comprehensive font libraries, such as the Type Odyssey collections, which bundled scalable vector outlines for versatile deployment in print media and digital environments, often distributed via CD-ROMs to graphic professionals. This approach, later extended through platforms like MyFonts, founded by in 1999, emphasized licensed access to expansive sets for commercial design work.

Font Rendering and Management Tools

Bitstream developed the font format in 1983 as a vector-based system designed for scalable rendering of typefaces, predating the standard and finding early application in printer drivers for high-resolution output. This format utilized Bézier curves to define outlines, enabling efficient scaling across various sizes and resolutions without dependencies, which was particularly advantageous for resource-limited hardware of the era. 's compact structure supported international character sets and was integrated into systems like Atari ST and early DOS environments, contributing to Bitstream's reputation for pioneering digital typography solutions. In the early 1990s, introduced FaceLift, a software utility positioned as a faster alternative to Type Manager (), focusing on enhanced on-screen font scaling and hinting for improved legibility. Released initially for Windows in 1990, FaceLift generated high-quality screen and printer fonts from outline formats like Type 1, allowing users to create custom scalable typefaces and bypass limitations in early operating systems' native rendering. By optimizing hinting algorithms, it reduced jagged edges in low-resolution displays, making it a popular tool for professionals seeking precise typographic control without Adobe's licensing costs. Bitstream created Font Fusion in the late as a cross-platform rasterizing , enabling the embedding of fonts directly into documents and applications independent of operating system constraints. Launched in 1999 and written in , this object-oriented supported multiple font formats including , Type 1, and CFF/Type 2, delivering high-fidelity text rendering at any resolution on devices ranging from desktops to embedded systems. Its compact design, requiring under 0.5 MB for complex fonts like those with over 13,000 , facilitated seamless integration in memory-limited environments such as web browsers and real-time operating systems. During the and , Bitstream offered Type Manager software, including the Font Navigator utility, for both Windows and Mac platforms to streamline font installation, activation, and . This tool cataloged up to 2,000 fonts in a searchable database, allowing users to preview samples, organize collections by family or style, and activate subsets to prevent system overload from excessive font loading. By resolving duplicates and managing activation states, it enhanced workflow efficiency for designers, ensuring consistent rendering across applications without manual reconfiguration. Bitstream amassed a significant patent portfolio in font technologies, with 10 key patents related to rendering, layout, and handling for mobile and web applications acquired by Monotype in 2012. These patents underpinned innovations in Font Fusion and Panorama technologies, covering aspects like and cross-device font optimization, which advanced scalable in digital ecosystems.

Document Automation and Web Software

In the early 2000s, Bitstream diversified its portfolio by developing the Pageflex product line, which introduced web-to-print software focused on variable data publishing and personalized document creation. Pageflex enabled users to automate the generation of customized marketing materials, such as brochures and flyers, through online storefronts that integrated dynamic content replacement based on user inputs. This innovation addressed the growing demand for scalable, on-demand printing solutions in the commercial printing industry. To enhance Pageflex's capabilities, acquired substantially all assets of Press-Sense Ltd. in May 2010 for $6.5 million. The acquisition incorporated Press-Sense's iWay workflow automation technology, which streamlined print-on-demand processes by adding features like order management, file preparation, and production tracking. This integration allowed Pageflex users to handle complex, automated workflows for more efficiently, expanding Bitstream's presence in enterprise-level . Bitstream also ventured into web software with the launch of the BOLT mobile browser in , a Java-based application designed for feature phones and low-resource devices. BOLT utilized server-side rendering with technology to deliver full desktop-like web experiences, including accelerated page loads and support for Java ME and BREW platforms, while leveraging Bitstream's font rendering expertise for improved text display on mobile screens. The browser was discontinued in December 2011 as market shifts favored native apps. Complementing its software offerings, integrated font identification services into the MyFonts platform, enabling users to upload images of text and match them against a vast library for purchase. This tool facilitated quick font discovery and acquisition, bridging document design needs with Bitstream's core typeface catalog. Following 's sale of its font business to in 2012 and a subsequent , the Pageflex division was spun off and restructured as Pageflex, Inc. in December 2013. Under this independent entity, Pageflex continued to evolve its document automation tools, emphasizing for distributed teams with features like portals and remote customization workflows.

References

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  29. https://www.macworld.com/article/155989/bitstream-4.html
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  42. https://www.informationweek.com/it-sectors/bitstream-releases-bolt-2-1-mobile-browser
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