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Remote data pioneer Laplink comes back from the dead

Ironic though it may seem, it was the stellar profits of Microsoft, which enabled former executive Thomas Koll to buy the assets of Laplink when it was in Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

The problems that Laplink found itself in were basically caused by Microsoft's decision to make file transfer between PCs part of Windows. Before that, the little fellow-Redmond company had prospered on its "yellow cable" parallel port connectivity.

In recent times, Laplink has moved out of direct cable linkups into Internet remote control with Laplink Everywhere.

Mark Eppley, founder and president of LapLink Software Inc - the new company - announced today that its restructuring has been completed and that it has emerged from Chapter 11.

Eppley said: "We have emerged from our restructuring with a vastly improved capital structure which will better enable us to release new products that meet our customers needs. This is a brand new day for LapLink. It's not often a company gets a second chance and we intend to fully utilize our 20 years of operating experience to quickly rebuild and grow all our customer relationships."

Koll becomes chairman of the Board and CEO of the new LapLink Software. He said he was "looking forward to working with a company that is established in the industry and bring new ideas and business opportunities to the table."

The full press release is on the Web; more details of Laplink products on the web site.

New versions of LapLink Gold and LapLink Everywhere product lines "will be the foundations on which we will move forward," Koll said.

In his 13-year career with Microsoft Koll served in senior management functions at Microsoft Germany and Microsoft Corp. From 1998 to 2001 he oversaw the worldwide business with telecommunications companies, network-equipment providers and Internet service providers.

He is also chairman of Infowave Software, a Burnaby, BC company that develops software for wireless computing. He became CEO of Infowave in 2001, and stepped down from that position to become chairman in April 2002.