What happened to Imaging for Windows

Doing some research for a project this morning, I got completely side tracked and started down the path of the history of Document Imaging inside the Windows platform. This topic is of obvious interest to me because I really feel KnowledgeLake is the new "Imaging for Windows", but in the form of "Document Imaging for SharePoint".

The Beginning

Sigma Imaging Systems was founded in 1988 and developed a Document Imaging and Workflow solution for MS-DOS. Sigma formed a partnership with Unisys in late 1989 that allowed Unisys to OEM the technology into a product called InfoImage. Unisys continued selling its UNIX based InfoImage, based off pieces of both internally developed code and FileNet code. Sigma maintained a separate code base for their product and InfoImage, which continued up until 1999.

Windows 95 and Wang

In April of 1995, Wang Laboratories formed an agreement with Microsoft to supply workflow and imaging capabilities to for Windows NT and Windows 95. Wang purchased Sigma Imaging Systems in July of 1995 for $20 million in order to fulfill this agreement. Sigma's product was renamed Imaging for Windows when released with the new operating systems. In exchange for being allowed to package the software Microsoft purchased $90 million in stock from Wang (or invested depending on how you look at it), as well as allowed Wang to advertise and sell upgrades to Imaging for Windows. Included with Windows 95 was the ability to scan using TWAIN devices, view, annotate and print TIFF, BMP, AWD (Microsoft Fax) documents. The viewer would also show and print JPEG and PCX/DCX images. Microsoft still maintains a web page on Imaging for Windows at http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=140980.

Kodak Purchases Wang

In 1997, Wang sold its Imaging division to Kodak for $260 million (no clue on how much Microsoft still owned of Wang) and formed the Eastman Software subsidiary.

Windows 98/2000

The Imaging for Windows software was basically repackaged for as a Kodak product for Windows 98, with no change in functionality. The product did get upgraded to 2.0 at some point, but it was basically the same product.

Unisys Agreement Ends

Depending on who you talk to you'll hear different stories here, but Eastman Software and Unisys terminated their agreement in early 1999. Eastman claimed it needed to stop supporting the InfoImage code in order enhance its workflow product, while Unisys said they did it to obtain the rights to source code and allow them to independently market their product.

Kodak spins off Eastman Software

Kodak spun off Eastman Software in August of 2000 and was renamed eiStream soon afterwards. Sometime during this transaction the agreement was broken with Microsoft to allow the Imaging for Windows software to continue being packaged with the Windows OS. In 2005 eiStream changed their name to Global360 and competes globally in the ECM space. Global360 still sells Imaging for Windows today worldwide with just minor upgrades from the product that was shipped with Windows 2000.

Microsoft releases Office 2003 with MODI

Microsoft contracted with Nuance, then known as ScanSoft, to create Microsoft Office Document Imaging (MODI) for release with Office 2003. Not taking this market serious at all, I believe Microsoft really missed with this product. Although it still has most of the features of Imaging for Windows, it does not support the old Wang format for annotations within TIFF files, which makes it incompatible with the older files. It also uses a new format called MDI by default instead of TIFF. TIFF is still supported, but the annotations are a new format. The MODI software is part of the Office 2007 product with virtually no changes except for a version 12 stamp.

I think that's enough for now without diving into our product. Have a good weekend,

Chris