Persoft

Persoft identified a critical gap in early 1980s computing: IBM PC users lacked reliable software to communicate with mainframe computers and remote systems. ​​‌‌‌‌‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌Businesses with legacy mainframe infrastructure faced a costly dilemma—they couldn't leverage their new personal computers for terminal access without expensive dedicated hardware or clunky workarounds. IT departments and individual users experienced this friction most acutely, as they juggled separate devices for mainframe interaction and PC work. The problem was measurable: companies tracked the cost per workstation and time spent switching between systems. Existing alternatives were limited and expensive—dedicated terminal hardware or proprietary solutions from mainframe vendors. Persoft's SmarTerm terminal emulator validated the approach immediately through strong adoption among corporate IT buyers who recognized the cost savings and workflow efficiency gains. The software's ability to transform an IBM PC into a functional terminal proved the market genuinely needed this bridge between legacy and modern computing environments.