Philippe Kahn

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Philippe Kahn

Philippe Kahn (March 16, 1952 –)Darrow is a French-born mathematician and entrepreneur known as the inventor of the camera phone, a pioneer in the wireless industry, and the founder of Borland. He is currently the CEO of Fullpower Technologies, a company which provides solutions converging life sciences and wireless technology.

Contents

1 Biography
2 Business
3 Music
4 Notes
5 References
6 External links

Biography

Kahn was educated at ETH Zurich, Switzerland (Swiss Polytechnic Institute), and University of Nice, France, where he received a masters in mathematics. He also studied musicology and classical flute at Zurich Music Conservatory in Switzerland.Kahn

In 1973, as a student, Kahn developed the software for the Micral, the earliest non-kit personal computer based on a microprocessor. It never became a commercial product, but is now credited by The Computer Museum as the first personal computer.Computer History Museum

Kahn is married to Sonia Lee, who also works at Fullpower. They have four children. Together, they run an environmental charity, the Lee-Kahn Foundation. He is known for his passion for jazz, and he plays the flute. Furthermore he is very competitive in sailboat racing. He is an ardent proponent of freedom of speech.

Business

Kahn arrived in the US as a tourist in 1982 and won a job with Hewlett-Packard, subsequently losing it because of his undocumented status. After a period of consulting activities he set up Borland International, although he was still not a legal U.S. resident at the time.Unz After four years in the U.S. on a tourist visa, Kahn was granted a Green Card in 1986. He is today a naturalized U.S. citizen.Wortman

Borland's first hit was Turbo Pascal. Borland went on to have a superior and more expansive line of x86 development tools than anyone else in the market as well as a suite of office products that were in direct competition with Microsoft and Lotus. This was at first very profitable and paid for Borland's large campus in Scotts Valley, California. But Microsoft fought back hard against Borland's challenge in the office suite market and Borland stumbled, soon exiting that market, but did not fall.

Borland is one of the only corporations that competed with Microsoft at that time that is still thriving today. However, Kahn and the Borland board came to a disagreement on how to focus the company. Kahn was fired by the Borland board from his position as CEO in January 1995.Kellner, Krey, Jeffers, Parks However, he remained on the board as a director until November 1996, when he resigned from that position.Borland press release. Kahn had been the President, CEO and Chairman of Borland for 12 years.

Kahn founded three more successful companies: Starfish Software (acquired by Motorola in 1998), LightSurf Technologies, and Fullpower Technologies, founded in 2003.

Kahn is credited with the invention in 1997 of the camera phone, which was the founding vision of LightSurf. The LightSurf technology powers the offerings of Sprint, Verizon and many other leading carriers in the world. LightSurf is now owned by Verisign, who acquired the company in 2005 as it was filing its IPO.

Kahn is the author of dozens of patents and the recipient of many awards.

Music

Kahn is an accomplished jazz and classical musician. In 1990 he released "Pacific High" featuring: John Abercrombie, Alex Acuna, Richie Beirach, Paul Contos, Billy Hart, Ray Kane, Dave Liebman and Ron McClure. In 1991 he released a CD called "Walking on the Moon," featuring his own performance and promoting space exploration. Both CDs were produced at Borland company expense, and distributed to Borland customers.Rohrbough Later in 1992 he released "Paradiso" featuring: John Abercrombie, Alex Acuna, Alan Broadbent, Terence Blanchard, Patti Cathcart, Paul Contos, Peter Erskine, Dave Eshelman and John Patitucci.

Notes

References

External links

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