It was almost common knowledge within the internet communications industry that IBM was the contract contractor for NSFnet.
Everyone knew about its ambition to monopolize the market share alone, keeping numerous insignificant operators out in the cold.
But to what extent was IBM's dominance or shall we say arrogance?
It not only refused other operators access to NSFnet, but when selling services to enterprise users, it only recommended its own IBM routers.
Yes, IBM had countless lines of business, ranging from software to hardware, covering all bases.
It also had its router products, just like personal computers.
However, IBM's equipment had one distinguishing feature, which invariably incorporated IBM's patented technology.
In the industry, these were also known as "patent devices," which most of the time were not only bulky but also extremely expensive.
