DataPoint, Inc
Encyclopedia
DataPoint, Inc is a data center
(colocation
) and managed data network services provider located in Baltimore, Maryland. It is one of the largest cloud computing
, network management
, and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS
) companies in Maryland
.
as Toad Computers in 1986 by two high school students, David Troy and Ray Mitchell. Toad Computers began as Maryland’s only Atari computer dealership and largely worked through mail-order until Atari started requiring their vendors to have storefront facilities in 1988.
The small computer sales company expanded into the internet service provider market in 1995, when the first commercial providers started to gain traction linking customers to the World Wide Web
. When the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996
allowed newer companies to compete with the large telephone carriers by buying up phone lines, Troy bought out his partner Mitchell and shut down Toad Computers, opening the new ToadNet.
ToadNet managed to survive the end of the dot-com bubble
as one of the last independently owned dial-up service providers in the country. Seeing opportunity to offer high-speed services and expand its data center, in 2004 ToadNet was sold to Continental VisiNet Broadband for a reported $2.6 million. Afterward, the name was changed to DataPoint and was relocated from Severna Park to Baltimore, into a new state-of-the-art data center.
As of 2011, DataPoint continues to operate out of Baltimore as a subsidiary of Norfolk, Virginia
-based “super-regional” cloud computing company, Continental VisiNet Broadband (which is itself owned by the large media company, Landmark Media Enterprises) .
and data center company, providing broadband access and managed services
largely to Baltimore, Maryland area businesses. Additionally, the company currently offers customized network services
, cloud computing
, virtual network
s, colocation
, IaaS
, and NuSec solutions (providing internet security
and firewalls).
Data center
A data center is a facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems...
(colocation
Colocation
Colocation is the act of placing multiple entities within a single location.Colocation is often used in the data sourcing industry to mean off-site data storage, usually in a data center. This is very important for businesses since the loss of data can be crucial for companies of any size...
) and managed data network services provider located in Baltimore, Maryland. It is one of the largest cloud computing
Cloud computing
Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility over a network ....
, network management
Network management
Network management refers to the activities, methods, procedures, and tools that pertain to the operation, administration, maintenance, and provisioning of networked systems....
, and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS
IAAS
IAAS can refer to the following:*Incorporated Association of Architects and Surveyors, British professional body renamed 1993 as the Association of Building Engineers* Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, institute of Tribhuvan University, Nepal...
) companies in Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
History
DataPoint, Inc is the name adopted by ToadNet after it was acquired by Continental VisiNet Broadband in 2004. The company was originally founded in Severna Park, MarylandSeverna Park, Maryland
Severna Park is a census-designated place in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. The population was 28,507 at the 2000 census.-History:Robinson House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2009.-Geography:...
as Toad Computers in 1986 by two high school students, David Troy and Ray Mitchell. Toad Computers began as Maryland’s only Atari computer dealership and largely worked through mail-order until Atari started requiring their vendors to have storefront facilities in 1988.
The small computer sales company expanded into the internet service provider market in 1995, when the first commercial providers started to gain traction linking customers to the World Wide Web
World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a system of interlinked hypertext documents accessed via the Internet...
. When the passage of the Telecommunications Act of 1996
Telecommunications Act of 1996
The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was the first major overhaul of United States telecommunications law in nearly 62 years, amending the Communications Act of 1934. This Act, signed by President Bill Clinton, was a major stepping stone towards the future of telecommunications, since this was the...
allowed newer companies to compete with the large telephone carriers by buying up phone lines, Troy bought out his partner Mitchell and shut down Toad Computers, opening the new ToadNet.
ToadNet managed to survive the end of the dot-com bubble
Dot-com bubble
The dot-com bubble was a speculative bubble covering roughly 1995–2000 during which stock markets in industrialized nations saw their equity value rise rapidly from growth in the more...
as one of the last independently owned dial-up service providers in the country. Seeing opportunity to offer high-speed services and expand its data center, in 2004 ToadNet was sold to Continental VisiNet Broadband for a reported $2.6 million. Afterward, the name was changed to DataPoint and was relocated from Severna Park to Baltimore, into a new state-of-the-art data center.
As of 2011, DataPoint continues to operate out of Baltimore as a subsidiary of Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
-based “super-regional” cloud computing company, Continental VisiNet Broadband (which is itself owned by the large media company, Landmark Media Enterprises) .
Products & Services
DataPoint specializes as an Internet service providerInternet service provider
An Internet service provider is a company that provides access to the Internet. Access ISPs directly connect customers to the Internet using copper wires, wireless or fiber-optic connections. Hosting ISPs lease server space for smaller businesses and host other people servers...
and data center company, providing broadband access and managed services
Managed services
Managed services is the practice of transferring day-to-day related management responsibility as a strategic method for improved effective and efficient operations inclusive of Production Support and lifecycle build/maintenance activities...
largely to Baltimore, Maryland area businesses. Additionally, the company currently offers customized network services
Network service provider
A network service provider is a business or organization that sells bandwidth or network access by providing direct backbone access to the Internet and usually access to its network access points...
, cloud computing
Cloud computing
Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility over a network ....
, virtual network
Virtual network
A virtual network is a computer network that consists, at least in part, of virtual network links. A virtual network link is a link that does not consist of a physical connection between two computing devices but is implemented using methods of network virtualization.The two most common forms of...
s, colocation
Colocation
Colocation is the act of placing multiple entities within a single location.Colocation is often used in the data sourcing industry to mean off-site data storage, usually in a data center. This is very important for businesses since the loss of data can be crucial for companies of any size...
, IaaS
IAAS
IAAS can refer to the following:*Incorporated Association of Architects and Surveyors, British professional body renamed 1993 as the Association of Building Engineers* Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, institute of Tribhuvan University, Nepal...
, and NuSec solutions (providing internet security
Internet security
Internet security is a branch of computer security specifically related to the Internet. Its objective is to establish rules and measures to use against attacks over the Internet. The Internet represents an insecure channel for exchanging information leading to a high risk of intrusion or fraud,...
and firewalls).