Hayes Microcomputer Products

Hayes Communications was an American manufacturer of modems. Dennis Hayes and Dale Heatherington founded the company and brought the first modems for home computers and PC on the market. Developed by them AT command set for modem control is an industry standard that is still used today.

During the 1980s and 1990s, Hayes was a well known brand, and the modems at the company were known for their reliability and compatibility. In its heyday, the company had a market share of over 50 %, and computer magazines recommended their readers, modems only to buy, supporting the AT command set.

The descent began when Hayes Communications did not manage to bring the same with other manufacturers with more than 2400 baud modems on the market. The company U.S. Robotics filled this gap and also achieved the status of a top brand. In addition to undercut the prices of other manufacturers Hayes. Hayes tried to gain by buying up competitors such as Practical Peripherals and Cardinal benefits.

At the age of 36 years Heatherington got out of the business, and got 20 million dollars for his shares in the company.

As modems became increasingly commoditized, falling profit margins, Hayes tried to open up new business, but this failed. Mid-1990s had many of the Hayes - products only standard chipsets and also had otherwise have little to offer to differentiate itself from the competition

1998 Hayes had to declare bankruptcy and was liquidated. The brand name was bought in July 1999 by the erstwhile rivals zoom.

• Information technology company
• Former company (United States)