Silicon Graphics closes door on Cosmo Software

MacWeek, July 13, 1998 by Marty Cortinas

In March the company released a beta of Cosmo Player 2.1, a VRML browser for Macs. Cosmo's departure leaves Intervista Software Inc.'s WorldView and Live Picture Inc.'s Live Picture Viewer as the only VRML browsers for the Mac.

SGI, based in Mountain View, Calif., said closing Cosmo was part of a strategy formed in April to divest the company of assets not relating to its core hardware business. SGI said that it had been negotiating the sale of Cosmo to Sony Corp. of America, but that those talks broke down last week.

SGI said it is reviewing its options for Cosmo's products and technology; a spokesman said a final decision should come soon.

The division's other Windows-only products include Cosmo Worlds, a 3-D Web authoring system; Cosmo Code, a Java development tool; Cosmo PageFx, a graphic design tool; and Cosmo HomeSpace Designer, a VRML modeling application.

The approximately 100 Cosmo Software employees will be redeployed into SGI's core business areas, the company said.