February 28, 2018, Updated April 21, 2020
M-Systems DiskOnKey. Photo courtesy

M-systems launches the the world’s first flash drive, the DiskOnKey. The device, which is smaller, faster and has significantly more storage capacity than a floppy disk or CD, is as ubiquitous today as the paper clip. Founder Dov Moran sold the company to SanDisk in 2006 for $1.6 billion.

• Optics network company Chromatis is acquired by Lucent for $4.7 billion.