a wholly owned subsidiary of SONICblue Incorporated, was established to explore opportunities in the information appliance sector, targeting both home users and vertical markets such as medical, education, travel, and entertainment.

Timeline:

2000: SONICblue Incorporated, formerly known as S3 Incorporated, rebranded itself to reflect a broader focus beyond graphics chips, venturing into consumer electronics and information appliances.

2001: Frontpath introduced the ProGear™, a wireless web device designed for broadband-enabled markets. The ProGear featured a 10.4" TFT display, touch screen, and ran on the Linux 2.4x operating system. It was tailored for vertical markets, including hospitality, education, and healthcare, where it could be customized to meet specific needs.

2001: Agfa Monotype Corporation announced that Frontpath licensed its New Media Core Font set for the ProGear, enhancing on-screen text clarity and legibility.

2001: SONICblue's CEO, Ken Potashner, indicated plans to expand into video products, positioning the company as a holding entity for its main business units, including Frontpath.

Despite these developments, Frontpath and its ProGear device faced challenges in gaining significant market traction. The rapid evolution of technology and competitive pressures in the information appliance sector contributed to the company's limited impact.

By the early 2000s, SONICblue shifted its focus towards other consumer electronics, and Frontpath's operations were eventually phased out.

Frontpath's endeavor into the information appliance market with the ProGear™ represents an early attempt to bridge the gap between traditional computing and portable, user-friendly devices tailored for specific industries.