History of ROCC
Redifon Computers Ltd was established in 1976 by Rediffusion Ltd to sell data entry minicomputers. In January 1977 Michael Aldrich joined the company. In 1979 he invented teleshopping (later called online shopping) and pioneered modern e-commerce and e-business. He also invented the Teleputer in 1980, a fusion of PC, TV and Telecom, and pioneered modern cable TV systems in 1981. In 1984 he patented a static signature verification system. The company became a pioneering IT company achieving a significant number of world firsts.
In 1984, Michael Aldrich led a management buy-out of the company as the largest shareholder. He renamed the company ROCC Computers and subsequently bought out the other shareholders.
The company had become known for its innovations with projects such as the maintenance and logistics systems for the Siberian Gas Pipeline [1981/1982] and many UK government projects including Cattle Passports following the BSE crisis. [1998]. The videotex projects, particularly the online shopping, point-of-sale and executive information systems, and the large number of UK city and county IT projects did not receive much publicity at the time.
Michael Aldrich retired in 2000 and Luke Aldrich became CEO. In recent times ROCC has continued to change, divesting its engineering business and acquiring small specialist companies with unique technology and service offerings such as Marcmoor Business Systems, Databuild Information Systems and TAL Computer Services.
ROCC is today an innovative technology company conceiving, designing and selling complex solutions to the Public and Private Sectors throughout the UK and Europe.