At 35, Software Firm SPSS Is Older Than Digital Dirt; True Pioneer/Survivor; Player in analytics field began writing its code long before most others.(INTERNET & TECHNOLOGY)

Byline: J. BONASIA

In software, many companies come -- and go.

SPSS Inc. came -- and stayed.

It might not be a household name, but the maker of statistical analytics software this month celebrates its 35th anniversary. In software, that's ancient. SPSS is seven years older than Microsoft Corp., six years older than Computer Associates International Inc. and SAP AG and 14 years older than Adobe Systems Inc.

Excluding IBM Corp. and other companies that make more than software, it appears there's only one independent software company older than SPSS, while another is about the same age.

"SPSS is clearly one of the longest standing independent software vendors," said Burton Grad, head of the Software History Center in Westport, Conn.

The company hasn't merely survived all these years. It's consistently made money. Its annual sales surpassed $200 million last year, four times more than its 1994 sales of $52 million. Its sales rose 18% last year, and SPSS' stock hit a 29-month high on Wednesday.