Ibm International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is the world's largest manufacturer of information systems and equipment. IBM produces computers ...

Essay by hardrock413 October 2003

download word file, 7 pages 3.0 1 reviews

Downloaded 276 times

ibm

International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) is the world's largest manufacturer of information systems and equipment. IBM produces computers that range from large mainframes to portable laptops. The company also offers computer services that help customers operate information system. In addition, IBM supplies such hardware devices as disk drives and printers. It also produces software products for both business applications and consumer use. IBM headquaters are in Armonk,New York. International Business Machines Corporation grew out from an earlier firm, the Computing-Tabulating-Recording- Company. It recieved its present name in 1924. The company dominated the office equipment industry until the mid-1900's with such products as tabulators,time clocks, and electric typewriters. In 1914,John Thomas Watson was made president of a company that became IBM in 1924. Under Watson's leadership from 1914 to 1956, it became one of the world's most successful corporations. The development of computers entirely changed IBM's business. IBM first manufactured computers for commercial sale in 1952.

From the 1960's to the early 1980's, IBM dominated the office equipment and information technology industries. Mainframe computers provided the cornerstone for its success. IBM began marketing its personal computer(PC) in 1981. This power machine was smaller and cheaper than mainframe computers, and it quickly became popular for both business and home use. In addition, the IBM model quickly became the standard. In the mid-1980's, growing competition from the clone manufacturers resulted a decline in IBM's market share. But the company remained the world's largest computer manufacturer. In 1995, IBM acquired Lotus Development Corporation, a leading software developer. In 1997,IBM and World Book,Inc., released an electronic reference work called THE WORLD BOOK MULTIMEDIA ENCYCLOPEDIA. The multimedia product provided animation,maps,pictures,videos,and audio in addition to the text of THE WORLD BOOK on CD-ROM. IBM surely benefited from this situation by becoming a stronger corporation.