- Early Years (1911-1940s): IBM was founded in 1911 as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) through the merger of four companies. In the 1930s, CTR changed its name to International Business Machines Corporation (IBM). During World War II, IBM played a significant role in developing punch-card systems for the US government.
- Computing Era (1950s-1970s): IBM introduced its first computer, the IBM 701, in 1953. The company dominated the mainframe market with its System/360 and System/370 series. IBM also developed the floppy disk and the relational database.
- Personal Computing (1980s): IBM entered the personal computer market with the IBM PC in 1981, which became an industry standard. The company partnered with Microsoft to develop the operating system for the PC.
- Modern Era (1990s-present): In the 1990s, IBM shifted its focus towards services and software. The company acquired several businesses, including PricewaterhouseCoopers Consulting and SPSS. Today, IBM is a leader in artificial intelligence, cloud computing, and quantum computing.
Some notable IBM innovations include:
- Watson: IBM’s AI platform that won Jeopardy! in 2011
- Deep Blue: The supercomputer that defeated chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997
- Quantum Computing: IBM’s quantum computing platform that enables researchers and developers to experiment with quantum algorithms
IBM has a long history of innovation and continues to shape the technology industry today.