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IBM Microelectronics

IBM logo IBM Microelectronics offers a comprehensive suite of semiconductor technologies, products, and services across the entire value chain, from product development and manufacturing to supply chain management, marketing, sales, and service.

IBM's microelectronics division is dedicated to delivering application-optimized semiconductor technologies that push the boundaries of performance, integration, and power efficiency. Their semiconductor products include RF SOI, RF CMOS, and SiGe technologies, meticulously designed to enhance connectivity in mobile devices, whether it's through Wi-Fi or cellular connections. These technologies come with a host of features such as derivative devices, high-resistivity substrates, high-quality passives, thick metals, and through-silicon vias. These advancements provide several benefits, including the ability to integrate multiple functions, adapt to new standards, and seamlessly switch between 4G LTE, 3G, and other technologies worldwide. Crucially, IBM's specialty foundry offerings, based on a proven CMOS base, offer a cost-effective alternative to more expensive technologies like gallium arsenide, all while maintaining the necessary performance levels.

Throughout its history, IBM has been at the forefront of numerous technological breakthroughs. They developed the first computer capable of defeating a human in chess, pioneered carbon nanotube transistors, introduced copper interconnects, and led the adoption of silicon-on-insulator (SOI) technology. IBM has conducted extensive research into cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing, including the exploration of graphene and the advancement of III-V materials. The company's legacy includes pivotal contributions to the invention of the PC, the fortran programming language, magnetic storage, the relational database, DRAM (dynamic random access memory) cells, the RISC (reduced instruction set computer) chip architecture, magnetic stripe technology, the UPC barcode, the scanning tunneling microscope, the SABRE travel reservation system, and much more.

On October 20, 2014, IBM made the strategic decision to transfer the majority of its semiconductor business to GlobalFoundries. With this move, IBM shifted its focus from manufacturing towards research, software development, and advanced systems development.

The IBM PC (Personal Computer) business holds a significant place in the history of computing and technology. In 1981, IBM introduced the IBM Personal Computer (IBM PC), marking the company's entry into the personal computer market. The IBM PC was a landmark product, offering an open architecture design that allowed third-party hardware and software to be easily integrated. It was powered by the Intel 8088 microprocessor running at 4.77 MHz and featured 16 KB of RAM (expandable to 256 KB) and an optional 5.25-inch floppy disk drive.

Impact and Success:

  • The IBM PC quickly gained popularity among businesses and consumers due to its reliability, performance, and compatibility.
  • IBM's decision to use an open architecture and adopt the MS-DOS operating system from Microsoft further contributed to its success.
  • The release of the IBM PC set a standard for the industry, leading to the widespread adoption of the IBM-compatible PC architecture.

Expansion and Product Line:

  • Over the years, IBM expanded its PC product line with various models, including the IBM PC XT (eXtended Technology), IBM PC AT (Advanced Technology), and the IBM PS/2 series.
  • The IBM PS/2 series, introduced in 1987, featured the Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) and was the first to use the 3.5-inch floppy disk drive.

Innovations and Contributions:

  • IBM made several innovations and contributions to the PC industry during its tenure in the PC business:
    • Introduction of the "TrackPoint" pointing stick on laptops.
    • Development of the first commercial speech recognition software.
    • Advancements in display technology, such as the IBM Color Graphics Adapter (CGA) and later the Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) and Video Graphics Array (VGA).
    • The creation of the IBM PC Convertible, which was one of the earliest laptop computers.

Transition and Sale:

  • Despite its early success, IBM faced challenges in the PC market, including competition from other manufacturers producing IBM-compatible PCs.
  • In 2004, IBM announced the sale of its PC business to the Chinese company Lenovo.
  • The sale marked IBM's shift away from hardware manufacturing to focus more on services, software, and consulting, in line with its "On Demand" business strategy.
  • Lenovo continued to produce PCs under the ThinkPad and ThinkCentre brands, inheriting the legacy of IBM's PC business.

Legacy and Influence:

  • The IBM PC's open architecture and MS-DOS compatibility had a lasting impact on the industry, leading to the dominance of the IBM-compatible PC platform.
  • The IBM PC set the stage for the development of the modern PC ecosystem, with a wide range of hardware and software options available to users.
  • IBM's contributions to the PC industry, along with its innovative technologies and standards, continue to influence the design and development of personal computers today.

Lenovo Completes Acquisition of IBM’s Personal Computing Division

The purchase of IBM's Personal Systems Group, the division responsible for the PC business, by Lenovo was announced on December 9, 2004, and finalized on May 3, 2005. Lenovo’s primary PC manufacturing and assembly facilities are located in Shenzhen, Huiyang, Beijing, and Shanghai, China. Lenovo’s mobile handset assembly facilities are in Xiamen, China. Additional manufacturing and distribution facilities are located in the United States, Mexico, Brazil, Scotland, Hungary, India, Malaysia, Japan, and Australia. Lenovo’s extensive PC distribution network includes approximately 4,400 retail outlets in China for the consumer business.