More about IBM

Although IBM is very well known, there's still a lot many people aren't aware of. Here's some basic info and bullets of interesting information:

IBM is aligned around a single, focused business model: innovation. IBM takes its breadth and depth of insight on issues, processes and operations across a variety of industries, and invents and applies technology to help solve its clients' most intractable business and competitive problems. Although it remain committed, as ever, to lead the development of state-of-the-art technologies, and the products and service offerings built around them, it measures itself today by how well it helps clients solve their biggest and most pressing problems.

• In 2007, for the 15th consecutive year, IBM was issued more U.S. patents (3125) than any other company. This is just one example of the company's technology leadership that continues to be reflected in its products and services. Some other quick facts:
• Revenue: $91.4 billion, Net Income: $9.4 billion(2006 year-end).

• IBM has 355,766 employees worldwide, and serves customers in 170 countries. (2006)

• In 2006 IBM invested $6.1 billion in Research and Development.

• IBM's net 2006 cash investment of $3.8 billion for 13 acquisitions — nine of them in key strategic areas of software — was up $2.3 billion year to year.

• In January 2006, the United States Patent and Trademark Office reported that IBM earned more patents than any other company for the thirteenth consecutive year. In 2005, IBM earned 2,941 patents -- 1,100 more patents than any other company.

• IBM is the world leader in middleware and the second-largest software company overall. IBM is the market leader in information management software, all application integration and middleware categories; instant messaging software for corporations; portal software; and systems management and systems operations software.

• IBM is the world leader in IT services and consulting. With approximately 200,000 services professionals globally, the company's offerings include data center outsourcing, business transformation services, consulting, systems integration, application management services, infrastructure and system maintenance and Web hosting. (3/2007)

• The world leader in server sales, IBM has improved its server market position by about 10 points since 2000. IBM leads in supercomputers, with 237 of the top 500 systems including number one, BlueGene/L, and four of the world's top five systems. (11/06)

• Power Architecture microprocessors, custom designed and manufactured by IBM, run both the Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Xbox 360 game consoles. Sony PLAYSTATION 3 is powered by the Cell Broadband Engine, a nine-core Power Architecture chip manufactured by IBM and designed jointly by IBM, Sony, and Toshiba.

• IBM procured $36 billion in goods and services globally in 2006. In October, 2006, IBM announced the relocation of its global procurement headquarters to Shenzhen, China as the company continues its strategy to draw more efficiently on its global capabilities and capitalize on emerging market opportunities.

• In June 2006 IBM announced "The Forbidden City: Beyond Space and Time,"a new cultural heritage initiative that will present the history and splendor of China's Forbidden City to a global audience. The project, undertaken in partnership with The Palace Museum, will bring Chinese culture to the world by creating a virtual online 3D recreation of the Forbidden City and associated sites in Beijing.