Top Company Profiles

International Business Machines Corporation was incorporated in the State of New York on June 16, 1911, as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Co. a consolidation of the Computing Scale Co. of America, the Tabulating Machine Co. and The International Time Recording Co. of New York. Since that time, the Company has focused on the intersection of business insight and technological invention, and its operations and aims have been international in nature. The Company's business model is to help clients succeed in delivering business value by becoming more innovative, efficient and competitive through the use of business insight and IT solutions; and, provide long-term value to shareholders. The Company's global capabilities include services, software, hardware, fundamental research and related financing. The broad mix of businesses and capabilities are combined to provide business insight and solutions for the Company's clients. The major operations of the Company are comprised of: a Global Technology Services segment; a Global Business Services segment; a Software segment; a System and Technology segment; and a Global Financing segment. Global Services is a critical component of the Company's strategy of providing IT infrastructure and business insight and solutions to clients. While solutions often include industry-leading IBM software and hardware, other suppliers' products are also used if a client solution requires it. Within Global Services there are two reportable segments: Global Technology Services and Global Business Services. Global Technology Services mainly provides IT infrastructure services and business process services, delivering business value through the Company's global scale, standardization and automation. Global Business Services mainly provides professional services and application outsourcing services, delivering business value and innovation to clients through solutions which leverage industry-and business-process expertise. Software consists mainly of middleware and operating systems software. Middleware software enables clients to integrate systems, processes and applications across a standard software platform. IBM middleware is designed to open standards which allow the efficient integration of disparate client applications that might have been built internally, or provided by packaged software vendors or system integrators. Operating systems are the software engines that run computers. Systems and Technology provides clients with business solutions requiring advanced computing power and storage capabilities. Approximately 55 percent of Systems and Technology's server and storage sales transactions are through the Company's business partners; approximately 45 percent are direct to end-user clients. In addition, Systems and Technology provides leading semiconductor technology and products, packaging solutions and engineering technology services to clients and for IBM's own advanced technology needs. The Company's Sales and Distribution organization manages a strong global footprint, with dedicated country based operating units focused on delivering client value. The competitors include Hewlett-Packard Company, Accenture and Computer Sciences Corporation, Indian service providers, including Satyam Computer Services Ltd., Wipro Technologies, Accenture, Infosys Consulting, Oracle Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, EMC and CA, Inc., Dell, Inc., Sun Microsystems, EMC Corporation, non-captive companies such as General Electric Company, CIT Group, Inc. and banks or financial institutions. The Company is subject to various federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations.

From CNN Money