32 Facts About IBM

1. IBM is a major research organization, holding the record for most annual US patents generated by a business for 29 consecutive years.

2. Inventions by IBM include the automated teller machine, the floppy disk, the hard disk drive, the magnetic stripe card, the relational database, the SQL programming language, the UPC barcode, and dynamic random-access memory (DRAM).

3. IBM is one of 30 companies included in the Dow Jones Industrial Average and one of the world's largest employers, with over 282,100 employees as of 2022.

4. IBM was founded in 1911 in Endicott, New York, as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company and was renamed "International Business Machines" in 1924.

5. IBM is incorporated in New York and has operations in over 170 countries.

6. IBM built the Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator, an electromechanical computer, during World War II.

7. In 1961, IBM developed the SABRE reservation system for American Airlines and introduced the highly successful Selectric typewriter.

8. The latter half of the 1960s saw IBM continue its support of space exploration, participating in the 1965 Gemini flights, 1966 Saturn flights, and 1969 lunar mission.

9. IBM developed and manufactured the Saturn V's Instrument Unit and Apollo spacecraft guidance computers.

10. IBM pioneered the manufacture of these cards, and for most of the 1970s, the data processing systems and software for such applications ran exclusively on IBM computers.

11. In 2002 IBM acquired PwC Consulting, the consulting arm of PwC which was merged into its IBM Global Services.

12. In 2015, IBM announced three major acquisitions: Merge Healthcare for $1 billion, data storage vendor Cleversafe, and all digital assets from The Weather Company, including Weather.

13. In 2016, IBM acquired video conferencing service Ustream and formed a new cloud video unit.

14. IBM announced in October 2020 that it would divest the Managed Infrastructure Services unit of its Global Technology Services division into a new public company.

15. IBM is headquartered in Armonk, New York, a community 37 miles north of Midtown Manhattan.

16. Towers occupied by IBM include 1250 Rene-Levesque and One Atlantic Center (Atlanta, Georgia, USA).

17. IBM was recognized as one of the Top 20 Best Workplaces for Commuters by the United States Environmental Protection Agency in 2005, which recognized Fortune 500 companies that provided employees with excellent commuter benefits to help reduce traffic and air pollution.

18. IBM ranked No 38 on the 2020 Fortune 500 rankings of the largest United States corporations by total revenue.

19. In February 2021, IBM committed to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by the year 2030.

20. IBM provides Cloud Data Encryption Services, using cryptographic splitting to secure customer data.

21. IBM owns The Weather Company, which provides weather forecasting and includes weather.

22. In January 2019, IBM introduced its first commercial quantum computer IBM Q System One.

23. IBM provides infrastructure for the New York City Police Department through their IBM Cognos Analytics to perform data visualizations of CompStat crime data.

24. Additionally, the deal includes both companies to make joint investments that make it easier for companies to consume IBM's offering and integrate them with AWS, including developer training and software development for select markets.

25. Famous inventions and developments by IBM include: the Automated teller machine, Dynamic random access memory (DRAM), the electronic keypunch, the financial swap, the floppy disk, the hard disk drive, the magnetic stripe card, the relational database, RISC, the SABRE airline reservation system, SQL, the Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code, and the virtual machine.

26. IBM is nicknamed Big Blue in part due to its blue logo and color scheme, and partially since IBM once had a de facto dress code of white shirts with blue suits.

27. IBM is a major sponsor in professional tennis, with engagements at the US Open, Wimbledon, the Australian Open, and the French Open.

28. IBM hired its first black salesperson in 1946, and in 1952, CEO Thomas J Watson, Jr.

29. Additionally, in 2005, IBM became the first major company in the world to commit formally to not use genetic information in employment decisions; and in 2017, IBM was named to Working Mothers 100 Best Companies List for the 32nd consecutive year.

30. In 2015, IBM started giving employees the option of choosing Mac as their primary work device, next to the option of a PC or a Linux distribution.

31. In 2016, IBM eliminated forced rankings and changed its annual performance review system to focus more on frequent feedback, coaching, and skills development.

32. In 2011, IBM became the first technology company Warren Buffett's holding company Berkshire Hathaway invested in.