IBM Timeline

1896
Herman Hollerith founds the Tabulating Machine Company.

1984
IBM launches the Personal Computer/AT; the IBM Portable Personal Computer; and the IBM Office Systems programs, which were designed for System/36 and System/370 PCs.

1997
IBM's Deep Blue supercomputer defeats grandmaster Gary Kasparov in a six-game chess match. IBM introduces the Netfinity line of enterprise PC servers. IBM introduces the IntelliStation line of Windows NT workstations.

1905
The Tabulating Machine Company is incorporated.

1911
The International Time Recording Company, Computing Scale Company, and the Tabulating Machine Company are merged to create the Computing-TabulatingRecording Company (C-T-R). The company manufactures and markets accounting machines, such as time recorders, dial recorders, tabulators, and automatic scales.

1956
IBM introduces the 305 and 650 RAMAC (Random Access Method of Accounting and Control) machines, which use a magnetic hard disk for data storage.

1985
IBM introduces its Token Ring LAN technology.

1998
IBM launches the PowerPC 740/750 processors, the world's first manufactured using IBM's copper manufacturing technology. Two new AS/400s are introduced, as well as new products in the Aptiva, PC, and Thinkpad series.The IBM S/390 computing system for business is also launched.

1986
The IBM RT PC, which uses a RISC processor and is designed as a workstation, is introduced. The Personal Computer XT Model 286 is also launched.

1959
The IBM 1401 data processing system is introduced. This computer is a success, marking the first time a corporation sells 10,000 units of a commercial computer. The IBM 1403 printer is also launched at this time.

1924
C-T-R's name is changed to International Business Machines Corporation (IBM).

1987
IBM launches its PS/2 line of PCs and its OS/2 operating system.

1999
The S/390 G6 server, using IBM's copper technology, is introduced. IBM and Dell sign a $16 billion technology agreement, where Dell will purchase IBM components for use in Dell systems. IBM and Lotus found the Institute for Knowledge Management.

1935
The U.S. Social Security Act is introduced, and IBM's punched card equipment is used by the U.S. government to create and maintain employment records for 26 million Americans.

1960
The Stretch computer system and the 7000 series are introduced.

1988
The IBM AS/400 line of computers is introduced.

1964
The IBM System/360, the world's first family of computers that are fully compatible in terms of software instructions and hardware, is introduced.

1990
IBM launches its System/390 family of computers. IBM scientists create the world's first structure composed of individual atoms using a scanning tunneling microscope. The letters "IBM" are spelled on a metal surface, using individual atoms.

1943
The Vacuum Tube Multiplier, which used vacuum tubes for performing calculations electronically, is developed.

2000
IBM launches the NetVista line of PC devices. IBM launches the eServer line.

1966
Robert H. Dennard, an IBM scientist, invents DRAM.

1944
The Automatic Sequence Controlled Calculator is completed. This first computer was jointly developed by IBM and Harvard University and is IBM's first computer. The ASCC is also known as the Mark I.

1970
The IBM System/370, which uses virtual memory for the first time, is launched.

1991
The AIX/ESA OS for the System/390 family is introduced. IBM teams with Lotus Development to market Lotus software. The company also establishes agreements with Borland and Novell.

2002
Product offerings during 2002 include the eServer p650 eight-way UNIX server, the eServer i890, and the IBM eServer xSeries 440. IBM acquires Price Waterhouse Coopers' business consulting and technology services unit for $3.5 billion in cash and stock.

1974
IBM launches its Systems Network Architecture (SNA), a networking protocol.

1945
IBM founds the Watson Scientific Computing Laboratory at New York's Columbia University.

1975
IBM 5100 Portable Computer, System/32, and the Electronic "Selectric" Composer are introduced.

1992
IBM launches its Thinkpad line of portable computers. IBM ships five new Enterprise System /9000 water-cooled processors: Models 520, 640, 660, 740, and 860. Also, five new POWERstation/POWERserver models: the 220, 340, 350, 520H, and 560 are introduced.

2003
IBM and Cisco announce a set of open software technologies designed to advance the development of "self-healing" computer systems and networks. IBM and Siebel launch CRM OnDemand. IBM launches its WebSphere business integration software. Japan's largest research organization orders an AMD Opteron based eServer 325 supercomputer, running Linux. IBM and Infineon announce the development of MRAM (Magnetoresistive RAM), a type of memory that uses magnetic instead of electric charges to store information. IBM and Red Hat announce Linux alliance; Red Hat's Linux Advanced Server software will power IBM eServer, zSeries, iSeries, and pSeries lines of enterprise servers.

1952
IBM introduces the IBM 701, IBM's first production computer. The 701 uses IBM's magnetic tape drive vacuum technology, an early manifestation of magnetic storage.

1978
IBM System/38 is introduced.

1953
The IBM 650 Magnetic Drum Calculator electronic computer and the IBM 702 are introduced. The 650 becomes one of IBM's most popular computers.

1980
The experimental 801 RISC processor is developed.

1993
IBM announces the development of the PowerPC 604 processor. The PowerPC 620, a 64-bit processor, is also announced.

1981
Priced at $1,565, the IBM PC is launched. This is the smallest and cheapest computer ever produced, and the product's success single-handedly launches the PC revolution. IBM agrees to allow Microsoft to develop an OS for its PC, called MS-DOS. Microsoft then bases MS-DOS on Tim Paterson's QDOS, an OS developed by Paterson at Seattle Computer Products. Microsoft purchases the rights to QDOS for $50,000 and convinces IBM to allow it to license and market MS-DOS.

1954
The IBM 704 is launched. This is the first commercial computer featuring indexing, floating point arithmetic, and a more reliable magnetic core memory.

1995
IBM acquires Lotus.

1996
IBM launches its DB2 relational database. IBM acquires Tivoli. The IBM Network Station, IBM's network computer, is introduced.

by Sixto Ortiz Jr.

1955
IBM's 608 transistor calculator, the first commercial all-solid state computer, is launched. This launch marked the end of IBM's use of tubes in computer manufacture.