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MICROSOFT
Description
Microsoft Canada provides local sales, marketing, consulting, and support services for the world's leading software provider. The company's products include its ubiquitous Windows operating systems and Office productivity software suite. Other offerings include server systems, development tools, and business management software. The company has also expanded into markets such as video game consoles, interactive television, and Internet service. Microsoft founded its Canadian subsidiary in 1985. It serves the consumer, business, education, and government markets with regional offices throughout the country.
Other Microsoft products catering to the Canadian market include country-specific versions of its MSN services and product sites such as its Xbox gaming portal.
IBM
Description
Although it's seen some renovation, IBM's house is still largely made of hardware. IBM's computer hardware segment is the company's second largest revenue generator behind Global Services, and its Systems and Technologies Group encompasses enterprise computing, storage, and microelectronics products. A worldwide leader in server and mainframe computing, the company offers UNIX and Windows-based offerings; it also leads in the development and sale of Linux-based products. Its Microelectronics unit makes microprocessors and memory products. Other offerings include printing products ranging from workgroup laser devices to large-scale enterprise systems.
While IBM has used acquisitions to grow its service and software branches in recent years, the company has streamlined its hardware operations. Once a leading disk drive manufacturer, IBM transferred the majority of that business to Hitachi through a joint venture. It also stopped manufacturing thin clients, and sold its Mylex unit to LSI Logic. IBM merged its Systems (servers) and Technology (semiconductors) groups in 2004. Traditionally a leader in the personal computing market, IBM sold its PC business to China's Lenovo Group in 2005.
In the UNIX server market IBM competes primarily with Hewlett-Packard and Sun Microsystems. In 2004 IBM unveiled a new line of UNIX servers based on its Power5 chip design.
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