International Business Machines, abbreviated IBM, is a multinational computer, technology and IT consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, North Castle, New York, United States. The company is one of the few information technology companies with a continuous history dating back to the 19th century. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software (with a focus on the latter), and offers infrastructure services, hosting services, and consulting services in areas ranging from mainframe computers to nanotechnology. It has been nicknamed "Big Blue" for its official corporate color. Its business agenda since 2008 has been focused on "Smarter Planet", a vision of using distributed and embedded intelligent technologies to make communities and business work more effectively and efficiently . IBM has been well known through most of its recent history as the world's largest computer company and systems integrator. With over 407,000 employees worldwide, IBM is the largest and most profitable information technology and services employer in the world according to the Forbes 2000 list with sales of greater than 100 billion US dollars. IBM holds more patents than any other U.S. based technology company and has eight research laboratories worldwide. The company has scientists, engineers, consultants, and sales professionals in over 170 countries. IBM employees have earned five Nobel Prizes, four Turing Awards, nine National Medals of Technology, and five National Medals of Science. As a chip maker, IBM has been among the Worldwide Top 20 Semiconductor Sales Leaders in past years. (via Wikipedia)