Siemens AG

Siemens AG {{nyse|SI}} is the world's largest electronics company. Its international headquarters are in Munich, Germany. Siemens AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and also on the New York Stock Exchange since March 12, 2001. Worldwide, Siemens and its subsidiaries employ 440,000 people (2005) in 190 countries and reported global sales of ?75,167 billion in fiscal year 2004.

History

• Siemens Official History Web Site

It was founded by Werner von Siemens on October 1, 1847, based on the telegraph he had invented that used a needle to point to the sequence of letters, instead of using the Morse code. The company – then called Telegraphen-Bauanstalt von Siemens & Halske – took occupation of its workshop on October 12.

Related Topics:
Werner von Siemens - October 1 - 1847 - Telegraph - Needle - Letter - Morse code - October 12

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In 1848, the company built the first long-distance telegraph line in Europe, spanning 500 km from Berlin to Frankfurt am Main. In 1850 the founder's younger brother, Sir William Siemens (born Carl Wilhelm Siemens), started to represent the company in London. In the 1850s, the company was involved in building long distance telegraph networks in Russia. In 1855, a company branch opened in St Petersburg, headed by another brother, Carl von Siemens.

Related Topics:
1848 - Europe - Berlin - Frankfurt am Main - 1850 - Carl Wilhelm Siemens - London - Russia - 1855 - St Petersburg - Carl von Siemens

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The company continued to grow and diversified into electric trains and light bulbs. In 1890, the founder retired and left the company to his brother Carl and sons Arnold and Wilhelm. Siemens & Halske (S&H) was incorporated in 1897.

Related Topics:
1890 - 1897

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In 1919, S&H and two other companies jointly formed the Osram lightbulb company. A Japanese subsidiary was established in 1923.

Related Topics:
1919 - Osram - Lightbulb - Japan - 1923

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World War II

During the 1920s and 1930s, S&H started to manufacture radios, television sets, and electron microscopes. Before World War II Siemens was involved in the secret rearmament of Germany. During World War II, Siemens employed Jews and Roma as slave labour and ran its own concentration camp near Auschwitz.

Related Topics:
World War II - Jew - Roma - Slave - Concentration camp - Auschwitz

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Post-war

In the 1950s, S&H started to manufacture computers, semiconductor devices, laundry machines, and heart pace makers. Siemens AG was incorporated in 1966. The company's first digital telephone exchange was produced in 1980. In 1988 Siemens and GEC acquired the UK defense and technology company Plessey. The holdings of Plessey were split; Siemens taking over the avionics, radar and traffic control businesses — renamed Siemens Plessey.

Related Topics:
Computer - Semiconductor - Laundry - Heart pace maker - Plessey - Siemens Plessey

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In 1990, Siemens acquired failing Nixdorf Computer Company and renamed it Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG. This company has since turned profitable under the stewardship of Gerhard Schumeyer. In 1997 Siemens introduced the first GSM cellular phone with color display. Also in 1997 Siemens agreed with British Aerospace and DASA the sale of the defence arm of Siemens Plessey. BAe and DASA acquired the British and German arms of the operation respectively.

Related Topics:
Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG - Gerhard Schumeyer - GSM - British Aerospace - DASA

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In 1999, Siemens' semiconductor operations were spun off into a new company that would become Infineon Technologies. Also, Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG formed part of Fujitsu Siemens Computers AG in that year.

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In 2005 the Taiwanese company BenQ acquired the financially bleeding mobile phone subsidiary from Siemens and gained the exclusive right to use Siemens trademark for 5 years. Before transfering the mobile phone subsidiary to BenQ, Siemens invested 250 million euros and wrote off assets amounting to 100 million euros (www.newratings.com: Siemens sells mobile phone unit to BenQ). Siemens also acquired a 2.5% stake in BenQ for 50 million euros.

Related Topics:
BenQ

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