Apple Inc.
Apple Inc., a sprawling multinational corporation, is one of the world’s leading innovators in technology, with a wide range of products, services, and businesses. Founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in 1976, Apple Inc. began as a small computer hardware and software company. From that humble beginning, the company has grown to become America’s largest publicly traded corporation by market capitalization, as well as the largest technology company in the world.
Headquartered in Cupertino, California, Apple’s success has been largely attributed to its commitment to innovation and its unparalleled design capabilities, as well as its ability to keep up with competitors through its extensive research and development operations. Through the years, Apple has consistently released revolutionary products – from the Macintosh computer to the iPod, iPhone, and iPad. Today, Apple products have become household staples around the world and the brand is one of the most popular and coveted among consumers.
Apple’s product portfolio is wide and varied. Currently, the company sells computing devices, such as the Mac, iPhone, and iPad; music products, such as the iPod, iTunes, and Apple Music; digital media services, such as iTunes Store and Apple TV; software, including the Mac OS X, iOS, and iCloud; and peripherals and accessories, including Beats headphones and AppleWatch. Additionally, Apple has expanded into other markets, including medical research, automotive industry, and education.
In 2016, Apple’s revenues rose to a record-breaking $215 billion, an increase of 8.84% from the previous year. The increase was driven by strong demand for Apple’s iPhones, as well as increased services such as Apple Music, iTunes Store, and App Store. Apple recently announced a 7-for-1 stock split, making its stock more affordable for smaller investors. This move was seen as an effort to make its share price less volatile, as well as to keep up with the broader stock market’s moves.
As of 2017, Apple is attempting to break ground in the health care and automotive industries with the release of its CarPlay service, and its ResearchKit platform, which allows developers to build apps that can be used by medical researchers. Apple is also attempting to break into the home-automation market with HomeKit, its platform that enables developers to create smart home products and services compatible with Apple products.
As Apple continues to expand outside of its core products, it remains to be seen how well the company’s diversification efforts will succeed. However, with its focus on research and development, innovation, and design, there is no sign of Apple slowing down anytime soon.
