H ISTORY OF THE APPLE BUSINESS By: Jessica Randhawa

C OMPANY HISTORY The Apple company started out as a group of three people: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne. They were hand-built by Steve Wozniak and first introduced to public at the Homebrew Computer Club. This type of business is known as a partnership. A partnership is a business co- owned by partners who agree on how responsibilities, profits, and losses will be divided. They also must decide how much time and capital each will contribute.

C OMPANY HISTORY The Apple I went on sale in July 1976 and was market-priced at $ ($2.55 thousand in 2010 dollars, adjusted for inflation). Apple was incorporated January 3, 1977 without Ronald Wayne, who sold his share of the company back to Jobs and Steve Wozniak for $800. Multi-millionaire Mike Markkula provided essential business expertise and funding of $250,000 during the incorporation of Apple.

C OMPANY HISTORY Apple company was established in Cupertino, California on April 1, 1976 and incorporated January 3, The company was called Apple Computer Inc. for its first 30 years, but removed the word “computer” on January 9, 2007 to reflect the company’s ongoing expansion into consumer electronics market in addition to its traditional focus on personal computers.

C OMPANY HISTORY Apple Inc. is an American multinational corporation that designs and manufactures consumer electronics, computer software and personal computers. The company’s best- known hardware products include Macintosh computers, iPod, iPhone and iPad. Apple has a great reputation and its products base is growing, as a result apple is growing to meet the challenges of customer support.

C OMPANY HISTORY Apple has been criticized from both user and developer perspectives over disabling Google Voice from their online store for iPhone, pressuring journalists to reveal their sources regarding future Apple products.

C HALLENGES FACING APPLE COMPANY INNOVATION The R&D cupboard may get bare. Jobs killed long-term research three years ago. Now, staffers focus on products due out within a year. If that doesn't change, especially when it comes to software that can take years to percolate, Apple may find itself falling behind rivals with far larger R&D kitties, such as Microsoft and Intel.

C HALLENGES FACING APPLE COMPANY *( CONT ) NEW MARKETS The PC has been the primary Net access device, but that could change fast as Web phones and other devices debut. Apple has shunned this market so far, but experts say it will have to follow suit. That will challenge the company to make money on cheaper, sub- $500 devices.

C HALLENGES FACING APPLE COMPANY *( CONT ) DISTRIBUTION Jobs cut back the number of Mac retailers to a handful in 1997 to match declining demand. Now, to gain share, Apple needs a bigger presence. Some analysts say it should emulate Gateway and establish its own stores. That would cost a lot, though, and could upend its newfound operating efficiency.

COMPANY HISTORY Overall, the company has only made improvements in its career and has seen a lot of success in its inventions. All the new and imporved high tech devices that the apply company is introducing is making their company and profit grow tremendously.

COMPANY HISTORY Apple has expanded from computers to consumer electronics over the last 30 years, officially changing their name from Apple Computer, Inc. to Apple, Inc. in January Among the key offerings from Apple’s product line are: Pro line laptops (MacBook Pro) and desktops (Mac Pro), consumer line laptops (MacBook) and desktops (iMac), servers (Xserve), Apple Tv, the Mac OS X and Mac OS X Server operating systems, the iPod (offered with up to 120 GB of storage with the iPod classic or with web browsing and touch screen controls with the iPod touch), and the iPhone (now available for sale in over 80 countries).

COMPANY HISTORY Steve Jobs is the CEO of Apple, which he co- founded in He was born February 24, 1955, in San Francisco, California. Starting in 1976 as a computer company, in the past decade however, Apple has expanded into a very intricate company that specializes in much more than just computers. In 2001, Apple broke the barrier with the iPod, eventually becoming the dominant market leader in music players. As well, Apple joined the phone industry in 2007 with the iPhone, which has also been widely successful.

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