Motorola Company History

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Motorola, Inc. (NYSE: MOT) is a publicly traded international communications company based in Schaumburg, Illinois, USA, a suburb of Chicago. The company began as the Galvin Manufacturing Corporation in 1928 by brothers Paul V. Galvin and Joseph E. Galvin. In 1930, Paul V. Galvin creates the brand name "Motorola" for the company's new car radio, linking "motor" (motorcar, motion) with the suffix "ola" (sound). In 1947, Galvin Manufacturing Corporation changed its name to Motorola, Inc.

1 Timeline
- 1.1 1920's
- 1.2 1930's
- 1.3 1940's
- 1.4 1950's
- 1.5 1960's
- 1.6 1970's
- 1.7 1980's
- 1.8 1990's
- 1.9 2000's
2 Reference
3 External link

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Timeline

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1920's

1928

Paul V. Galvin and his brother, Joseph E. Galvin, purchase a battery eliminator business in Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. They incorporate Galvin Manufacturing Corporation on September 25, 1928.

The Galvin Manufacturing Corporation has five employees. The first week's payroll is $63. Assets consist of $565 in cash, $750 in tools and a design for the company's first product, a battery eliminator. Net sales for the year total $63,000, with net earnings of $6,015.

Galvin Manufacturing Corporation's first product is a battery eliminator, a device that allows battery-powered radios to run on standard household electric current.

Galvin Manufacturing Corporation rents quarters at 847 West Harrison Street, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

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1930's

1930

Net sales: $287,256

Galvin Manufacturing Corporation introduces one of the first commercially successful car radios. The original Motorola model 5T71 radio sells for between $110 and $130, and can be installed in most popular automobiles.

Galvin Manufacturing Corporation founder Paul V. Galvin creates the brand name "Motorola" for the company's new car radio, linking "motor" (motorcar, motion) with the suffix "ola" (sound).

1936

The Motorola Police Cruiser mobile receiver, a redesigned car radio preset to a single frequency to receive police broadcasts, is the company's first entry into the new field of mobile radio communications.

1937

Galvin Manufacturing Corporation enters the home radio business with a line of Motorola phonographs, and table and console radios. The company's automobile radios feature electronic push-button tuning, fine-tuning and tone control.

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1940's

1940

Net sales: $9.94 million

Galvin Manufacturing Corporation develops the Handie-Talkie SCR536 two-way radio, a lightweight, handheld radio that becomes widely used during World War II.

1941

Galvin Manufacturing Corporation introduces its first commercial line of Motorola FM two-way radio systems and equipment. FM technology provides quieter operation than AM technology. The first Motorola FM system is installed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

1943

The first portable FM two-way radio, the SCR300 backpack radio, is designed by Motorola chief scientist Daniel E. Noble for the U.S. Army Signal Corps. Weighing 35 pounds, the "walkie-talkie" radio has a range of 10 to 20 miles.

Motorola's first public stock is offered. A share sells for $8.50.

1947

Motorola's first television, the Golden View model VT71, is priced to sell for under $200 in the United States. More than 100,000 units are sold in one year.

Galvin Manufacturing Corporation becomes Motorola, Inc.

1949

Motorola establishes a small research and development operation in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A, partly to investigate the new field of solid-state technology. By anticipating the enormous potential of the transistor, Motorola becomes one of the world's largest manufacturers of semiconductors.

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1950's

1950

Net sales: $177.10 million

1955

Motorola's stylized "M" monogram, or symbol, is introduced. The "emsignia," coupled with a modern logotype, becomes the global symbol of the Motorola brand.

A germanium transistor intended for car radios is Motorola's first mass-produced semiconductor and one of the first high-power transistors in commercial production.

1956

Motorola's new Handie-Talkie radio pocket pager selectively delivers a radio message to a particular individual. Pagers begin to replace public announcement systems in hospitals and factories.

1958

Motorola introduces the Motrac radio, the first vehicular two-way radio that has a fully transistorized power supply and receiver. Its low power consumption allows the radio to be used without running the automobile engine.

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1960's

1960

Net sales: $299.07 million

Motorola's 19-inch Astronaut television is the first large-screen, transistorized, cordless portable television.

1961

Motorola develops low-cost techniques to produce the silicon rectifiers used in automobile alternators, making the alternator an economical replacement for the less durable generator. The company becomes a supplier of "under the hood" automotive electronics products.

1962

Motorola introduces the fully transistorized Handie-Talkie HT200 portable two-way radio. Weighing 33 ounces (935 grams), it is nicknamed the "brick" because of its shape and durable construction.

1963

Motorola develops the first truly rectangular picture tube for color television in a joint venture with National Video Corporation. The tube quickly becomes the standard for the industry.

1967

Motorola expands to many countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, South Korea, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and West Germany.

1969

Astronaut Neil Armstrong's first words from the moon are relayed to Earth by a Motorola radio transponder aboard the Apollo 11 lunar module. The transponder provides telemetry, tracking, two-way voice communications and television signal transmissions between Earth and the moon.

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1970's

1970

Net sales: $796.42 million

1971

NASA's lunar roving vehicle uses a Motorola FM radio receiver to provide a voice link over the 240,000 miles (386,000 km) between Earth and the moon. The receiver is 100 times more sensitive than a standard car radio, yet it weighs only 1.5 pounds (680 grams).

1973

Motorola demonstrates a design for the DynaTAC (Dynamic Adaptive Total Area Coverage) portable radio telephone. This prototype of the world's first commercial portable telephone uses a radio technology called cellular.

1974

Motorola's 8-bit MC6800 microprocessor is used in automotive, computing and video game applications. It contains 4,000 transistors.

1976

Motorola's new international headquarters is located in the Chicago suburb of Schaumburg, Illinois, U.S.A.

1978

Motorola introduces its first computer-controlled radio systems and equipment that use trunking technology. Trunking helps radio operators use crowded radio frequencies more efficiently.

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1980's

1980

Net sales: $3.10 billion

Motorola is one of the first to develop computerized, electronic engine control modules, to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. Electronic components for the automotive industry become the first major market for Motorola microprocessors.

1981

Motorola commits to improving the quality of its products and services. The implementation of a company-wide Six SigmaTM total-quality program is underway by the mid-1980s.

1983

Motorola's first DynaTAC cellular system begins commercial operation. Over 15 years, the company has devoted $100 million to the development of cellular technology.

The world's first commercial handheld cellular phone, the Motorola DynaTAC phone, receives approval from the U.S. Federal Communications Commission. The 28-ounce handheld phone becomes available to consumers in 1984.

1984

Motorola introduces the MC68020, the first true 32-bit microprocessor. It contains 200,000 transistors on a three-eighths-inch square chip.

Motorola develops the MC68HC11 8-bit embedded controller for use in everyday consumer, automotive and industrial products.

1986

Motorola introduces the Bravo numeric pager. It becomes the world's best-selling pager.

1988

Motorola is one of three winners of the first Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, established by the U.S. Congress to recognize and inspire the pursuit of quality in American business.

1989

The Motorola MicroTAC® personal cellular telephone is the smallest and lightest on the market.

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1990's

1990

Net sales: $10.89 billion

General Instrument Corporation is the first to propose an all-digital high-definition television (HDTV) technical standard.

1994

Motorola develops the world's commercial digital radio system that integrates paging, data communications, voice dispatch and wireless telephones in a single radio network and a single handset.

1995

Developed in Hong Kong, Motorola's DragonBall MC68328 microprocessor is used in consumer electronics applications, including handheld video games and personal digital assistants.

Motorola introduces the world's first two-way pager, the Tango two-way personal messaging pager. It allows users to receive text messages and e-mail, and reply with a standard response. It also can be connected to a computer for downloading long messages.

1996

Motorola's 3.1 ounce (88 grams) StarTAC® wearable cellular telephone is the world's smallest and lightest.

1998

Motorola telematics automotive technologies provide vehicle occupants with location-specific security, information and entertainment services.

Motorola's iDEN® i1000 portable radio handset combines two-way radio, telephone, text messaging and data transmission in a single unit.

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2000's

2000

Net sales: $37.580 billion

Motorola and General Instrument Corporation merge their businesses to provide integrated video, voice and data networking for cable, Internet and high-speed data services

Motorola conducts the world's first 700MHz wideband high-speed data trial with public safety users, enabling advanced mission-critical solutions.

2001

Motorola introduces its first metal mobile phone, the Motorola v60 phone, with anodized aluminum housings, Internet access, text messaging capabilities and voice-activated dialing. A year later, it becomes available in all three cellular technologies — GSM, TDMA and CDMA — and quickly becomes a worldwide best seller.

Motorola's Project 25 and TETRA-compliant IP-based wireless communications systems are designed to enable users to transfer pictures, fingerprints, video and Internet-based data using two-way radios.

2002

Motorola's Broadband Communications Sector receives an Emmy Award from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences for outstanding achievement in the development of consumer digital set-top terminals. This latest achievement marks Motorola's seventh Emmy win.

The Motorola Instant GPS chip is the first single-chip Global Positioning System receiver solution. This breakthrough technology enables designers to add accurate location-sensing features to portable consumer electronics products.

Motorola launches its first 3G nationwide voice and date network using Code Division Multiple Access 1X (CDMA 1X) technology with KDDI, Japan's second largest wireless operator, enabling Internet access at speeds more than double that of existing networks.

Motorola's Commercial, Government and Industrial Solutions Sector is honored with the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. This is the second time Motorola has received the award, which was established by the U.S. Congress to promote quality awareness, recognize performance achievements, and publicize successful operational strategies.

2003

Motorola celebrates 75 years of making things, smarter and life better for people around the world.

Motorola commemorates the 20-year anniversary of the world's first commercial portable cellular phone, the DynaTAC portable phone, unveiled by the company in 1983.

The Motorola A760 phone is the world's first handset combining a Linux operating system and Java technology with full PDA functionality.

Motorola produces its 50-millionth applications processor for portable multimedia devices used by Palm, Sony, Siemens and other customers.

Motorola receives the Interpol Outstanding Contribution Award. The company is recognized for its services to the international law enforcement community.

2004

Motorola, working with Science Applications International Corporation and Siemens, provides the secure two-way radio communications system for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens. The system is used by more than 22,000 Greek public-safety officers and personnel making more than three million calls. Motorola has supplied radio equipment for Olympic Games in Munich, Los Angeles, Sarajevo, Calgary, Lillehammer, Atlanta and Salt Lake City.

Motorola's Canopy Wireless Broadband group receives PART-15.ORG's Wireless Manufacturer of the Year Award. Canopy broadband wireless products enable service providers to deliver affordable and reliable high-speed Internet access to homes and businesses.

Motorola introduces the RAZR V3 phone, an ultraslim, metal-clad, quad-band flip phone. The 13.9mm thin device uses aircraft-grade aluminum to achieve several design and engineering innovations, including a nickel-plated keypad.

Motorola is among the Top Ten Corporate Citizens in Environmental Stewardship, as chosen by Citizens Advisers. The list is drawn from the Citizens Index, a broad-based index of 300 companies that have passed multiple screens for financial strength and corporate responsibility.

Motorola receives the 2004 Award for Corporate Excellence from the U.S. Department of State for the company's activities in Brazil. The award recognizes multinational enterprises for their exemplary conduct, corporate responsbility and innovations in overseas operations. Motorola is the only company to have received the Secretary of State's Award for Corporate Excellence twice.

Motorola introduces its unique Cross-Technology PoC product line that enables subscribers to have "push-to-talk" connectivity across and between GPRS, CDMA2000 1X, and WiFi networks.

Shares of Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. begin trading on the New York Stock Exchange as a separate public company under the ticker symbol FSL. Motorola completes the separation of Freescale on December 2, 2004.

2005

Motorola Labs demonstrates a 5-inch color video display protype using carbon nanotube technology that can be implemented for large, flat-panel displays. The technology achieves HDTV-quality brightness and colors using standard cathode ray tube (CRT) TV phosphors, and display characteristics that meet or exceed CRTs, including fast response time and wide viewing angle.

Motorola, in partnership with the GSM Association, announces an ultralow-cost cellular phone for consumers in developing markets. The phone is optimized for durability and long talk time.

A tele-health pilot project using Motorola's MOTOHEALTH solution to monitor patients with chronic diseases suh as diabetes, asthma and obesity is launched in Barcelona, Spain. Patients carry a Motorola A1000 phone that uses sensors to automatically capture and transmit medical information to doctors.

Motorola demonstrates a mobile emergency call system that supports the European Directive for Mobile Communication e-Call initiative. In case of an accident, the in-vehicle emergency system activates automatically to transmit location information through a regular mobile communications network to an emergency call center, which then alerts police and rescue services.

Motorola introduces the Ojo personal video phone. It transmits full-motion video with synchronized audio over a high-speed Internet connection.

A Motorola TETRA digital radio system is deployed by PSA Singapore Terminals for the world's largest transshipment hub. The TETRA network provides voice and data communications to manage shipping container traffic efficiently in four container terminals in Singapore.

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