Channel programs News
40 At 40: A Look At Pioneering IT Companies Founded In 1982 And Before
Rick Whiting
As part of CRN’s 40th anniversary this year, here’s a look at 40 companies across the IT industry that have been around as long as CRN – and in many cases much longer.
Historical Highlights
“Apple Again Reverses Dealer-Pricing Plan,” says a headline on a Nov. 29, 1982, cover of Computer Retail News, the predecessor to today’s CRN. Other headlines in the issue include “ComputerLand Connecticut Beats IBM On Massive Personal Computer Pact,” and “Ex-Commodore VP In Venture With Mass-Merchandise Chain.”
The main photo on the front page shows a ribbon cutting ceremony at the opening of a Businessland store in San Jose, Calif. – the first of what was expected to be a national chain.
This year CRN, CRN.com and The Channel Company are celebrating the 40th anniversary of CRN as the voice of the channel. And the above stories from an edition that first year, chronicling the early days of the PC reseller boom, show how much the IT industry has changed – including the IT vendors, distributors and solution providers that make up the industry today.
As part of the 40th anniversary observance, we’re taking a look at 40 IT industry companies whose histories stretch back as long as CRN has been covering the industry and the channel – and in many cases longer.
Many of the companies on this list began decades ago, often as part of other companies and in some cases within industries that pre-date IT. Identifying a specific “born on” date for a company can be a bit subjective given complex histories that include mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and name changes. Some companies have official start dates less than 40 years in their current form, but their heritages go back much further. These companies, through evolutions and acquisitions, have become the leading businesses we know today.
