Motorola

Motorola is an American telecommunications company best known for its cell phone and Bluetooth technology. In the company's early history they produced car radios, which helped to shape the origin of their name. Company founders Paul and Joseph Galvin felt the name helped to personify sound in motion. Once a leading manufacturer of cell phone handsets, Motorola has seen sales decline due to heavy competition from rivals like Nokia. In addition to their handset products, the company also produces semi-conductors and cell phone infrastructure hardware.

Fast Facts:

1. Stock symbol: MOT NYSE
2. Annual revenue (2007): $36.622 billion U.S.
3. Founders: Paul and Joseph Galvin
4. Year Established: 1928
5. Industry: Telecommunications
6. Phone: 1-847-576-5000
7. Fax: 1-847-576-5372
8. HQ: Schaumburg, Illinois
9. President and CEO: Gregory Q. Brown
10. CFO: Paul J. Liska
11. Staff: 66,000
12. Other key people: Patricia B. Morrison Chief Information Officer
13. Products: Primarily cell phones and cell phone peripherals
14. Initially called: Galvin Manufacturing Corporation
15. Created the worlds first commercial cellular device, the DynaTAC 8000X in 1983

Key Dates

• 1928: Company founded by Paul and Joseph Galvin, and incorporated in Chicago
• 1936: Develops Police cruiser radio
• 1943: The company goes public as Motorola
• 1956: Robert W. Galvin, son of Paul, becomes President
• 1994: Motorola introduced iDEN digital radio
• 2007: Wins Best Corporate Citizen Award

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