>From http://www.computerhistory.org/tdih/
April 7, 1964 IBM Announces "System 360" Computer Family IBM announces the release of its "System 360" mainframe computer architecture--embodied in five new models--launching its most successful computer system of all time. Called the "360" because it was meant to address all possible sizes and types of customer with one unified software-compatible architecture, the 360 family of machines generated in excess of $100 billion in revenue for IBM. After five years of turbulent development, the Models 30, 40, 50, 60/62, and 70 were introduced along with 150 new supporting products, with IBM proudly claiming that software written for one model of System/360 could run on any other. This allowed customers to add or remove computing capacity without losing their investment in software. This had been a serious problem before the 360 with IBM alone having seven different, mutually-incompatible mainframe computer systems. The 360 architecture was the basis for all subsequent mainframe architectures developed at IBM, as well as at IBM's many "plug-compatible" imitators. Its standardization of interfaces and methods allowed other companies to carve out a niche in the 360-dominated computer ecosystem. Throughout most of the 1960s, the System/360's success gave IBM a 65% market share, prompting observers to term the industry "Snow White (IBM) and the Seven Dwarfs." In 1965, the relative market shares were: 1. IBM: 65.3% 2. Sperry Rand (formerly Remington Rand): 12.1% 3. Control Data Corp.: 5.4% 4. Honeywell (formerly a division of Raytheon): 3.8% 5. Burroughs: 3.5% 6. General Electric: 3.4% 7. RCA: 2.9% 8. NCR (National Cash Register): 2.9% 9. The oft-forgotten eighth dwarf, Philco: 0.7% ==================== This email/fax message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution of this email/fax is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please destroy all paper and electronic copies of the original message. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
