Acer 2009 Annual Report Download - page 9

1976 – 1986
•
Commercialized microprocessor technology
1987 – 2000
•
Created the Acer brand name and went global
2001 – 2007
•
Transformed from manufacturing to a marketing and
sales company
2008 – beyond
•
Enhancing worldwide presence with a new multi-
brand strategy
1976
•
Acer was founded under the name Multitech, focusing
on trade and product design.
1978
•
Acer established the Microprocessor Training Centre,
training 3,000 engineers for Taiwan’s information
industry.
1979
•
Acer designed Taiwa n’s f irst mass-produced
computer for export.
1981
•
Acer manufacturing operations were established in
the Hsinchu Science-based Industrial Park, Taiwan.
•
MicroProfessor-I debuted as Acer’s first branded
product.
1982
•
MicroProfessor-II was unveiled as Taiwan’s rst 8-bit
home computer.
1983
•
Acer was the first company to promote 16-bit PC
products in Taiwan.
1984
•
Acer Peripherals, Inc. (now BenQ Corp.) and
Multiventure Investments, Inc. were established.
1985
•
AcerLand, Taiwan’s first and largest franchised
computer retail chain was founded.
1986
•
Acer beat IBM with 32-bit PCs.
1987
•
The Acer name was created.
1988
Acer Inc. launched IPO.
1989
•
TI-Acer DRAM joint venture with Texas Instruments
was formed.
1991
•
Acer introduced ChipUp™ technology — the world’s
rst 386-to-486 single-chip CPU upgrade solution.
1992
•
Acer created the world’s rst 386SX-33 chipset.
•
Stan Shih introduced the Smiling Curve concept.
1993
•
Acer developed a 64-bit performance-enhanced I/O
and CPU architecture to link MIPS RISC CPUs with
Microsoft® Windows® NT.
1994
•
Acer introduced the world’s rst dual Intel® Pentium®
PC.
1995
•
The popular Aspire multimedia PC brought Acer
closer to the consumer electronics market.
1996
•
Acer announced its commitment to providing fresh
technology to be enjoyed by everyone, everywhere.
1998
•
Acer was the official IT Sponsor of the 13th Asian
Games in Bangkok, introducing the world’s rst PC-
based management system for a major international
sporting event.
1999
•
Aspire Academy was set up in Aspire Park to help
managers of Asian firms and MNCs with offices in
Asia to improve their organizational and leadership
effectiveness.
2000
•
As part of Acer’s latest re-engineering, Acer split off
its OEM business unit to create Wistron Corp., an
independent design and IT manufacturing company.
2.1 Brief Account of the Company
2.1.1 Founded: August 1, 1976
2001
•
Acer adopted a new corporate identity to reect the
company’s commitment to enhancing people’s lives
through technology.
2002
•
The Product Value Labs were inaugurated to enhance
Acer’s customer- centric focus, and integrated
technologies that add value to customers’ lives.
•
The TravelMate C100 was the rst convertible Tablet
PC available in the worldwide market.
2004
•
Acer launched a new Folio design for notebooks,
featuring pure functional simplicity, smooth curves
and subtle elegance.
•
BusinessWeek selected Stan Shih as one of the “25
Stars of Asia.”
•
Acer Founder Stan Shih retired from the Group.
2005
•
J.T. Wang assumed the position of Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer, while Gianfranco Lanci
stepped into the role of President of Acer Inc.
•
Acer launched the Ferrari 4000, the rst carbon-ber
notebook available in the worldwide market.
•
A series of Empowering Technology products were
unveiled.
•
Acer became the worldwide No. 4 vendor for Total
PCs and notebooks.
•
Acer became the No. 1 brand in EMEA and Western
Europe for notebooks.
2006
•
Acer was the first-to-market with a full line of Intel®
Centrino® Duo mobile technology notebooks.
•
Acer became a Sponsor of Scuderia Ferrari.
•
Acer celebrated its 30th anniversary.
•
Acer AT3705-MGW LCD TV became the world’s rst
digital TV to pass Intel® Viiv™ technology verication.
•
Acer became the No. 3 notebook and No. 4 desktop
brand worldwide.
2007
•
Acer readied for Windows Vista™ with full range of
Vista-certied LCD monitors.
•
Acer set the trend in product design with new Aspire
Gemstone design consumer notebooks.
•
Acer completed the merger of Gateway, Inc.
•
Acer announced its joining as an Olympic Worldwide
Partner for the Winter Olympics in Vancouver 2010
and Summer Olympics in London 2012.
•
Acer became the No. 2 notebook and No. 3 desktop
PC vendor worldwide.
2008
•
Acer announced the acquisition of E-ten and plan to
enter the smart handheld market.
•
Acer launched the new Aspire Gemstone Blue
notebooks, the first to feature full HD widescreen
18.4” and 16” LCDs, Blue-Ray Disc™ drive, and latest
generation Dolby® Surround sound.
•
The Aspire One launched as the company’s first
mobile internet device, and won the Japan Good
Design award for quality design.
•
Acer ranked No. 3 for Total PCs and No. 2 for
notebooks worldwide.
2009
•
The Aspire Gemstone Blue series notebooks
captured Germany’s iF design award.
•
Acer launched the Aspire Timeline notebooks – thin
and light with all-day battery life.
•
BusinessWeek named Acer among the “10 Hottest
Tech Company of 2009.”
•
Acer was voted Reader’s Digest gold-medal Computer
TrustedBrand in Asia for the 11th consecutive year.
•
Acer announced its first netbook based on the
Android operating system.
•
Taiwan’s Ministry of Economic Affairs presented
Gianfranco Lanci with an Ec onomic Medal for
outstanding leadership, and building the Acer brand
name worldwide.
•
Acer launched the high-end and stylish Liquid
smartphones.
•
Acer became the world No. 2 company in Total PCs.
Acer Incorporated 2009 Annual Report
12.
Acer Incorporated 2009 Annual Report
13. Company In General