**IBM** (International Business Machines Corporation) is an [[United States|American]] [[Multinational corporation|multinational technology]] company headquartered in [[Armonk, New York]], with operations in over 175 countries. Founded in 1911 as the Computing-Tabulating-Recording Company (CTR) through the merger of several business machine manufacturers, the company was renamed International Business Machines in 1924 under the leadership of [[Thomas J. Watson Sr.|Thomas J. Watson]]. IBM is one of the oldest and largest technology companies in the world and has historically been among the most influential in shaping the development of [[Computer|computing]], [[Information technology|information technology]], and business computing infrastructure. Throughout the mid-twentieth century, IBM dominated the market for [[Mainframe computer|mainframe computers]] and [[Business machine|business machines]], establishing itself as the preeminent supplier of computing systems to large enterprises and governments. The company's development of the [[IBM System/360|System/360]] mainframe architecture in 1964 is widely regarded as one of the most significant engineering achievements in computing history, introducing the concept of a compatible family of computers spanning a wide range of performance and price points. IBM's decision in 1981 to release the [[IBM Personal Computer|IBM PC]] using an open architecture and third-party components from [[Microsoft]] and [[Intel]] catalyzed the personal computing industry, though it ultimately ceded control of the market to [[IBM PC compatible|compatible]] manufacturers and its own partners. IBM underwent significant strategic transformation beginning in the 1990s, shifting focus from hardware manufacturing toward [[Software|software]], [[IT services|IT services]], and [[Consulting|consulting]]. The sale of its [[ThinkPad]] personal computer business to [[Lenovo]] in 2005 and its [[IBM x86 server|x86 server]] division in 2014 marked its departure from commodity hardware markets. Today IBM's principal business segments include [[Hybrid cloud|hybrid cloud]] services, [[Artificial intelligence|AI]] and [[Data analytics|data and analytics]] platforms, and technology consulting delivered through [[IBM Consulting|IBM Consulting]]. The company's [[IBM Watson|Watson]] AI platform, introduced in 2010 when it defeated human champions on the quiz show [[Jeopardy!]], became a flagship brand for IBM's enterprise AI offerings. IBM holds more [[Patent|patents]] than any other [[United States|American]] technology company, having led the [[United States Patent and Trademark Office|U.S. patent]] rankings for over two decades.