Technology companies – who’s who?

A few weeks ago I wrote about how Apple’s corporate definition has changed over the years. I took the definition from the paragraph that appears at the end of each press release – the text that explains to the media the nature of the company that issued the information.

Here’s a quiz that demonstrates how well these definitions work for technology companies. I’ve removed the company and brand names, see if you can guess who is who. To see of you’re right, if you’re using a computer move your cursor over the first instance of the ??s in each paragraph – if you wait a few seconds the missing name will appear, on devices without pointing devices, tap the ??s.

1

??????? is a $US30 billion personal technology company – and the second largest PC company in the world, serving customers in more than 160 countries. Dedicated to building exceptionally engineered PCs and mobile internet devices, ???????’s business is built on product innovation, a highly-efficient global supply chain and strong strategic execution. Formed by ???????’s acquisition of ???????, the company develops, manufactures and markets reliable, high-quality, secure and easy-to-use technology products and services. Its product lines include legendary BRAND1-branded commercial PCs and BRAND2-branded consumer PCs, as well as servers, workstations, and a family of mobile internet devices, including tablets and smart phones. ??????? has major research centers in Yamato, Japan; Beijing, China; and Raleigh, North Carolina.

2

??????? creates new possibilities for technology to have a meaningful impact on people, businesses, governments and society. The world’s largest technology company, ??????? brings together a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure to solve customer problems.

3

??????? listens to customers and delivers innovative technology and services that give them the power to do more.

4

??????? is a global leader in consumer electronics and the core components that go into them. Through relentless innovation and discovery, we are transforming the worlds of televisions, smartphones, personal computers, printers, cameras, home appliances, medical devices, semiconductors and LED solutions. We employ 227,000 people across 75 countries with annual sales exceeding US$143 billion. Our goal is opening new possibilities for people everywhere.

5

??????? designs BRAND1, the best personal computers in the world, along with BRAND2, BRAND3, BRAND4 and professional software. ??????? leads the digital music revolution with its BRAND5s and BRAND6 online store. ??????? has reinvented the mobile phone with its revolutionary BRAND7 and BRAND8, and is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices with BRAND9.

6

??????? is a world leader in computing innovation. The company designs and builds the essential technologies that serve as the foundation for the world’s computing devices.

7

Founded in 1975, ??????? is the worldwide leader in software, services and solutions that help people and businesses realize their full potential.

8

??????? is changing the world through digital experiences.

9

???????’s innovative search technologies connect millions of people around the world with information every day. Founded in 1998 by Stanford Ph.D. students PERSON1 and PERSON2, ??????? today is a top web property in all major global markets. ???????’s targeted advertising program provides businesses of all sizes with measurable results, while enhancing the overall web experience for users. ??????? is headquartered in Silicon Valley with offices throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia.

10

Founded in 2004, ???????’s mission is to make the world more open and connected. People use BRAND1 to stay connected with friends and family, to discover what’s going on in the world, and to share and express what matters to them.

11

Founded in 1997, ??????? is the creator of many award-winning mobile devices and industry firsts. By putting people at the center of everything it does, ??????? pushes the boundaries of design and technology to create innovative and personal experiences for consumers around the globe. ???????’s portfolio includes smartphones and tablets powered by BRAND1, a multilayered graphical user interface that vastly improves user experience.

12

A global leader in wireless innovation, ??????? revolutionized the mobile industry when it was introduced in 1999. Today, ??????? aims to inspire the success of our millions of customers around the world by continuously pushing the boundaries of mobile experiences. Founded in 1984 and based in Waterloo, Ontario, ??????? operates offices in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Latin America.

13

A global leader in wireless innovation, ??????? is a global leader in mobile communications whose products have become an integral part of the lives of people around the world. Every day, more than 1.3 billion people use their BRAND1 to capture and share experiences, access information, find their way or simply to speak to one another. ???????’s technological and design innovations have made its brand one of the most recognized in the world.

14

???????, a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth’s Biggest Selection. ??????? seeks to be Earth’s most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. ??????? and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as Books; Movies, Music & Games; Digital Downloads; Electronics & Computers; Home & Garden; Toys, Kids & Baby; Grocery; Apparel, Shoes & Jewelry; Health & Beauty; Sports & Outdoors; and Tools, Auto & Industrial. BRAND1 provides ???????’s developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on ???????’s own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business. BRAND2 is the most-advanced e-reader ever constructed with 62% more pixels and 25% increased contrast, a patented built-in front light for reading in all lighting conditions, extra-long battery life, and a thin and light design. The new latest generation BRAND3, the lightest and smallest BRAND3, now features new, improved fonts and faster page turns. BRAND4 features a stunning custom high-definition display, exclusive Dolby audio with dual stereo speakers, high-end, laptop-grade Wi-Fi with dual-band support, dual-antennas and MIMO for faster streaming and downloads, enough storage for HD content, and the latest generation processor and graphics engine—and it is available in two display sizes—7″ and 8.9″. The large-screen BRAND4 is also available with 4G wireless, and comes with a groundbreaking $49.99 introductory 4G LTE data package. The all-new BRAND5 features a 20% faster processor, 40% faster performance, twice the memory, and longer battery life.

Here are the answers in white – select to see who is who:
1 – Lenovo
2 – HP
3 – Dell
4 – Samsung
5 – Apple
6 – Intel
7 – Microsoft
8 – Adobe
9 – Google
10 – Facebook
11 – HTC
12 – Blackberry
13 – Nokia
14 – Amazon