| Apple, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in the design, manufacture, and marketing of personal computers and related software, services, peripherals, and networking solutions worldwide. It also provides a line of portable digital music players, as well as related accessories and services, including online sale of third-party audio and video products. The company?s products and services comprise the Macintosh line of desktop and portable computers; the Mac OS X operating system; the iPod line of portable digital music players; the iTunes Store, a portfolio of peripherals that support and enhance the Macintosh and iPod product lines; a portfolio of consumer and professional software applications; and the Xserve and Xserve RAID server and storage products. In addition, Apple, Inc. offers various third-party Macintosh and iPod compatible products, such as application software, printers, storage devices, speakers, headphones, and other accessories and supplies. The company provides an online service to distribute third-party music, audio books, music videos, short films, television shows, movies, and iPod games. Further, it offers products and services for the educational industry, which include iMac and the MacBook, video creation and editing solutions, wireless networking, professional development solutions, and one-to-one learning solutions. Apple, Inc. sells its products to education, consumer, creative professional, business, and government customers through its online stores and retail stores, as well as through its direct sales force, third-party wholesalers, resellers, and value-added resellers. As of September 30, 2006, the company had 165 retail stores, including 147 stores in the United States, as well as 18 stores in Canada, Japan, and the United Kingdom. Apple, Inc. was founded in 1976. It was formerly known as Apple Computer, Inc. and changed its name to Apple, Inc. in January 2007. The company is headquartered in Cupertino, California. |
