Founded in 1968 by friends and former Fairchild Semiconductor employees Gordon E. Moore and Robert N. Noyce, Intel Corporation is a public and multinational semiconductor chip manufacturing company that invented the x86 series of microprocessors found in the vast majority of personal computers. Intel also makes motherboard chipsets, network interface controllers and integrated circuits, flash memory, graphic chips, embedded processors, and various other computer and communications-related devices. Since 1991, Intel has been the number one global semiconductor company based on revenue. Continue reading to find out five things you might never have known about this company.
5. How Intel Got Its Name
Originally named “N M Electronics,” the Intel founder’s preferred name for their new corporation was “Moore Noyce.” Unfortunately, the proposed name sounded a bit too much like “more noise,” causing them to reconsider. Eventually, Noyce and Moore settled on “Intel,” a combination of “integrated” and “electronics.”
4. The Intel “Bong” Sound
Intel’s famous “bong” (bong…bong-bong-bong-bong) has been the company’s instantly recognizable sonic logo since the trademark sound was created by Austrian-born composer Walter Werzowa in 2004. Used in every Intel advertising campaign since, the “bong” is estimated to be heard somewhere around the world every five minutes.
3. Used to Make Watches
In 1972, Intel decided to change things up a bit with the acquisition of digital watch maker Microma. At the time, digital watches were considered extremely high-tech and fashionable with some even selling for hundreds of dollars. But when competition dropped watch prices to extreme lows, Intel backed out of the consumer jewelry market.
2. Creating “Cubical Culture”
Seen at the time to be extremely-forward thinking, Intel is credited with developing corporate America’s shoulder-high “cubical culture,” allowing “communication lines” to remain open amongst employees. That culture has since been looked down upon by many newer companies, causing Intel to announce a $10 million revamp back in 2007.
1. The Intel Asteroid
In 1974, the creation of Intel’s 8080 microprocessor, the first 8-bit true general purpose microprocessor, marked one of the biggest breakthroughs in the company’s history. Years after the microprocessor became an industry standard, the CERGA Observatory named a Caussols main belt asteroid “8080 Intel” in 1987 to commemorate the invention.
Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images
