Company Profile: Apple

Apple is a multinational corporation based in Cupertino, California that markets and designs computer hardware and software and consumer electronics. The company's most popular hardware are its Macintosh computers, the iPhone, iPad, and the entire iPod line. Its software includes the Mac OS/X operating system, the iLife creativity suite, and the iTunes media manager. It also markets the Final Cut Studio software, the Safari web browser, and a mobile operating system called iOS.

As of August of 2011, Apple is one of the largest companies in the world, and the single most valuable technology company, having surpassed Microsoft. On August 9, Apple surpassed ExxonMobil to become the most valuable company in the world.

The company was established in 1976 and incorporated in the beginning of 1977. It was originally known as Apple Computer Inc., keeping that name for 30 years before dropping the "Computer" in 2007. The change reflected the company's expansion into the consumer electronics market and a a shift away from its focus on personal computing. As of September 2010, the company had over 46,000 full time employees, and sales of over $65 billion.

Apple has established a reputation in the consumer electronics market, and has a loyal customer base, especially in the United States; that loyalty stems from its philosophy on aesthetics to its quirky advertising campaigns. It was named as one of the United States' most admired companies in 2008, and as one of the most admired worldwide the two years after that. However, it has not been without its share of detractors; it has faced stiff criticism for the environmental, labor and business ethics of its contractors.