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NEC

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NEC is a major Japanese multinational information technology corporation.

NEC logo 1963
NEC logo 1963

It is headquartered at the NEC Supertower in Minato, Tokyo. The company provides many digital solutions for modern society. These include cloud computing and artificial intelligence (AI). They also offer Internet of Things (IoT) platforms and telecommunications equipment. NEC serves business enterprises, service providers, and government agencies. It is currently one of the five largest defense contractors in Japan.

Kaoru Yano cropped 2 Kaoru Yano and Sebastian Pinera 20101115
Kaoru Yano cropped 2 Kaoru Yano and Sebastian Pinera 20101115

The company's history began with telephone technology. Kunihiko Iwadare and Takeshiro Maeda established the Nippon Electric Limited Partnership on August 31, 1898. They used facilities purchased from the Miyoshi Electrical Manufacturing Company. Iwadare acted as the representative partner. Maeda managed the company's sales. In 1899, a revised treaty between Japan and the United States allowed for reorganization. The company became the first Japanese joint-venture with foreign capital.

NEC APC
NEC APC

Early operations focused on the production and maintenance of telephones and switches. In 1901, NEC built the Mita Plant to modernize production. By 1903, the Japanese Ministry of Communications adopted NEC's common battery switchboards. These switchboards powered subscriber phones. This innovation eliminated the need for a permanent magnet generator in every individual phone. NEC also began exporting telephone sets to China in 1904. To improve efficiency, Iwadare replaced the old "oyakata" sub-contracting system. He moved to a system of direct employment with higher salaries and incentives.

NEC Versa 6O1OH
NEC Versa 6O1OH

NEC faced significant challenges during the early 20th century. The Great Kantō earthquake struck Japan in 1923. This disaster killed 140,000 people and left 3.4 million homeless. Four NEC factories were destroyed, resulting in the deaths of 105 workers and engineers. In response to the damage, the Ministry of Communications accelerated programs for automatic switching and radio. NEC developed Japan's first Strowger-type automatic switching system in 1924. The company also entered the radio business that same year.

NEC uPB74LS04C
NEC uPB74LS04C

World War II brought difficult times for the company. In 1938, military officers took direct supervision of the Mita and Tamagawa plants. In 1941, the enemy property control law was passed. This led to the seizure of NEC shares owned by Western Electric affiliates. During the war, several plants suffered heavy damage from military attacks. The Ueno plant was leveled in March 1945. The Okayama Plant was totally destroyed by bombing in June 1945. By the end of the war, production was greatly reduced due to shortages.

NEC 8080AF cropped
NEC 8080AF cropped

Postwar, NEC shifted toward advanced electronics and computing. In 1950, the company began transistor research and development. By 1954, they started computer research. In 1958, NEC built the NEAC-2201, its first fully transistorized computer. This machine used parts made entirely in Japan. During the 1960s and 1970s, NEC expanded globally. They established branches in Mexico, Brazil, and Australia. They also supplied satellite communications systems to the Comsat Corporation in 1971.

NEC PC-8801 with keyboard
NEC PC-8801 with keyboard

In the later decades, NEC became a leader in high-performance technology. They created the first digital signal processor in 1980. In 1986, they delivered the SX-2 supercomputer to the Houston Advanced Research Center.

Earth simulator ES2
Earth simulator ES2

While NEC was once a massive manufacturer of personal computers and semiconductors, its focus has changed. It spun off its PC business to Lenovo. It also spun off its semiconductor business to Renesas Electronics and Elpida Memory. Today, the company remains deeply connected to global infrastructure through its work in networks and smart systems.

NTT DoCoMo FOMA N-02C 01
NTT DoCoMo FOMA N-02C 01
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🖼️ Images & Media (14)
File:NEC logo 1963.svg
NEC logo 1963.svg
File:NEC APC.jpg
NEC APC.jpg
File:NEC Versa 6O1OH.jpg
NEC Versa 6O1OH.jpg
File:NEC Mobile Gear II MCR330.jpg
NEC Mobile Gear II MCR330.jpg
File:Kaoru Yano cropped 2 Kaoru Yano and Sebastian Pinera 20101115.jpg
Kaoru Yano cropped 2 Kaoru Yano and...
File:NEC RDX drive 2022-08-10.jpg
NEC RDX drive 2022-08-10.jpg
File:NTT DoCoMo FOMA N-02C 01.jpg
NTT DoCoMo FOMA N-02C 01.jpg
File:NEC UPD705103 v833 MCU.jpg
NEC UPD705103 v833 MCU.jpg
File:NEC MONITOR E2206XG.jpg
NEC MONITOR E2206XG.jpg
File:NEC 8080AF cropped.png
NEC 8080AF cropped.png
File:NEC PC-8801 with keyboard.jpg
NEC PC-8801 with keyboard.jpg
File:NEC COMPO BS80.jpg
NEC COMPO BS80.jpg

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