Was founded: By Werner von Siemens on October 1, 1847
Motto: “Talk to each other”
Headquarters: Berlin
Employs: 400,000 people in over 190 of the world’s countries
Sales: €10 billion
Strategy: Seek actively to promote a dialogue with the public on a range of issues for society.
Logo: SIMENS
History:
In 1848, the company built the first long-distance telegraph line in Europe, spanning 500 km from Berlin to Frankfurt am Main.

In 1850 the founder's younger brother, Sir William Siemens (born Carl Wilhelm Siemens), started to represent the company in London.

In the 1850s, the company was involved in building long distance telegraph networks in Russia. In 1855, a company branch opened in St Petersburg, headed by another brother, Carl von Siemens.

In 1881, a Siemens AC Alternator, driven by a watermill, was used to power the world's first electric street lighting in the town of Godalming, United Kingdom. The company continued to grow and diversified into electric trains and light bulbs.

In 1890, the founder retired and left the company to his brother Carl and sons Arnold and Wilhelm. Siemens & Halske (S&H) was incorporated in 1897.

In 1990, Siemens acquired failing Nixdorf Computer AG and renamed it Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG. This company has since turned profitable under the stewardship of Gerhard Schumeyer.

In 1997 Siemens introduced the first GSM cellular phone with color display. Also in 1997 Siemens agreed with British Aerospace and DASA the sale of the defence arm of Siemens Plessey. BAe and DASA acquired the British and German arms of the operation respectively.

In 1999, Siemens' semiconductor operations were spun off into a new company known as Infineon Technologies. Also, Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme AG formed part of Fujitsu Siemens Computers AG in that year.The opening of Central and Eastern Europe created the right conditions for a further ush to expand Siemens’ business activities. This began with industrial and building
systems and medical equipment, but gradually expanded to encompass other
segments, above all telecommunications, environmental protection, and transportation
systems. Asia-Pacific, too, which today is experiencing a period of exceptionally
dynamic growth, became a key market for Siemens. All of the company’s operating
groups are active in the region. The retail banking technology group became Wincor Nixdorf.

In 2004, Siemens took over the mantle of official Formula One timekeeper, replacing TAG Heuer.

In 2005 the Taiwanese company BenQ acquired the financially bleeding mobile phone subsidiary from Siemens and gained the exclusive right to use Siemens trademark for 5 years. Before transferring the mobile phone subsidiary to BenQ, Siemens invested 250 million euros and wrote off assets amounting to 100 million euros Siemens also acquired a 2.5% stake in BenQ for 50 million euros.
The SiemensForums at a number of Siemens locations provide a valuable interface
through which the company communicates with society. In keeping with their motto,
“Talk to each other,” the Forums seek actively to promote a dialogue with the public on
a range of issues of relevance for society.
Siemens’ history of more than 155 years reveals how visions can become reality. Since
its founder years under Werner von Siemens, a visionary inventor and entrepreneur
who made an enormous contribution to technological progress in the nineteenth
century, the company has grown into a GLOBAL NETWORK OF INNOVATION uniting more
than 400,000 people in over 190 of the world’s countries.