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{{Short description|American multinational technology company}}
{{redirect|Dell Inc.|its parent company|Dell Technologies|other uses|Dell (disambiguation)}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Dell Inc.
| logo = Dell logo 2016.svg
| logo_caption = Logo since 2016
| logo_upright = 0.65
| image = RR1- Dell Campus.jpg
| image_upright = 1.1
| image_caption = Headquarters in Round Rock, Texas
| former_name = {{Ubl
| PC's Limited (1984–1987)
| Dell Computer Corporation (1987–2003)
}}
| type = [[Subsidiary]]
| industry = {{Ubl
| [[Personal computer]]s
| [[Software|Computer software]]
}}
| traded_as = {{NASDAQ was|DELL}}
[[Nasdaq-100]] component (until 2013)
[[S&P 100]] component (until 2013)
[[S&P 500]] component (until 2013)
| fate =
| founded = {{start date and age|1984|05|03}} in [[Austin, Texas]], U.S.
| founder = [[Michael Dell]]
| location_city = [[Round Rock, Texas]]
| hq_location_country = US<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/about-dell.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=corp
| title = Dell Company Profile
| access-date = July 28, 2010
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120119113923/http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/about-dell.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=corp
| archive-date = January 19, 2012
| url-status = dead}}</ref>
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{ubl|[[Michael Dell]] ([[Chairperson|chairman]] & [[Chief executive officer|CEO]])|Jeff Clarke ([[Chairperson|vice chair]] & [[Chief operating officer|COO]])}}
| products = {{unbulleted list
| [[Personal computer]]s
| [[Server (computing)|Servers]]
| [[Peripheral]]}}
| parent = [[Dell Technologies]] (2016–present)
| revenue = {{decrease}} {{US$|88.4 billion|link=yes}} (2024)
| operating_income = {{decrease}} US$5.21 billion (2024)
| net_income = {{increase}} US$3.21 billion (2024)
| assets = {{decrease}} US$82.1 billion (2024)
| equity = {{increasenegative}} US$–2.3 billion (2024)
| num_employees = {{circa|120,000}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.statista.com/statistics/264917/number-of-employees-at-dell-since-1996/|title=Number of employees at Dell from 1996 to 2020 (in 1,000s)*|publisher=Statista|access-date=March 11, 2021}}</ref>
| homepage = {{URL|https://www.dell.com/|dell.com}}
}}
'''Dell Inc.'''
Founded by [[Michael Dell]] in 1984, Dell started making [[IBM]] [[IBM PC compatible|clone]] computers and pioneered selling cut-price PCs directly to customers,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Burgess |first=John |date=1991-06-03 |title=PRICE WAR SHAKES UP COMPUTER MARKET |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1991/06/03/price-war-shakes-up-computer-market/4f8de627-5e7a-4c2f-a5c6-25d73b9c3525/ |access-date=2025-05-17 |work=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}</ref> managing its [[supply chain management|supply chain]] and [[electronic commerce]].<ref name="bw1103">{{cite web |date=November 2, 2003 |title=What you don't know about Dell |url=http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2003-11-02/what-you-dont-know-about-dell |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120808134325/http://www.businessweek.com/stories/2003-11-02/what-you-dont-know-about-dell |archive-date=August 8, 2012 |access-date=October 28, 2012 |work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek}}</ref><ref name="statesman">{{cite web |title=Dell selling former site of North Carolina manufacturing plant |url=http://www.statesman.com/news/business/dell-selling-former-site-of-north-carolina-manufac/nTbTJ/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160925102835/http://www.statesman.com/news/business/dell-selling-former-site-of-north-carolina-manufac/nTbTJ/ |archive-date=September 25, 2016 |access-date=April 27, 2013 |publisher=statesman.com}}</ref> The company rose rapidly during the 1990s<ref>{{Cite web |title=THE RESURRECTION OF MICHAEL DELL HOW A BUNCH OF OLD GUYS GOT MICHAEL DELL TO GROW UP AND RUN HIS COMPANY LIKE THE BIG BUSINESS IT HAS BECOME. - September 18, 1995 |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1995/09/18/206081/index.htm |access-date=2024-11-20 |website=money.cnn.com}}</ref> and in 2001 it became the largest global PC vendor for the first time.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2001-04-20 |title=Dell becomes world's top PC maker |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1287345.stm |access-date=2024-11-20 |language=en-GB}}</ref> Dell was a pure hardware vendor until 2009 when it acquired [[Perot Systems]]. Dell then entered the market for IT services. The company has expanded storage and networking systems. In the late 2000s, it began expanding from offering computers only to delivering a range of technology for enterprise customers.<ref name="reut">{{cite news|agency=Reuters Financial|url=https://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?rpc=66&symbol=DELL.O|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080913131447/http://www.reuters.com/finance/stocks/companyProfile?rpc=66&symbol=DELL.O|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 13, 2008|title=Dell company profile|access-date=June 15, 2013}}</ref>
Dell is a subsidiary of [[Dell Technologies]], a [[Public company|publicly traded company]], as well as a component of the [[NASDAQ-100]] and [[S&P 500]]. Dell is ranked 31st on the Fortune 500 list in 2022,<ref>{{cite news | title=Dell Technologies | url=https://fortune.com/company/dell-technologies/fortune500/ |publisher=Fortune |access-date=2022-06-28}}</ref> up from 76th in 2021.<ref>{{cite news | title=Dell Technologies | url=https://fortune.com/company/dell-technologies/global500/#:~:text=RANK76&text=Sales%20at%20Dell%20Technologies%20inched,forced%20people%20to%20work%20remotely |publisher=Fortune |access-date=2022-06-28}}</ref> It is also the sixth-largest company in Texas by total revenue, according to ''Fortune'' magazine. It is the second-largest non-oil company in Texas.<ref>{{cite news | title=Fortune 500 | url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2011/states/TX.html |publisher=CNN}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune500/2010/states/TX.html|publisher=CNN|title=Fortune 500 2010: States: Texas Companies}}</ref> {{as of|2024|post=,}} it is the [[Market share of personal computer vendors|world's third-largest personal computer vendor]] by unit sales, after [[Lenovo]] and [[HP Inc.|HP]].<ref>{{cite web |date=January 11, 2024 |title=Gartner Says Worldwide PC Shipments Increased 0.3% in Fourth Quarter of 2023 but Declined 14.8% for the Year |url=https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/01-10-2024-gartner-says-worldwide-pc-shipments-increased-zero-point-three-percent-in-fourth-quarter-of-2023-but-declined-fourteen-point-eight-percent-for-the-year |access-date=January 11, 2024 |publisher=[[Gartner]]}}</ref> In 2015, Dell acquired the enterprise technology firm [[EMC Corporation]], together becoming divisions of Dell Technologies. Dell EMC sells data storage, information security, [[virtualization]], analytics, and [[cloud computing]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dell EMC|url=https://www.forbes.com/companies/dell-emc/|access-date=2020-11-08|website=Forbes|language=en}}</ref>
==History==
[[File:Michael Dell 2010.jpg|thumb|[[Michael Dell]] (founder)]]
{{multiple image
| direction = vertical
| align = left
| width = 150
| image1 = Dell 1984.svg
| alt1 = Dell's first logo from 1987 to 1992
| caption1 = Dell's first logo from 1987 to 1992
| image2 = Dell logo.svg
| alt2 = Dell's former logo, used from 1992 to 2016
| caption2 = Dell's former logo, used from 1992 to 2016
| image3 = Dell Logo.svg
| alt3 = Dell's logo, used before the acquisition of EMC, used from 2010 to 2016
| caption3 = Dell's logo used before the acquisition of EMC, used from 2010 to 2016
}}
===Founding and start-up===
[[File:PC's Limited Turbo PC.jpg|thumb|242x242px|The first PC model, manufactured by Dell (known as PC's Limited at the time), the Turbo PC.]]
Michael Dell founded Dell Computer Corporation, doing business as ''PC's Limited'' in 1984 while a student at the [[University of Texas at Austin]],<ref>{{cite book | last = Dell | first = Michael |author2=Catherine Fredman | title = Direct from Dell | url = https://archive.org/details/directfromdellst00dell | url-access = registration | publisher = [[HarperCollins]] | year= 1999 | page = [https://archive.org/details/directfromdellst00dell/page/13 13] | isbn = 0-88730-914-3}}</ref> operating from Michael Dell's off-campus dormitory room at [[Dobie Center]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.Dell.com/downloads/global/corporate/speeches/msd/2003_05_17_msd_commencement.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040324192416/http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/corporate/speeches/msd/2003_05_17_msd_commencement.pdf |archive-date=2004-03-24 |url-status=live|title = Computers, Monitors & Technology Solutions | Dell USA}}</ref> The start-up aimed to sell [[IBM PC compatible]] computers built from stock components. Michael Dell started trading in the belief that, by selling personal computer systems directly to customers, PC's Limited could better understand customers' needs and provide the most effective computing services to meet those needs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aajads.com/listings/dell-inspiron-n5010-15-6-laptop-pc-core-i5/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181117203802/http://www.aajads.com/listings/dell-inspiron-n5010-15-6-laptop-pc-core-i5/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 17, 2018 |title=Dell | Dell |website=aajads.com |date=November 12, 2018 |access-date=November 12, 2018}}</ref> Dell dropped out of college upon completion of his freshman year at the University of Texas in order to focus full-time on his fledgling business, after getting about $1,000 in expansion-capital from his family.<ref name="delltimeline">{{cite web |title=Our Timeline |url=https://corporate.delltechnologies.com/en-us/about-us/who-we-are/timeline.htm |website=Dell Technologies |access-date=November 22, 2021}}</ref> As of April 2021, Dell's net worth was estimated to be over $50 billion ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=50000000000|start_year=2021|r=-7|fmt=eq}}).<ref>{{cite web |last=Stupples |first=Benjamin |title=Michael Dell's Fortune Soars to $51 Billion With Spinoff |year=2021 |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-04-15/michael-dell-s-fortune-surges-to-52-billion-with-spinoff-plan |website=Bloomberg |access-date=November 22, 2021}}</ref>
In 1985, PC's Limited launched its first computer, the "Turbo PC," priced at US$795 ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=795|start_year=1985|r=0|fmt=eq}}).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Koehn |first=Nancy Fowler |title=Brand New: How Entrepreneurs Earned Consumers' Trust from Wedgwood to Dell |publisher=[[Harvard Business Press]] |year=2001 |isbn=978-1-57851-221-8 |page=287 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7j8VefeqUk4C |access-date=October 14, 2008}}</ref> The Turbo PC featured an Intel 8088-compatible processor with a maximum speed of 8 MHz.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Edwards |first1=Benj |title=The Golden Age of Dell Computers |url=https://www.pcmag.com/news/the-golden-age-of-dell-computers |year=2017 |website=PC Magazine |access-date=November 22, 2021}}</ref> PC's Limited marketed these systems through national computer magazines, selling directly to consumers while custom-assembling each unit based on a range of options. This approach allowed them to offer competitive prices compared to retail brands, coupled with the convenience of pre-assembled units, making them one of the early success stories of this business model. The company grossed over $73 million in its first year of operation.
The company dropped the ''PC's Limited'' name in 1987 to become Dell Computer Corporation and began expanding globally. The reasoning was that this new company name better reflected its presence in the business market, and also resolved issues with the use of "Limited" in a company name in certain countries.<ref name="ferrell198708">{{cite news | url=https://archive.org/stream/1987-08-compute-magazine/Compute_Issue_087_1987_Aug#page/n15/mode/2up | title=CES And Comdex: A Tale Of Two Cities | work=Compute! | date=August 1987 | access-date=November 10, 2013 | author=Ferrell, Keith | page=14}}</ref> The company set up its first international operations in Britain; 11 more followed within the next four years. In June 1988, Dell Computer's market capitalization grew by $30 million to $80 million ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=80000000|start_year=1988|r=-4|fmt=eq}}) from its June 22 initial public offering of 3.5 million shares at $8.50 a share on [[NASDAQ]] under the ticker symbol DELL.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Duggan |first1=Wayne |title=This Day in Market History: The Dell IPO |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/day-market-history-dell-ipo-104800092.html |access-date=21 August 2025 |publisher=Yahoo Finance |date=22 June 2020}}</ref> In 1989, Dell Computer set up its first on-site service programs in order to compensate for the lack of local retailers prepared to act as service centers.{{cn|date=August 2025}} Also, the company launched its first laptop product, the Dell 316LT.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Nayak |first1=Malathi |title=Timeline: Dell since 1984, a roller-coaster ride |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/business/media-telecom/timeline-dell-since-1984-a-roller-coaster-ride-idUSBRE9140SU/ |access-date=21 August 2025 |publisher=Reuters |date=5 February 2023}}</ref>
===Growth in the 1990s and early 2000s===
[[File:Dell Latitude CPx.jpg|thumb|Dell Latitude CPx laptop]]
In 1990, Dell Computer tried selling its products indirectly through warehouse clubs and computer superstores, but met with little success, and the company re-focused on its more successful direct-to-consumer sales model. In 1992, ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'' included Dell Computer Corporation in its list of the world's [[Fortune Global 500|500]] largest companies, making Michael Dell the youngest CEO of a Fortune 500 company at that time.
Senior vice president [[Joel Kocher]] told ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' in 1993 "this isn't a technology business anymore". His view, that PCs were commodities, was reportedly widely held by others in the company. They thought that Dell differentiated itself from others—like fellow Texas company and archrival [[Compaq]]—with its distribution expertise and "database engine" of customers that, Kocher said, could sell anything including non-technology products: "We're more like [[Mary Kay Cosmetics]] than we are like [[General Motors]]".<ref name="pope19930702">{{Cite news |last=Pope |first=Kyle |date=1993-07-02 |title=Out for Blood: For Compaq and Dell, Accent Is on Personal In the Computer Wars |work=The Wall Street Journal}}</ref>
In 1993, to complement its own direct sales channel, Dell planned to sell PCs at big-box retail outlets such as [[Wal-Mart]], which would have brought in an additional $125 million ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=125000000|start_year=1993|r=-5|fmt=eq}}) in annual revenue. [[Bain Capital|Bain]] consultant [[Kevin Rollins]] persuaded Michael Dell to pull out of these deals, believing they would be money losers in the long run.<ref>{{cite news|last=Rivlin |first=Gary |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/11/technology/11dell.html |title=He Naps. He Sings. And He Isn't Michael Dell. |work=The New York Times |date=September 11, 2005 |access-date=October 30, 2012}}</ref> Margins at retail were thin at best and Dell left the reseller channel in 1994.<ref name="mhhe.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.mhhe.com/business/management/updates/thompson12e/case/dell3.html |title=Dell Computer Corporation Online Case |publisher=Mhhe.com |date=January 30, 1994 |access-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref> Rollins would soon join Dell full-time and eventually become the company president and CEO.
By the early 1990s the [[laptop computer]] market was both more profitable and faster-growing than the overall personal computer market. After discontinuing its unsuccessful existing products in 1993, and hiring John Medica—who had led development of the very successful Apple [[PowerBook]]—the company in 1994 introduced the [[Dell Latitude]] laptop line.<ref name="lohr19940222">{{Cite news |last=Lohr |first=Steve |date=22 February 1994 |title=Dell's Second Stab at Portables |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/02/22/business/dell-s-second-stab-at-portables.html |work=The New York Times |pages=D1}}</ref>
Originally, Dell did not emphasize the consumer market, due to the higher costs and low profit margins in selling to individuals and households; this changed when the company's Internet site took off in 1996 and 1997.<ref name="delltimeline" /> While the industry's average selling price to individuals was going down, Dell's was going up, as second- and third-time computer buyers who wanted powerful computers with multiple features and did not need much technical support were choosing Dell. Dell found an opportunity among PC-savvy individuals who liked the convenience of buying direct, customizing their PC to their means, and having it delivered in days. In early 1997, Dell created an internal sales and marketing group dedicated to serving the home market and introduced a product line designed especially for individual users.<ref name="mhhe.com"/>
{| class="wikitable floatright"
|+Dell's growth in the 1990s<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kraemer |first=Kenneth L. |last2=Dedrick |first2=Jason |date=2001-06-01 |title=Dell Computer: Using E-commerce To Support the Virtual Company |url=https://escholarship.org/content/qt7r55529z/qt7r55529z.pdf?t=lnq69p |website=escholarship.org}}</ref>
!Year
!Revenue
(mill. US$)
!No. of
employees
|-
|1990
|546
|2,050
|-
|1991
|889
|2,970
|-
|1992
|2,013
|4,650
|-
|1993
|2,873
|5,980
|-
|1994
|3,475
|6,400
|-
|1995
|5,296
|8,400
|-
|1996
|7,759
|10,350
|-
|1997
|12,327
|16,000
|-
|1998
|18,243
|24,400
|-
|1999
|25,256
|36,500
|}
From 1997 to 2004, Dell steadily grew and it gained market share from competitors even during industry slumps. During the same period, rival PC vendors such as [[Compaq]], [[Gateway, Inc.|Gateway]], [[IBM Aptiva|IBM]], [[Packard Bell]], and [[AST Research]] struggled and eventually left the market or were bought out.<ref name="ZDA">ZDNET Asia: [http://www.zdnetasia.com/michael-dell-back-as-ceo-rollins-resigns-61986298.htm Michael Dell back as CEO] February 1, 2007. Visited: April 10, 2012 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100611213001/http://www.zdnetasia.com/michael-dell-back-as-ceo-rollins-resigns-61986298.htm|date=June 11, 2010}}</ref> Dell surpassed Compaq to become the largest PC manufacturer in 1999.<ref>Rivkin, Jan W., and Porter, Michael E. Matching Dell, Harvard Business School Case 9-799-158, June 6, 1999.</ref> Operating costs made up only 10 percent of Dell's $35 billion in revenue in 2002 ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=35000000000|start_year=2002|r=-7|fmt=eq}}), compared with 21 percent of revenue at Hewlett-Packard, 25 percent at Gateway, and 46 percent at Cisco.<ref>{{cite news|last=Jones |first=Kathryn |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2003/02/01/335960/ |title=The Dell Way Michael Dell's famous business model made his company the world's premier computer maker. Now he's branching into new fields and taking on virtually every other hardware manufacturer. Can "the Model" stand the strain? – February 1, 2003 |publisher=CNN |date=February 1, 2003 |access-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref> In 2002, when Compaq merged with Hewlett-Packard (the fourth-place PC maker), the newly combined Hewlett-Packard took the top spot for a time but struggled and Dell soon regained its lead. Dell grew the fastest in the early 2000s.<ref name="bw1103"/>
In 2002, Dell expanded its product line to include televisions, [[handhelds]], digital audio players, and [[Printer (computing)|printers]]. Chairman and CEO Michael Dell had repeatedly blocked President and COO Kevin Rollins's attempt to lessen the company's heavy dependency on PCs, which Rollins wanted to fix by acquiring EMC Corporation; a move that would eventually occur over 12 years later.<ref name="CNNMoney-dilemma">{{cite news |last=Benner |first=Katie |url=http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/06/13/michael-dells-dilemma/ |title=Michael Dell's dilemma – Fortune Tech |work=Fortune |date=June 13, 2011 |access-date=January 9, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120509093526/http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/06/13/michael-dells-dilemma/ |archive-date=May 9, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
In 2003, at the annual company meeting, the stockholders approved changing the company name to "Dell Inc." to recognize the company's expansion beyond computers.<ref name="Dell-Inc-May-2003-PRE-14A">{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/1992/95013403007092/filing-main.htm |title=Dell Inc, Form PRE 14A, Filing Date May 5, 2003 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =March 8, 2013}}</ref>
In 2004, the company announced that it would build a new assembly-plant near [[Winston-Salem, North Carolina|Winston-Salem]], [[North Carolina]]; the city and county provided Dell with $37.2 million in incentive packages; the state provided approximately $250 million ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=250000000|start_year=2004|r=-5|fmt=eq}}) in incentives and tax breaks. In July, Michael Dell stepped aside as [[chief executive officer]] while retaining his position as [[Chair (official)|chairman of the board]].<ref name="Dell-Inc-May-2004-DEF-14A">{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/1422/95013404008188/filing-main.htm |title=Dell Inc, Form DEF 14A, Filing Date May 27, 2004 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =March 8, 2013}}</ref> Kevin Rollins, who had held a number of executive posts at Dell, became the new CEO. Despite no longer holding the CEO title, Dell essentially acted as a de facto co-CEO with Rollins.<ref name="CNNMoney-dilemma" />
Under Rollins, Dell purchased the computer hardware manufacturer [[Alienware]] in 2006. Dell Inc.'s plan anticipated Alienware continuing to operate independently under its existing management. Alienware expected to benefit from Dell's efficient manufacturing system.<ref>{{cite news | first=Louise | last=Lee | title= Dell Goes High-end and Hip | date= March 23, 2006 | publisher=BusinessWeek | url=http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2006/tc20060323_034268.htm| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060324235058/http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2006/tc20060323_034268.htm| url-status=dead| archive-date=March 24, 2006}}</ref>
=== Key events ===
[[File:DELL AIXM X51v.jpg|thumb|Dell Axim X51v, shown with the Japanese Wikipedia main page open]]
In 2005, while earnings and sales continued to rise, sales growth slowed considerably, and the company stock lost 25% of its value that year.<ref name="BW0206">Bloomberg-Businessweek [https://web.archive.org/web/20071028132635/http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/feb2006/tc20060223_710372.htm?chan=search Its Dell vs the Dell way], February 2006. Visited: April 10, 2012</ref> By June 2006, the stock traded around US$25 which was 40% down from July 2005—the high-water mark of the company in the post-dotcom era.<ref name="nytimes2006">{{cite news|last=Darlin |first=Damon |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/06/15/technology/15dell.html |title=Falling Short of A+ |work=The New York Times |date=June 15, 2006 |access-date=October 30, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/Dell-revamps-product-group%2C-adds-executives/2100-11746_3-6143163.html |title=Dell revamps product group, adds executives |website=CNET |date=December 12, 2006 |access-date=October 30, 2012}}</ref> By June 2021, the stock had reached an all-time high of over US$100 per share, reflecting the company's successful transition to a technology service provider that helps customers navigate digital transformation.<ref name="Yahoo Finance">{{Cite web |title=Dell Technologies Inc. (DELL) Stock Price, News, Quote & History - Yahoo Finance |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/DELL/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250428220516/https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/DELL/ |archive-date=April 28, 2025 |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=Yahoo Finance |language=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref>
The slowing sales growth has been attributed to the maturing PC market, which constituted 66% of Dell's sales, and analysts suggested that Dell needed to make inroads into non-PC business segments such as storage, services, and servers. Dell's price advantage was tied to its ultra-lean manufacturing for desktop PCs,<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1014_3-6155185.html |title=Michael Dell back as CEO; Rollins resigns – CNET News |website=CNET |date=January 31, 2007 |access-date=October 30, 2012}}</ref> but this became less important as savings became harder to find inside the company's supply chain, and as competitors such as Hewlett-Packard and [[Acer Inc.|Acer]] made their PC manufacturing operations more efficient to match Dell, weakening Dell's traditional price differentiation.<ref name="news.cnet.com">{{cite web |last=Haff |first=Gordon |date=March 29, 2010 |title=The real Dell 2.0 | The Pervasive Data Center – CNET News |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/tech-industry/the-real-dell-2-0/ |access-date=January 9, 2014 |website=CNET}}</ref> Throughout the entire PC industry, declines in prices along with commensurate increases in performance meant that Dell had fewer opportunities to upsell to their customers. As a result, the company was selling a greater proportion of inexpensive PCs than before, which eroded profit margins.<ref name="ZDA"/> The laptop segment had become the fastest-growing of the PC market, but Dell produced low-cost notebooks in China like other PC manufacturers which eliminated Dell's manufacturing cost advantages, plus Dell's reliance on Internet sales meant that it missed out on growing notebook sales in big box stores.<ref name="nytimes2006"/> ''CNET'' has suggested that Dell was getting trapped in the increasing commoditization of high volume low margin computers, which prevented it from offering more exciting devices that consumers demanded.<ref name="autogenerated1"/>
Despite plans of expanding into other global regions and product segments, Dell was heavily dependent on US corporate PC market, as desktop PCs sold to both commercial and corporate customers accounted for 32 percent of its revenue, 85 percent of its revenue comes from businesses, and 64 percent of its revenue comes from North and South America, according to its 2006 third-quarter results. US shipments of desktop PCs were shrinking, and the corporate PC market, which purchases PCs in upgrade cycles, had largely decided to take a break from buying new systems. The last cycle started around 2002, three or so years after companies started buying PCs ahead of the perceived [[Year 2000 problem|Y2K]] problems, and corporate clients were not expected to upgrade again until extensive testing of Microsoft's [[Windows Vista]] (expected in early 2007), putting the next upgrade cycle around 2008.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/Dell-revamps-product-group%2C-adds-executives/2100-11746_3-6143163.html |title=Dell revamps product group, adds executives – CNET News |website=CNET |date=December 12, 2006 |access-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref><ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/Dells-dog-days-of-summer/2100-1014_3-6097185.html |title=Dell's dog days of summer – CNET News |website=CNET |access-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref> Heavily dependent on PCs, Dell had to slash prices to boost sales volumes, while demanding deep cuts from suppliers.<ref name="CNNMoney-dilemma" />
Dell had long stuck by its direct sales model. Consumers had become the main drivers of PC sales in recent years,<ref name="ReferenceB"/> yet there had a decline in consumers purchasing PCs through the Web or on the phone, as increasing numbers were visiting consumer electronics retail stores to try out the devices first. Dell's rivals in the PC industry, HP, Gateway and [[Acer Inc.|Acer]], had a long retail presence and so were well poised to take advantage of the consumer shift.<ref name="director1">{{cite web|url=http://director.co.uk/MAGAZINE/2009/4%20April/Michael_Dell_62_9.html |title=Michael Dell | Dell |publisher=Director.co.uk |author=Woodward, David |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140815101949/http://director.co.uk/MAGAZINE/2009/4%20April/Michael_Dell_62_9.html |archive-date=August 15, 2014}}</ref> The lack of a retail presence stymied Dell's attempts to offer consumer electronics such as flat-panel TVs and MP3 players.<ref name="autogenerated1"/> Dell responded by experimenting with mall kiosks, plus quasi-retail stores in Texas and New York.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
Dell had a reputation as a company that relied upon supply chain efficiencies to sell established technologies at low prices, instead of being an innovator.<ref name="CNNMoney-dilemma" /><ref name="director1"/><ref>Michael Dell had a risk-averse management style and he openly mocked rivals that spent on [[Research and development|R&D]] and acquisitions, though by the late 2000s this may have contributed to Dell missing market shifts like mobile phones and tablet computers.[https://web.archive.org/web/20130124121741/http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2013-01-24/boeings-787-dreamliner-and-the-decline-of-innovation#p2]</ref> By the mid-2000s many analysts were looking to innovating companies as the next source of growth in the technology sector. Dell's low spending on R&D relative to its revenue (compared to [[IBM]], [[Hewlett-Packard]], and [[Apple Inc.]])—which worked well in the commoditized PC market—prevented it from making inroads into more lucrative segments, such as MP3 players and later mobile devices.<ref name="BW0206"/> Increasing spending on R&D would have cut into the operating margins that the company emphasized.<ref name="bw1103"/> Dell had done well with a horizontal organization that focused on PCs when the computing industry moved to horizontal mix-and-match layers in the 1980s, but by the mid-2000 the industry shifted to vertically integrated stacks to deliver an end-to-end IT product, and Dell lagged far behind competitors like Hewlett-Packard and Oracle.<ref name="news.cnet.com"/>
Dell's reputation for poor customer service, which was exacerbated as it moved call centers offshore and as its growth outstripped its technical support infrastructure, came under increasing scrutiny on the Web. The original Dell model was known for high customer satisfaction when PCs sold for thousands of dollars but by the 2000s, the company could not justify that level of service when computers in the same line-up sold for hundreds of dollars.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} Rollins responded by shifting Dick Hunter from the head of manufacturing to head of customer service. Hunter, who noted that Dell's DNA of cost-cutting "got in the way," aimed to reduce call transfer times and have call center representatives resolve inquiries in one call. By 2006, Dell had spent $100 million in just a few months to improve on this and rolled out ''DellConnect'' to answer customer inquiries more quickly. In July 2006, the company started its Direct2Dell blog, and then in February 2007, Michael Dell launched IdeaStorm.com, asking customers for advice including selling Linux computers and reducing the promotional "bloatware" on PCs. These initiatives did manage to cut the negative blog posts from 49% to 22%, as well as reduce the "Dell Hell" prominent on Internet search engines.<ref name="nytimes2006"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessweek.com/printer/articles/294370-dell-learns-to-listen?type=old_article |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924150128/http://www.businessweek.com/printer/articles/294370-dell-learns-to-listen?type=old_article |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 24, 2015 |title=Dell Learns to Listen |work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |date=October 17, 2007 |access-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref>
There was also criticism that Dell used faulty components for its PCs, particularly the 11.8 million OptiPlex desktop computers sold to businesses and governments from May 2003 to July 2005 that suffered from [[Capacitor plague|faulty capacitors]].<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/technology/29dell.html | work=The New York Times | first=Ashlee | last=Vance | author-link=Ashlee Vance | title=In Suit Over Faulty Computers, Window to Dell's Fall | date=June 28, 2010}}</ref> A battery recall in August 2006, as a result of a Dell laptop catching fire, caused much negative attention for the company though later, [[Sony]] was found responsible for the manufacturing of the batteries, however a Sony spokesman said the problem concerned the combination of the battery with a charger, which was specific to Dell.<ref>{{Cite news|date=August 15, 2006|title=Dell to recall 4.1 million batteries made by Sony - Technology - International Herald Tribune|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/15/technology/15iht-dell.2487518.html|access-date=August 6, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
2006 marked the first year that Dell's growth was slower than the PC industry as a whole. By the fourth quarter of 2006, Dell lost its title of the largest PC manufacturer to Hewlett Packard whose Personal Systems Group was invigorated thanks to a restructuring initiated by their CEO [[Mark Hurd]].<ref name="BW0206"/><ref>CRN.COM: [http://www.crn.com/news/components-peripherals/197002312/rollins-dells-outstanding-executive-is-now-out-of-a-job.htm;jsessionid=DKITbSt2WFcQT1hL4UqHMg**.ecappj02 Rollins now out of job] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200802201642/https://www.crn.com/news/components-peripherals/197002312/rollins-dells-outstanding-executive-is-now-out-of-a-job.htm;jsessionid=DKITbSt2WFcQT1hL4UqHMg**.ecappj02 |date=August 2, 2020 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://money.cnn.com/2006/02/10/markets/spotlight/spotlight_dell/index.htm | publisher=CNN | first1=Amanda | last1=Cantrell | title=All's not well with Dell | date=February 10, 2006}}</ref>
====SEC investigation====
In August 2005, Dell became the subject of an informal investigation by the United States [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission|SEC]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Ben Ames |url=http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9002535&source=rss_news50 |title=Dell reveals SEC investigation, says Q2 profit down 51% |publisher=Computerworld.com |access-date=December 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116092753/http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9002535&source=rss_news50 |archive-date=January 16, 2009}}</ref> In 2006, the company disclosed that the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York had subpoenaed documents related to the company's financial reporting dating back to 2002.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0115050220100401 |title=UPDATE 2-Dell says several former staff may face SEC action, Reuters Apr 1, 2010 |publisher=Reuters.com |date=April 1, 2010 |access-date=December 4, 2012 |first=Braden |last=Reddall}}</ref> The company delayed filing financial reports for the third and fourth fiscal quarter of 2006, and several class-action lawsuits were filed.<ref>[http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8N1MLNO0.html Dallas Morning News {{!}} News for Dallas, Texas {{!}} Texas/Southwest] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081009111823/http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8N1MLNO0.html |date=October 9, 2008}}</ref> Dell Inc's failure to file its quarterly earnings report could have subjected the company to de-listing from the [[Nasdaq]],<ref>{{cite web |last=Moltzen |first=Edward F. |url=http://www.crn.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=193004297 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120629043729/http://www.crn.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=193004297 |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 29, 2012 |title=NASDAQ Sends Dell, Novell Delisting Notices - Hardware - IT Channel News by CRN and VARBusiness |publisher=Crn.com |access-date=December 4, 2012}}</ref> but the exchange granted Dell a waiver, allowing the stock to trade normally.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.crn.com/sections/breakingnews/dailyarchives.jhtml?articleId=196903036 |title=Dell Buys Time From Nasdaq On Delisting - Hardware - IT Channel News by CRN and VARBusiness |publisher=Crn.com |access-date=December 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120905025934/http://www.crn.com/sections/breakingnews/dailyarchives.jhtml?articleId=196903036 |archive-date=September 5, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In August 2007, the company announced that it would restate its earnings for fiscal years 2003 through 2006 and the first quarter of 2007 after an internal audit found that certain employees had changed corporate account balances to meet quarterly financial targets.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ames |first1=Ben |last2=McMillan |first2=Robert |url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9031106/Dell_to_restate_results_after_finding_manipulation |title="Dell to restate results after finding manipulation," Computerword, August 16, 2007 |publisher=Computerworld.com |date=August 16, 2007 |access-date=December 4, 2012 |archive-date=October 8, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008193903/http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9031106/Dell_to_restate_results_after_finding_manipulation |url-status=dead }}</ref> In July 2010, the SEC announced charges against several senior Dell executives, including Dell Chairman and CEO Michael Dell, former CEO Kevin Rollins, and former CFO James Schneider, "with failing to disclose material information to investors and using fraudulent accounting to make it falsely appear that the company was consistently meeting Wall Street earnings targets and reducing its operating expenses." Dell, inc. was fined $100 million, with Michael Dell personally fined $4 million.<ref>{{cite news |title=SEC Charges Dell and Senior Executives with Disclosure and Accounting Fraud |url=https://www.sec.gov/news/press/2010/2010-131.htm |access-date=November 22, 2021 |publisher=US Securities and Exchange Commission |date=July 22, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120144818/https://www.sec.gov/news/press/2010/2010-131.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=20 January 2023|ref=SECrelease}}</ref>
====Michael Dell resumes CEO role====
After four out of five quarterly earnings reports were below expectations, Rollins resigned as president and CEO on January 31, 2007, and founder Michael Dell assumed the role of CEO again.<ref name="Dell-Inc-Feb-2007-8-K">{{cite web|url=http://pdf.secdatabase.com/2259/0000950134-07-002027.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511020823/http://pdf.secdatabase.com/2259/0000950134-07-002027.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-11 |url-status=live |title=Dell Inc, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Feb 5, 2007 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =March 8, 2013}}</ref>
On March 1, 2007, the company issued a preliminary quarterly earnings report showing gross sales of $14.4 billion, down 5% year-over-year, and net income of $687 million (30 cents per share), down 33%. Net earnings would have declined even more if not for the effects of eliminated employee bonuses, which accounted for six cents per share. NASDAQ extended the company's deadline for filing financials to May 4.<ref>{{cite web |author=Alexei Oreskovic |url=http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/newsanalysis/techhardware/10341935.html |archive-url=http://arquivo.pt/wayback/20091014061317/http://www.thestreet.com/_yahoo/newsanalysis/techhardware/10341935.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 14, 2009 |title=Dell's Dejection |publisher=TheStreet.com |date=March 2, 2007 |access-date=December 4, 2012}}</ref>
===Dell 2.0 and downsizing===
Dell announced a change campaign called "Dell 2.0," reducing the number of employees and diversifying the company's products.<ref name="director1"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1014_3-6155185.html |title=Michael Dell back as CEO; Rollins resigns – CNET News |website=CNET |date=January 31, 2007 |access-date=February 10, 2013}}</ref> While chairman of the board after relinquishing his CEO position, Michael Dell still had significant input in the company during Rollins' years as CEO. With the return of Michael Dell as CEO, the company saw changes in operations, the exodus of many senior vice-presidents and new personnel brought in from outside the company.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> Michael Dell announced a number of initiatives and plans (part of the "Dell 2.0" initiative) to improve the company's financial performance. These include elimination of 2006 bonuses for employees with some discretionary awards, reduction in the number of managers reporting directly to Michael Dell from 20 to 12, and reduction of "[[bureaucracy]]". Jim Schneider retired as CFO and was replaced by [[Donald Carty]], as the company came under an SEC probe for its accounting practices.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.cnet.com/Dell-CFO-stepping-down-in-January/2100-1003_3-6144950.html |title=Dell CFO stepping down in January – CNET News |website=CNET |access-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref>
On April 23, 2008, Dell announced the closure of one of its biggest Canadian call-centers in [[Kanata, Ontario]], terminating approximately 1100 employees, with 500 of those redundancies effective on the spot, and with the official closure of the center scheduled for the summer. The call-center had opened in 2006 after the city of [[Ottawa]] won a bid to host it. Less than a year later, Dell planned to double its workforce to nearly 3,000 workers add a new building. These plans were reversed, due to a high [[Canadian dollar]] that made the Ottawa staff relatively expensive, and also as part of Dell's turnaround, which involved moving these call-center jobs offshore to cut costs.
<ref>{{cite news
| author1 = Seggewiss, Krista
| author2 = Hill, Bert
| title = The Dell dream dies
| work = Ottawa Citizen
| url = http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=d399d387-df1f-4400-8274-1c45879f8ed2
| date = April 24, 2008
| access-date = May 27, 2009
| quote = The Ottawa centre is closing because Dell can't justify paying $18 per hour with the Canadian and American currencies at parity. The relatively high pay, benefits and training opportunities separated Dell from other call centres ...
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090126202553/http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=d399d387-df1f-4400-8274-1c45879f8ed2
| archive-date = January 26, 2009
| url-status = dead}}</ref>
The company had also announced the shutdown of its [[Edmonton]], [[Alberta]], office, losing 900 jobs. In total, Dell announced the ending of about 8,800 jobs in 2007–2008 — 10% of its workforce.<ref>{{cite news|author = Gollner, Phillip|title = UPDATE 1-Dell to cut nearly 900 jobs, close Canada center|work= Reuters|url = https://www.reuters.com/article/companyNews/idUSN3134850320080131|date = January 31, 2008}}</ref>
By the late 2000s, Dell's "configure to order" approach of manufacturing—delivering individual PCs configured to customer specifications from its US facilities was no longer as efficient or competitive with high-volume Asian contract manufacturers as PCs became powerful low-cost commodities.<ref name="statesman"/><ref name="statesman1">{{cite news|url=http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/technology/2009/10/08/1008Dell.html |title=Dell closing its last large U.S. plant |newspaper=Austin American-Statesman |date=October 8, 2009 |author=Kirk Ladendorf |access-date=November 19, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011102118/http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/technology/2009/10/08/1008Dell.html |archive-date=October 11, 2009}}</ref> Dell closed plants that produced desktop computers for the North American market, including the Mort Topfer Manufacturing Center in [[Austin, Texas]] (original ___location)<ref>{{cite web|last=Kanellos |first=Michael |url=http://news.cnet.com/2100-1003_3-5428990.html |title=Inside Dell's manufacturing mecca – CNET News |website=CNET |access-date=January 9, 2014|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410173914/http://news.cnet.com/2100-1003_3-5428990.html |archive-date=April 10, 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Silverman |first=Dwight |url=http://blog.chron.com/techblog/2008/04/one-time-showcase-for-dell-closing-in-austin/ |title=One-time showcase for Dell closing in Austin – TechBlog |work=Houston Chronicle |date=April 1, 2008 |access-date=January 9, 2014 |archive-date=January 4, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140104105756/http://blog.chron.com/techblog/2008/04/one-time-showcase-for-dell-closing-in-austin/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> and [[Lebanon, Tennessee]] (opened in 1999) in 2008 and early 2009, respectively. The desktop production plant in [[Winston-Salem, North Carolina]], received [[US$]]280 million in incentives from the state and opened in 2005 ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=280000000|start_year=2005|r=-5|fmt=eq}}), but ceased operations in November 2010. Dell's contract with the state required them to repay the incentives for failing to meet the conditions, and they sold the North Carolina plant to Herbalife.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/news/2012/12/19/herbalife-to-open-nc-plant-creating.html |title=Herbalife to open N.C. plant, creating 500 jobs – Charlotte Business Journal |work=The Business Journals |date=December 19, 2012 |access-date=April 27, 2013}}</ref><ref name="theregister.co.uk">The Register: [https://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/10/08/dell_closing_north_carolina_plant/ Dell cuts North-Carolina plant despite $280m sweetener], October 8, 2009. Visited: April 10, 2012</ref><ref name="bizjournals.com">{{cite news| url=http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2010/09/13/daily2.html | title=Dell closes N.C. manufacturing plant | date=September 13, 2010}}</ref> Much work was transferred to manufacturers in Asia and Mexico, or some of Dell's own factories overseas.<ref name="statesman1" /> On January 8, 2009, Dell announced the closure of its manufacturing plant in Limerick, Ireland, with the loss of 1,900 jobs and the transfer of production to its plant in [[Łodź]] in Poland.<ref>FinFacts Ireland [http://www.finfacts.ie/irishfinancenews/article_1025198.shtml Dell remains Ireland's biggest manufacturing exporter despite closing Limerick plant], November 16, 2012. Visited: April 23, 2013.</ref>
===Attempts at diversification===
[[File:IFA 2010 Internationale Funkausstellung Berlin 57.JPG|thumb|Dell Streak smartphone]]
The release of Apple's [[iPad]] [[tablet computer]] had a negative impact on Dell and other major PC vendors, as consumers switched away from desktop and laptop PCs. Dell's own mobility division has not managed success with developing smartphones or tablets, whether running Windows or [[Android (operating system)|Android]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Arthur |first=Charles |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/nov/16/dell-revenues-slump-pc-tablet-smartphone |title=Dell revenues slump as tablets and smartphones eat into market | ''The Guardian''. |work=The Guardian |access-date=April 27, 2013 |___location=London |date=November 16, 2012}}</ref><ref name="beta.fool">{{cite web |last=Sun |first=Leo |url=http://beta.fool.com/leokornsun/2013/02/20/death-dell/25021/ |title=The Death of Dell – AAPL, DELL, GOOG, HPQ, MSFT – Foolish Blogging Network |publisher=Beta.fool.com |date=February 20, 2013 |access-date=April 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130328094746/http://beta.fool.com/leokornsun/2013/02/20/death-dell/25021/ |archive-date=March 28, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Dell Streak]] was a failure commercially and critically due to its outdated OS, numerous bugs, and low resolution screen. ''InfoWorld'' suggested that Dell and other OEMs saw tablets as a short-term, low-investment opportunity running [[Google Android]], an approach that neglected user interface and failed to gain long term market traction with consumers.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gruman |first=Galen |url=https://www.macworld.com/article/1159578/anatomy_of_failure_rim_microsoft_nokia.html?page=2 |title=Anatomy of failure: Mobile flops from RIM, Microsoft, and Nokia |work=MacWorld |access-date=April 27, 2013 |archive-date=August 9, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809193417/https://www.macworld.com/article/1159578/anatomy_of_failure_rim_microsoft_nokia.html?page=2 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://business.financialpost.com/2012/11/15/dell-hp-earnings-expected-to-mark-death-of-pc-era/ |title=Dell, HP earnings expected to mark death of PC era | Financial Post |newspaper=Financial Post |publisher=Business.financialpost.com |date=November 15, 2012 |access-date=April 27, 2013|agency=Bloomberg News }}</ref> Dell has responded by pushing higher-end PCs, such as the XPS line of notebooks, which do not compete with the [[Apple iPad]] and [[Kindle Fire]] tablets.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/04/06/dell/ |title=The Dell dilemma – Fortune Tech |work=Fortune |date=April 6, 2012 |access-date=April 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401080037/http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2012/04/06/dell/ |archive-date=April 1, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The growing popularity of smartphones and tablet computers instead of PCs drove Dell's consumer segment to an operating loss in Q3 2012. In December 2012, Dell suffered its first decline in holiday sales in five years, despite the introduction of [[Windows 8]].<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-dell-buyout-idUSBRE91D19C20130214 "Dell CEO agreed to lower shares' value to push $24 billion buyout"]. ''Reuters''. February 14, 2013</ref>
In the shrinking PC industry, Dell continued to lose market share, as it dropped below [[Lenovo]] in 2011 to fall to number three in the world. Dell and fellow American contemporary Hewlett Packard came under pressure from Asian PC manufacturers Lenovo, [[Asus]], and Acer, all of which had lower production costs and were willing to accept lower profit margins. In addition, while the Asian PC vendors had been improving their quality and design—for instance, Lenovo's [[ThinkPad]] series was winning corporate customers away from Dell's laptops—Dell's customer service and reputation had been slipping.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/10/your-money/at-dell-a-gamble-on-a-legacy.html | work=The New York Times | first=Jeff | last=Sommer | title=At Dell, a Gamble on a Legacy | date=February 9, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Cunningham |first=Andrew |url=https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2012/10/lenovo-and-asus-are-up-dell-and-hp-are-down-and-pc-sales-are-slowing/ |title=Lenovo and Asus are up, Dell and HP are down, and PC sales are slowing |website=Ars Technica |date=October 10, 2012 |access-date=April 27, 2013}}</ref> Dell remained the second-most profitable PC vendor, as it took 13 percent of operating profits in the PC industry during Q4 2012, behind Apple's Mac that took 45 percent, seven percent at Hewlett Packard, six percent at Lenovo and Asus, and one percent for Acer.<ref>[http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2013/04/17/apple_macs_profits/ "PC floggers scavenge for crumbs as Apple hoovers up profits • The Channel"]. ''channelregister.co.uk''.</ref>
Dell attempted to offset its declining PC business, which still accounted for half of its revenue and generates steady cash flow,<ref>{{cite news |author=Aaron Ricadela |url=http://washpost.bloomberg.com/Story?docId=1376-MGQYI21A74E901-4T7RPT9E2ET8T8I5GR6KM8ULT8 |title=Business: Washington Post Business Page, Business News |publisher=Bloomberg L.P. |date=February 6, 2013 |access-date=April 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130601052217/http://washpost.bloomberg.com/Story?docId=1376-MGQYI21A74E901-4T7RPT9E2ET8T8I5GR6KM8ULT8 |archive-date=June 1, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> by expanding into the enterprise market with servers, networking, software, and services.<ref>{{cite news|last=Schofield |first=Jack |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/the-love-of-mike-what-you-need-to-know-about-dells-buy-out/ |title=The love of Mike: What you need to know about Dell's buy-out |work=ZDNet |date=February 6, 2013 |access-date=April 27, 2013}}</ref> It avoided many of the acquisition write-downs and management turnover that plagued its chief rival Hewlett Packard.<ref name="beta.fool" /><ref name="chron.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/business/steffy/article/Steffy-HP-Dell-fight-to-stay-relevant-4062878.php |title=HP, Dell fight to stay relevant |work=Houston Chronicle |date=November 24, 2012 |access-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref> Despite spending $13 billion on acquisitions to diversify its portfolio beyond hardware,<ref name="bloomberg.com">{{cite news |last=Carey |first=David |date=September 13, 2013 |title=Silver Lake Investors Said to See Dell as Mixed Blessing |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-09-13/silver-lake-investors-said-to-see-dell-as-mixed-blessing.html |access-date=January 9, 2014 |publisher=Bloomberg}}</ref> the company was unable to convince the market that it could thrive or made the transformation in the post-PC world,<ref name="chron.com"/> as it suffered continued declines in revenue and share price.<ref>{{cite news|last=Worthen |first=Ben |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390444812704577605703329715394.html |title=H-P, Dell Struggle as Buyers Shun PCs |work=The Wall Street Journal |date=August 22, 2012 |access-date=June 22, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Arthur |first=Charles |url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/nov/16/dell-revenues-slump-pc-tablet-smartphone |title=Dell revenues slump as tablets and smartphones eat into market |work=The Guardian |date=November 16, 2012 |access-date=June 22, 2013 |___location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Jeffrey Burt |url=http://www.eweek.com/pc-hardware/dell-finances-continue-to-be-hit-by-struggling-pc-market/ |title=Dell Finances Continue to Be Hit by Struggling PC Market |publisher=Eweek.com |date=November 15, 2012 |access-date=April 27, 2013}}</ref><ref name="economist">{{cite news|publisher=Schumpeter Business and management |url=http://www.economist.com/blogs/schumpeter/2013/02/dells-buy-out |title=Dell's buy-out: Heading for the exit |newspaper=The Economist |date=February 5, 2013 |access-date=April 27, 2013}}</ref> Dell's market share in the corporate segment was previously a "moat" against rivals but this has no longer been the case as sales and profits have fallen precipitously.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/steveschaefer/2013/09/12/michael-dell-finally-sews-up-buyout-now-for-the-hard-part/print/ |title=Michael Dell Finally Sews Up Buyout, Now For The Hard Part |work=Forbes |date=December 9, 2013 |access-date=January 9, 2014 |first=Steve |last=Schaefer}}</ref>
===2013 buyout===
After several weeks of rumors, which started around January 11, 2013, Dell announced on February 5, 2013, that it had struck a $24.4 billion ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=24400000000|start_year=2013|r=-7|fmt=eq}}) [[leveraged buyout]] deal, that would have delisted its shares from the NASDAQ and Hong Kong Stock Exchange and taken it private.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/2319/119312513041273/filing-main.htm |title=Dell Inc, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Feb 6, 2013 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date=March 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>Official Dell pressrelease on [http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/secure/2013-02-04-michael-dell-silverlake-acquisition.aspx (leveraged) buyout by Michael Dell and Silverlake] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130210025350/http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/secure/2013-02-04-michael-dell-silverlake-acquisition.aspx |date=February 10, 2013}}, February 5, 2013. Visited: February 5, 2013</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=DELL&ql=1 |title=DELL: Summary for Dell Inc.- Yahoo!! Finance |work=Yahoo! Finance |access-date=February 10, 2013}}</ref> [[Reuters]] reported that Michael Dell and [[Silver Lake Partners]], aided by a $2 billion loan from [[Microsoft]], would acquire the public shares at $13.65 apiece.<ref name="buyout">{{cite news|title=Dell to go private in landmark $24.4 billion deal|first=Ben|last=Berkowitz|author2=Edwin Chan|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-dell-buyout-idUSBRE9140NF20130205|work=Reuters|date=February 5, 2013|access-date=February 5, 2013}}</ref> The $24.4 billion buyout was projected to be the largest leveraged buyout backed by private equity since the [[2008 financial crisis]] ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=24400000000|start_year=2007|r=-7|fmt=eq}}).<ref name="buyout2">{{cite news |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/02/05/dells-record-breaking-buyout/ |title=Dell's Record-Breaking Buyout |first=William |last=Alden |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=February 5, 2013}}</ref> It is also the largest technology buyout ever, surpassing the 2006 buyout of [[Freescale Semiconductor]] for $17.5 billion ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=17500000000|start_year=2006|r=-7|fmt=eq}}).<ref name="buyout2"/>
Michael Dell said of the February offer "I believe this transaction will open an exciting new chapter for Dell, our customers and team members".<ref name="buyout3"/> Dell rival Lenovo responded to the buyout, saying, "the financial actions of some of our traditional competitors will not substantially change our outlook."<ref name="buyout3">{{cite news|title=Dell Inc. to go private in $24.4-billion deal|first=Andrea|last=Chang|url=https://www.latimes.com/business/technology/la-fi-tn-dell-goes-private-20130205,0,7066492.story|work=Los Angeles Times|date=February 5, 2013|access-date=February 5, 2013}}</ref>
In March 2013, the [[Blackstone Group]] and [[Carl Icahn]] expressed interest in purchasing Dell.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-blackstone-dell-idUSBRE92M08520130323 |title=Blackstone, Icahn set up three-way battle to buy out Dell |last1=Roumeliotis |first1=Greg |last2=Toonkel |first2=Jessica |date=March 23, 2013 |website=Reuters.com}}</ref> In April 2013, Blackstone withdrew their offer, citing deteriorating business.<ref>{{cite news|last=Shu|first=Catherine|title=Blackstone Reportedly Withdraws Bid For Dell, Citing "Deteriorating" Business|url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/04/18/blackstone-reportedly-withdraws-bid-for-dell-citing-deteriorating-business/|work=TechCrunch|date=April 19, 2013}}</ref><ref name=nyt>{{cite news|last=Sorkin|first=Andrew Ross|title=Blackstone Is Said to Drop Out of the Bidding for Dell|url=http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/04/18/blackstone-seen-abandoning-bid-for-dell/|work=The New York Times|date=April 18, 2013}}</ref> Other private equity firms such as KKR & Co. and TPG Capital declined to submit alternative bids for Dell, citing the uncertain market for personal computers and competitive pressures, so the "wide-open bidding war" never materialized.<ref name="bloomberg.com"/> Analysts said that the biggest challenge facing Silver Lake would be to find an "exit strategy" to profit from its investment, which would be when the company would hold an IPO to go public again, and one warned "But even if you can get a $25bn enterprise value for Dell, it will take years to get out."<ref name="Gelles">{{cite web|last=Gelles |first=David |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/40f132ca-6fbe-11e2-8785-00144feab49a.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/40f132ca-6fbe-11e2-8785-00144feab49a.html |archive-date=December 10, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Daring $24bn deal to make Dell relevant |work=Financial Times |date=February 5, 2013}}</ref>
In May 2013, Michael Dell joined his board in voting for the offer.<ref>Murphy, Tom (May 31, 2013) [https://web.archive.org/web/20130608014003/http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory/dell-board-recommends-michael-dell-buyout-offer-19294725 "Dell Board Recommends Michael Dell Buyout Offer"]. ''Associated Press'' via ''ABC News''.</ref> The following August he reached a deal with the special committee on the board for $13.88 per share, a raised price of $13.75 plus a special dividend of 13 cents, as well as a change to the voting rules.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-dell-buyout-vote-idUSBRE97106220130802 "Michael Dell closes in on prize with sweeter $25 billion deal"]. ''Reuters''.</ref> The $13.88 cash offer (plus a $.08 per share dividend for the third fiscal quarter) was accepted on September 12<ref>[https://www.wired.com/wiredenterprise/2013/09/dell-private/?cid=social11857154 "Dell Takes Itself Private With $25 Billion Buyout"]. ''WIRED''. September 2013</ref> and closed on October 30, 2013, ending Dell's 25-year run as a publicly traded company.
After the buyout, the newly private Dell offered a Voluntary Separation Program that they expected to reduce their workforce by up to seven percent. The reception to the program so exceeded the expectations that Dell may be forced to hire new staff to make up for the losses.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2014/02/12/dell_vsp/ |title=Dell staffers head for exit armed with redundo cheques |last=Kunert |first=Paul |date=February 12, 2014 |work=channelregister.co.uk}}</ref>
===Recent history===
On November 19, 2015, Dell, alongside [[Arm Holdings]], [[Cisco|Cisco Systems]], [[Intel]], [[Microsoft]], and [[Princeton University]], founded the [[OpenFog Consortium]], to promote interests and development in [[fog computing]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/janakirammsv/2016/04/18/is-fog-computing-the-next-big-thing-in-internet-of-things/2/#1971ac3a34c9|title=Is Fog Computing the Next Big Thing in the Internet of Things|last=Janakiram|first=MSV|date=April 18, 2016|work=Forbes Magazine|access-date=April 18, 2016}}</ref>
====Acquisition of EMC====
On October 12, 2015, [[Dell Inc.]] announced its intent to acquire EMC Corporation in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $67 billion ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=67000000000|start_year=2015|r=-7|fmt=eq}}), which has been considered the largest-ever acquisition in the technology sector.<ref>{{Cite news|title = Dell to Buy EMC in Deal Worth About $67 Billion|url = https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-10-12/dell-to-acquire-emc-for-67-billion-to-add-data-storage-devices|newspaper = Bloomberg|access-date = October 12, 2015|first1 = Brian|last1 = Womack|first2 = Dina|last2 = Bass| date=October 12, 2015 }}</ref><ref name="bbc-dellemc" /> As part of the acquisition, Dell took over EMC's 81% stake in the cloud-computing and virtualization company [[VMware]].<ref name=Dell-EMC>{{cite web |last1=Gara |first1=Antonie |title=Deal Of The Century: How Michael Dell Turned His Declining PC Business Into A $40 Billion Windfall |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/antoinegara/2021/08/03/deal-of-the-century-how-michael-dell-turned-his-declining-pc-business-into-40-billion-windfall/?sh=2f3512745c2a |website=Forbes |access-date=November 22, 2021}}</ref> This combined Dell's enterprise server, personal computer, and mobile businesses with EMC's enterprise storage business in a significant Vertical merger of IT giants. Dell paid $24.05 per share of EMC, and $9.05 per share of [[tracking stock]] in [[VMware]].<ref name=wsj-emcdell>{{cite news|title=Dell to Buy EMC for $67 Billion|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/dell-to-buy-emc-for-67-billion-1444649012|access-date=October 12, 2015|work=The Wall Street Journal|url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref name=nyt-emcdell>{{cite news|title=In Takeover of EMC, Dell Makes Ambitious Bet|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/12/business/dealbook/dell-to-buy-emc-for-65-billion-a-record-takeover-in-technology.html|access-date=October 12, 2015|work=The New York Times|date=October 12, 2015 }}</ref><ref name=bbc-dellemc>{{cite news|title=Dell agrees $67bn EMC takeover|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-34505553 |date=October 12, 2015 |access-date=October 12, 2015|work=BBC News}}</ref>
The announcement came two years after Dell Inc. returned to private ownership, claiming that it faced bleak prospects and would need several years out of the public eye to rebuild its business.<ref name=WSJ-20130329>{{cite news | newspaper = [[The Wall Street Journal]] | title = Dell Makes Case to Go Private in Grim Filing | url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424127887323501004578390692268605644 | date = March 29, 2013}}</ref> It was thought that the company's value had roughly doubled since then.<ref name=WSJ-2015-10-12>{{cite news | newspaper = The Wall Street Journal | author = David Benoit| title = Dell's Value and the 'Falling Knife' | url = http://blogs.wsj.com/moneybeat/2015/10/12/dells-value-and-the-falling-knife/ | date = October 12, 2015}}</ref> EMC was being pressured by [[Elliott Management Corporation|Elliott Management]], a hedge fund holding 2.2% of EMC's stock, to reorganize their unusual "Federation" structure, in which EMC's divisions were effectively being run as independent companies. Elliott argued<ref name=BusinessWire-2014-10-08>{{cite web | url = http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20141008005668/en/Elliott-Management-Sends-Letter-Board-Directors-EMC# | title = Elliott Management Sends Letter to Board of Directors of EMC Corporation |website=[[Business Wire|BusinessWire]] |date=October 8, 2014}}</ref> this structure deeply undervalued EMC's core "EMC II" data storage business, and that increasing competition between EMC II and VMware products was confusing the market and hindering both companies. ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' estimated that in 2014 Dell had revenue of $27.3 billion ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=27300000000|start_year=2014|r=-7|fmt=eq}}) from personal computers and $8.9 billion from servers, while EMC had $16.5 billion from EMC II, $1 billion from [[RSA Security]], $6 billion from VMware, and $230 million from [[Pivotal Software]].<ref name=WSJ-2015-10-13>{{cite news | newspaper = The Wall Street Journal | title = EMC Takeover Marks Return of Michael Dell | url = https://www.wsj.com/articles/dell-to-buy-emc-for-67-billion-1444649012 | date = October 13, 2015}}</ref> EMC owned around 80 percent of the stock of VMware.<ref name=FT-Lex-2015-10-12>{{cite news | title = Dell-EMC: The empty shop | newspaper =[[Financial Times]] | date = October 12, 2015 | url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/3/abfd601e-7102-11e5-ad6d-f4ed76f0900a.html}}</ref> The proposed acquisition maintained VMware as a separate company, held via a new [[tracking stock]], while the other parts of EMC rolled into Dell.<ref name=FT-2015-10-12>{{cite news | title = Dell agrees $63bn acquisition of EMC | newspaper =Financial Times | date = October 12, 2015 | url = http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/170fa5f2-708a-11e5-9b9e-690fdae72044.html}}</ref> Once the acquisition closed, Dell began publishing quarterly financial results again, having ceased these after going private in 2013.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://washpost.bloomberg.com/Story?docId=1376-NWLBRI6K50YD01-7BPSHOJ09P7U1SQJVJQUC9CNAI | newspaper = [[The Washington Post]] | author = Brian Womack | date = October 21, 2015 | title = Dell CFO Reluctantly Accepts Public Disclosures With EMC Deal | access-date = February 23, 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170621093312/http://washpost.bloomberg.com/Story?docId=1376-NWLBRI6K50YD01-7BPSHOJ09P7U1SQJVJQUC9CNAI | archive-date = June 21, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
The combined business was expected to address the markets for [[Converged storage#Scale-out architecture|scale-out architecture]], [[converged infrastructure]] and [[Cloud computing#Private cloud|private cloud computing]], playing to the strengths of both EMC and Dell.<ref name=WSJ-2015-10-13/><ref name=Economist-2015-10-12>{{cite news | magazine=[[The Economist]] | title = The merger of Dell and EMC stems from the rise of cloud computing | url = https://www.economist.com/news/business/21673523-clouded-marriage-merger-dell-and-emc-more-proof-it-industry-shifting | date = October 12, 2015}}</ref> Commentators questioned the deal, with [[FBR Capital Markets]] saying that though it makes a "ton of sense" for Dell, it was a "nightmare scenario that would lack strategic synergies" for EMC.<ref name=Reuters-2015-10-08>{{cite news | url = https://www.reuters.com/article/us-emc-us-m-a-dell-idUSKCN0S200F20151008 | title = Dell in talks to buy data storage company EMC: source | author = Mike Stone | work=[[Reuters]] | date = October 8, 2015}}</ref> ''Fortune'' said there was a lot for Dell to like in EMC's portfolio, but "does it all add up enough to justify tens of billions of dollars for the entire package? Probably not."<ref name=Fortune-2015-10-08>{{cite news | magazine = [[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]] | url = http://fortune.com/2015/10/08/dell-emc-merger/ | title = A Dell-EMC deal doesn't make sense. Here's why | author = Stacey Higginbotham | date = October 8, 2015}}</ref> ''[[The Register]]'' reported the view of [[William Blair & Company]] that the merger would "blow up the current IT chess board", forcing other IT infrastructure vendors to restructure to achieve scale and vertical integration.<ref name=Register-2015-10-09>{{cite web | url = https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/10/09/dell_emc_buyout_merger_rumour_mill_overdrive/ | title = Dell hooking up with EMC and going public again? Come off it | date = October 9, 2015 | website = [[The Register]]}}</ref> The value of VMware stock fell 10% after the announcement, valuing the deal at around $63–64bn rather than the $67bn originally reported.<ref name=FT-Lex-Live-2015-10-13>{{cite news | title = Dell-EMC deal: why VMware is falling | author = Tom Braithwaite | date = October 13, 2015 | url = http://blogs.ft.com/lex-live/2015/10/13/dell-emc-deal-why-vmware-is-falling/ | newspaper =Financial Times}}</ref> Key investors backing the deal besides Dell were Singapore's [[Temasek Holdings]] and [[Silver Lake Partners]].<ref>{{cite news | title = BOOM: Dell to Acquire EMC for $67 Billion | date = October 12, 2015 | url = http://www.swfinstitute.org/swf-news/boom-dell-to-acquire-emc-for-67-billion/ | newspaper = [[Sovereign Wealth Fund Institute]] | archive-date = July 1, 2018 | access-date = October 25, 2015 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180701030608/https://www.swfinstitute.org/swf-news/boom-dell-to-acquire-emc-for-67-billion/ | url-status = dead }}</ref>
On September 7, 2016, Dell completed the merger with EMC, which involved the issuance of $45.9 billion ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=45900000000|start_year=2016|r=-7|fmt=eq}}) in debt and $4.4 billion ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=4400000000|start_year=2016|r=-6|fmt=eq}}) of common stock.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1571996/000157199617000004/delltechnologiesfy1710k.htm|title=Document|website=www.sec.gov}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release
|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20160907005946/en/Historic-Dell-EMC-Merger-Complete-Forms-World%E2%80%99s
|title=Historic Dell and EMC Merger Complete; Forms World's Largest Privately-Controlled Tech Company
|publisher=[[Business Wire]] |date=September 7, 2016}}</ref> At the time, some analysts claimed that Dell's acquisition of the former Iomega could harm the [[LenovoEMC]] partnership.<ref name=IomegaPart.TheRegister>{{cite news |newspaper=TheRegister (UK)
|url=https://www.theregister.com/2015/10/15/dell_emc_merger_lenovo_reselling
|title=Dell-EMC merger could leave Lenovo out in the cold – analysts
|author=Chris Mellor |date=October 15, 2015}}</ref>
In July 2018, Dell announced intentions to become a publicly traded company again by paying $21.7 billion ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=21700000000|start_year=2018|r=-7|fmt=eq}}) in both cash and stock to buy back shares from its stake in VMware, offering shareholders roughly 60 cents on the dollar as part of the deal.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-dell-vmware/dell-moves-to-go-public-spurns-ipo-idUSKBN1JS11X|title=Dell moves to go public, spurns IPO|last=Donnell|first=Carl|work=Reuters|access-date=July 3, 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Dell-EMC" /> In November, Carl Icahn (9.3% owner of Dell) sued the company over plans to go public.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-carl-icahn-sues-dell-over-plans-to-go-public-2/|title=Carl Icahn sues Dell over plans to go public}}</ref> As a result of pressure from Icahn and other [[Activist shareholder|activist investors]], Dell renegotiated the deal, ultimately offering shareholders about 80% of market value. As part of this deal, Dell once again became a public company, with the original Dell computer business and Dell EMC operating under the newly created parent, [[Dell Technologies]].<ref name="Dell-EMC" />
Post-acquisition, Dell was re-organized with a new parent company, Dell Technologies, and into three main business divisions: Client Solutions Group, Infrastructure Solutions Group and [[VMware]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1571996/000157199617000004/delltechnologiesfy1710k.htm|title=Dell Technologies Inc. Form 10-K|website=sec.gov|access-date=January 29, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/dell-closes-60-billion-merger-with-emc-1473252540 | title=Dell Closes $60 Billion Merger with EMC | newspaper=The Wall Street Journal | first=Rachael | last=King | date=September 7, 2016}}{{subscription required}}</ref><ref name=wsjemcdell>{{cite news | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/dell-to-buy-emc-for-67-billion-1444649012 | title=EMC Takeover Marks Return of Michael Dell | first1=Don | last1=Clark | first2=Dana | last2=Cimilluca | first3=Robert | last3=McMillan | newspaper=The Wall Street Journal | date=October 13, 2015}}{{subscription required}}</ref>
In January 2021, Dell reported $94 billion ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=94000000000|start_year=2021|r=-7|fmt=eq}}) in sales and $13 billion ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=13000000000|start_year=2021|r=-7|fmt=eq}}) operating cash flow during 2020.<ref name="Dell-EMC" />
On March 1, 2024, Dell's stock hit all-time high after earnings. It delivered a strong performance from its artificial intelligence unit that sent shares up nearly 40%, its highest daily gain since the company went public in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Derek |first=Saul |date=1 March 2024 |title=This Old-School Tech Stock Just Hit A New All-Time High Thanks To AI |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dereksaul/2024/03/01/this-old-school-tech-stock-just-hit-a-new-all-time-high-thanks-to-ai/?sh=563330d15710 |access-date=4 March 2024 |website=Forbes}}</ref> In August 2024, the company announced it would be laying off 12,500 employees—10% of its workforce—in order to invest in artificial intelligence initiatives.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ford |first=Brody |date=2024-08-05 |title=Dell Cuts Workers in Sales Team Reorganization With New AI-Focused Unit |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-08-05/dell-layoffs-hit-sales-team-with-new-unit-focused-on-ai |access-date=2024-08-09 |work=Bloomberg.com |language=en}}</ref>
=== Dell and AMD ===
[[CNET
On
On
| first = Tom
| last = Krazit
| title = Dell puts AMD-powered notebooks on sale
| url = http://news.cnet.com/Dell+puts+AMD-powered+notebooks+on+sale/2100-1006_3-6131558.html?tag=nefd.top
| work = CNET News
| publisher = CBS Interactive
| ___location =
| page =
| pages =
| doi =
| date = November 1, 2006
| quote = Dell's first notebooks with chips from Advanced Micro Devices appeared for sale on its Web site Wednesday, although the company made no formal announcement.
}}</ref>
In 2017, Dell released the AlienWare 17 gaming laptop. The model was primarily based on NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 systems.<ref>{{cite web
| first = Old Dell
| last = Laptop Reviews
| title = Alienware Unveils New Alienware 17 Gaming Notebook
| url = https://olddelllaptopreviews.wordpress.com/2018/02/24/alienware-unveils-new-alienware-17-gaming-notebook/
| work = Old Dell Laptop Reviews
| publisher =
| ___location =
| page =
| pages =
| doi =
| date = February 24, 2018
| quote = Dell's latest AlienWare beast takes off in the market with its amazing specs.
}}</ref>
===
In 1998, [[Ralph Nader]] asked Dell (and five other major [[Original equipment manufacturer|OEM]]s) to offer alternate operating systems to [[Microsoft Windows]], specifically including [[Linux]], for which "there is clearly a growing interest".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lists.essential.org/1998/info-policy-notes/msg00007.html |title=Nader/CPT ask OEMs to offer OS alternatives |author=James Love |work=Information Policy Notes |date=March 8, 1998 |access-date=August 28, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080605052352/http://lists.essential.org/1998/info-policy-notes/msg00007.html |archive-date=June 5, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.cptech.org/ms/
|title=CPT's Microsoft Antitrust Page
|author=Consumer Project on Technology
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20021106195359/http://www.cptech.org/ms/
| archive-date = November 6, 2002
}}</ref> Possibly coincidentally, Dell started offering Linux notebook systems that "cost no more than their Windows 98 counterparts" in 2000,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/02/03/linux.laptop.idg/ |title=Dell offers Linux on laptops |author=Dan Neel |date=February 3, 2000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010164157/http://archives.cnn.com/2000/TECH/computing/02/03/linux.laptop.idg/ |archive-date=October 10, 2009}}</ref> and soon expanded, with Dell becoming "the first major manufacturer to offer Linux across its full product line".<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.Dell.com/downloads/global/corporate/speeches/msd/2000_08_15_msd_linux.pdf
|title = Michael Dell Remarks/Putting Linux on the Fast Track/Keynote at the LinuxWorld Expo
|author = Michael Dell
|date = August 15, 2000
|url-status = dead
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100522121024/http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/corporate/speeches/msd/2000_08_15_msd_linux.pdf
|archive-date = May 22, 2010
}}</ref> However, by early 2001 Dell had "disbanded its Linux business unit."<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2002/03/19/microsoft_killed_dell_linux_states/
|title=Microsoft 'killed Dell Linux' — States
|author=Andrew Orlowski
|website=[[The Register]]
|date= March 19, 2002
}}</ref>
On February 26, 2007, Dell announced that it had commenced a program to sell and distribute a range of computers with pre-installed Linux distributions as an alternative to [[Microsoft Windows]]. Dell indicated that [[Novell]]'s [[SUSE Linux|SUSE]] Linux would appear first.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/9951/53/ |title=Dell says all aboard for Linux PCs |publisher=iTWire |access-date=December 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070228094201/http://www.itwire.com.au/content/view/9951/53/ |archive-date=February 28, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> However, the next day, Dell announced that its previous announcement related to certifying the hardware as ready to work with Novell SUSE Linux and that it (Dell) had no plans to sell systems pre-installed with Linux in the near future.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9011907 |title=Dell to Linux users: Not so fast |author=Computerworld |date=February 27, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090116092939/http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9011907 |archive-date=January 16, 2009}}</ref> On March 28, 2007, Dell announced that it would begin shipping some desktops and laptops with Linux pre-installed, although it did not specify which distribution of Linux or which hardware would lead.<ref>[http://www.Dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/ideastorm/ideasinaction?c=us&l=en&s=gen Ideas In Action] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319105855/http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/ideastorm/ideasinaction?c=us&l=en&s=gen |date=March 19, 2008}}</ref> On April 18, a report appeared suggesting that Michael Dell used [[Ubuntu]] on one of his home systems.<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS5149877302.html
|title = Michael Dell's Linux choice? Ubuntu
|author = Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols (DesktopLinux)
|date = April 18, 2007
|access-date = June 6, 2010
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100622155842/http://www.desktoplinux.com/news/NS5149877302.html
|archive-date = June 22, 2010
|url-status = dead
}}</ref> On May 1, 2007, Dell announced it would ship the Ubuntu Linux distribution.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/6610901.stm|title=Dell to choose Ubuntu|author=BBC|date= May 1, 2007
| access-date=January 2, 2010 | work=BBC News}}</ref> On May 24, 2007, Dell started selling models with Ubuntu Linux 7.04 pre-installed: a laptop, a budget computer, and a high-end PC.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://direct2Dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/05/24/15994.aspx
| title = Dell Offers Three Consumer Systems With Ubuntu 7.04
| first = Lionel
| last = Menchaca
| date = May 24, 2008
| work = Direct2Dell blog
| publisher =
| ___location =
| doi =
| access-date = October 21, 2009
| quote = Dell will offer U.S customers three different systems with Ubuntu 7.04 installed: the XPS 410n and Dimension E520n desktops and the Inspiron E1505n notebook.
}}</ref>
On June 27, 2007, Dell announced on its Direct2Dell blog that it planned to offer more pre-loaded systems (the new [[Dell Inspiron]] desktops and laptops). After the [[Dell IdeaStorm|IdeaStorm]] site supported extending the bundles beyond the US market, Dell later announced more international marketing.<ref>[http://direct2Dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/06/27/19470.aspx Ubuntu on Two New Inspirons; Update from the Linux Live Expert Forum - Direct2Dell<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> On August 7, 2007, Dell officially announced that it would offer one notebook and one desktop in the UK, France and Germany with Ubuntu "pre-installed". At [[LinuxWorld Conference and Expo|LinuxWorld]] 2007 Dell announced plans to provide [[Novell]]'s [[SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop]] on selected models in China, "factory-installed".<ref>[http://direct2Dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/08/07/23816.aspx Linux for Consumers in the U.K. France, and Germany; Dell/Red Hat Solutions & More - Direct2Dell<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> On November 30, 2007, Dell reported shipping 40,000 Ubuntu PCs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/11/30/ubuntu_Dell_sales/ |title=Dell moves 40,000 Ubuntu PCs |author=Ashlee Vance |publisher=Channel Register |date=November 30, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009013710/http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/11/30/ubuntu_dell_sales/ |archive-date=October 9, 2009}}</ref> On January 24, 2008, Dell in Germany, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom launched a second laptop, an XPS M1330 with [[Ubuntu]] 7.10, for 849 euro or GBP 599 upwards.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2008/01/24/Dells-xps-m1330-with-ubuntu-pre-load-in-germany-only/ |title=Dell's XPS M1330 with Ubuntu pre-load in Germany, only |publisher=Engadget |date=January 24, 2008}}</ref> On February 18, 2008, Dell announced that the [[Dell Inspiron 1525|Inspiron 1525]] would have Ubuntu as an optional operating system.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://blog.dell.com/en-us/welcome-the-inspiron-1525-to-the-dell-ubuntu-family/ | title = Welcome the Inspiron 1525 to the Dell Ubuntu Family | last = Judd | first = Daniel | date = February 18, 2008 | website = dell.com | publisher = Dell | access-date = November 12, 2017 | quote = Earlier today, we added the Inspiron 1525 notebook to our family of Ubuntu products. | archive-date = November 13, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171113112717/https://blog.dell.com/en-us/welcome-the-inspiron-1525-to-the-dell-ubuntu-family/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> On February 22, 2008, Dell announced plans to sell Ubuntu in Canada and in [[Latin America]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://tombuntu.com/index.php/2008/02/22/ubuntu-Dell-systems-launch-in-canada/|title=Ubuntu Dell Systems Launch in Canada |publisher=Tombuntu |date=February 22, 2008}}</ref> From September 16, 2008, Dell has shipped both [[Dell Ubuntu Netbook Remix]] and [[Windows XP]] Home versions of the [[Dell Inspiron Mini 9|Inspiron Mini 9]] and the [[Dell Inspiron Mini 12|Inspiron Mini 12]]. {{As of|November 2009}} Dell shipped the Inspiron Mini laptops with Ubuntu version 8.04.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dell.com/home/laptops#subcats=&navla=51800~0~1932545&navidc=LT:%20Operating%20System&navValc=Ubuntu%20Linux&a=51800~0~1932545&page=1 |title=Laptops, Ultrabooks ™ & Tablets - New Dell Laptop Computers for Sale |publisher=Dell |access-date=December 4, 2012 |archive-date=September 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100925033209/http://www.dell.com/home/laptops#subcats=&navla=51800~0~1932545&navidc=LT:%20Operating%20System&navValc=Ubuntu%20Linux&a=51800~0~1932545&page=1 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
As of 2021, Dell continues to offer select laptops and workstations with Ubuntu Linux pre-installed, under the "Developer Edition" moniker.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Linux Workstations and Laptops {{!}} Dell USA|url=https://www.dell.com/en-us/work/shop/overview/cp/linuxsystems|access-date=December 1, 2021|website=Dell|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Corporate affairs ==
=== Business trends ===
The key trends for Dell are (as of the financial year ending late January/early February):<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dell Income Statement |url=https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/DELL/financials/annual/income-statement |access-date=23 July 2024 |website=WSJ}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-03-02 |title=Dell Income Statement (2016-2020) - WSJ |url=https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/DELL/financials/annual/income-statement |access-date=2024-07-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200302032820/https://www.wsj.com/market-data/quotes/DELL/financials/annual/income-statement |archive-date=March 2, 2020 }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
!
!Revenue (US$ bn)
!Net profit (US$ bn)
!Employees (k)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dell: Number of Employees 2015-2024 {{!}} DELL |url=https://www.macrotrends.net/stocks/charts/DELL/dell/number-of-employees |access-date=2024-07-23 |website=www.macrotrends.net}}</ref>
|-
|2016
|50.5
|<span style="color:red;">−1.1</span>
|101
|-
|2017
|61.5
|<span style="color:red;">−3.6</span>
|138
|-
|2018
|79.1
|<span style="color:red;">−2.8</span>
|145
|-
|2019
|90.3
|<span style="color:red;">−2.3</span>
|157
|-
|2020
|91.9
|4.6
|165
|-
|2021
|86.7
|2.2
|158
|-
|2022
|101
|4.9
|133
|-
|2023
|101
|2.4
|133
|-
|2024
|88.4
|3.2
|120
|}
=== Senior leadership ===
==== List of chairmen ====
# [[Michael Dell]] (1984– )
==== List of chief executives ====
# Michael Dell (1984–2004)
# [[Kevin Rollins]] (2004–2007)
# Michael Dell (2007–present); second term
== List of Dell marketing slogans ==
* '''Be direct''' (1998–2001)
* '''Easy as Dell''' (2001–2004)
* '''Get more out of now''' (2004–2005)
* '''It's a Dell''' (2005–2006)
* '''Dell. Purely You''' (2006–2007)
* '''Yours is Here''' (2007–2011)
* '''The power to do more''' (2011–2023)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/dell/2011/09/15/the-power-to-do-more/#747592471a39 | title=How does technology ignite your power to do more? | first=Karen | last=Quintos | work=[[Forbes Magazine]] | date=September 15, 2011}}</ref>
*'''Welcome to Now''' (2023-present)<ref>{{cite news |last1=O'Brien |first1=Kyle |title=VMLY&R Helps Dell Tell Story of Digital Analyzation Technology |url=https://www.adweek.com/agencyspy/vmlyr-helps-dell-tell-story-of-digital-analyzation-technology/ |access-date=21 August 2025 |publisher=AdWeek |date=1 June 2023}}</ref>
==Acquisitions==
{{Further|List of Dell ownership activities}}
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ List of companies acquired by Dell Inc.
|-
!scope="col"| Company acquired
!scope="col"| Date of acquisition
!scope="col" class="unsortable"| Company notes
!scope="col"| References
|-
!scope="row"| [[Alienware]]
|{{Date table sorting|2006}}
| Manufacturer of high-end PCs for gamers || <ref>{{cite news|title=Dell to Buy Alienware, a Maker Of High-End PC's for Gamers|url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00A12FB3D540C708EDDAA0894DE404482|work=The New York Times|access-date=April 13, 2012|date=March 23, 2006}}</ref><ref>WhatIz website over [https://web.archive.org/web/20120712065127/http://apnizindagi.com/index.php/2011/11/what-iz-alienware-android-cell-phone/ WHAT IZ @ Alienware Android Cell Phone?], apnizindagi.com. November 10, 2011.</ref><ref name="AW">{{cite web|access-date=October 29, 2008|url=http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2006/tc20060323_034268.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060324235058/http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2006/tc20060323_034268.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 24, 2006|title=Dell Goes High-end and Hip |work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek |publisher=McGraw-Hill|date=March 23, 2006|author=Lee, Louise}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| [[EqualLogic]]
| {{Date table sorting|January 28, 2008}}
| Acquired to gain a foothold in the [[iSCSI]] storage market. Because Dell already had an efficient manufacturing process, integrating EqualLogic's products into the company drove manufacturing prices down || <ref name="Dell-Inc-Nov-2007-8-K">{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/2608/95013407023369/filing-main.htm |title=Dell Inc, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Nov 8, 2007 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =March 8, 2013}}</ref><ref name="Dell-Inc-Jan-2008-8-K">{{cite web|url=http://pdf.secdatabase.com/2938/0001157523-08-000616.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511021549/http://pdf.secdatabase.com/2938/0001157523-08-000616.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-11 |url-status=live |title=Dell Inc, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Jan 28, 2008 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =March 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=October 29, 2008|url=http://www.informationweek.com/news/hardware/desktop/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=202802668|title=Dell's EqualLogic Buy Could Drive Down iSCSI Storage Prices |work=InformationWeek|publisher=United Business Media|date=November 5, 2007|author=Gonsalves, Antone}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| [[Perot Systems]]
| {{Date table sorting|2009}}
| Perot Systems was a technology services and outsourcing company, mainly active in the health sector, founded by former presidential hopeful [[H. Ross Perot]]. The acquired business provided Dell with applications development, systems integration, and strategic consulting services through its operations in the US and 10 other countries. In addition, the acquisition of Perot brought a variety of business process outsourcing services, including claims processing and call center operations. || <ref name="Dell-Inc-Sep-2009-8-K">{{cite web|url=http://pdf.secdatabase.com/2481/0000950123-09-044357.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511015029/http://pdf.secdatabase.com/2481/0000950123-09-044357.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-11 |url-status=live |title=Dell Inc, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Sep 21, 2009 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =March 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2009-09/15005025-update-7-Dell-to-buy-perot-systems-for-dollar-3-9-billion-020.htm |title=Dell to buy Perot Systems for $3.9 billion |publisher=Finanznachrichten.de |date=September 22, 2009 |access-date=November 17, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hoovers.com/company/Perot_Systems_Corporation/crycki-1.html |title=Perot Systems |year=2009|publisher=[[Hoover's]] |access-date=January 4, 2010}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| [[KACE Networks]]
| {{Date table sorting|February 10, 2010}}
| KACE Networks was a leader in systems management appliances. ||<ref>{{cite news|title=Dell Acquires Systems Management Company KACE|url=https://www.nytimes.com/external/idg/2010/02/11/11idg-dell-acquires-systems-management-vendor-kace-12056.html | work=The New York Times | first1=Agam|last1=Shah|date=February 11, 2010}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| Boomi
| {{Date table sorting|November 2, 2010}}
| Cloud integration leader ||<ref name="htanna">{{cite web|title=Dell Acquires SaaS Company, Boomi|date=November 2, 2010 |url=http://siliconangle.com/blog/2010/11/02/dell-acquires-saas-company-boomi/|publisher=SiliconANGLE|access-date=November 3, 2010}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| [[Compellent Technologies]]
| {{Date table sorting|February 2011}}
| The acquisition extended Dell's storage portfolio. ||<ref name="Dell-Inc-Mar-2011-10-K">{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/1364/95012311025579/filing-main.htm |title=Dell Inc, Form 10-K, Annual Report, Filing Date Mar 15, 2011 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =March 8, 2013}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| [[Force10]] networks
| {{Date table sorting|August 2011}}
| By acquiring this company Dell now has the full [[Intellectual property]] for their networking portfolio, which was lacking on the Dell PowerConnect range as these products are powered by [[Broadcom]] or [[Marvell Technology Group|Marvell]] IM. || <ref name="reg10">{{cite news |title= Dell buys Force 10 Networks: Storm winds to leave Brocade out in the cold? |author= Chris Mellor |work= The Register |date=July 20, 2011 |url= https://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/07/20/dell_buying_force_10/ |access-date= August 8, 2011}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| [[Dell AppAssure|AppAssure]] Software
| {{Date table sorting|February 24, 2012}}
| Dell acquired the backup and disaster recovery software provider out of Reston, VA. AppAssure delivered 194 percent revenue growth in 2011 and over 3500% growth in the prior three years. AppAssure supported physical servers and VMware, Hyper-V and XenServer. The deal represents the first acquisition since Dell formed its software division under former CA CEO John Swainson. Dell added that it will keep AppAssure's 230 employees and invest in the company. ||<ref name="Dell-Inc-May-2012-10-Q">{{cite web|url=http://pdf.secdatabase.com/2772/0000826083-12-000011.pdf |title=Dell Inc, Form 10-Q, Quarterly Report, Filing Date May 31, 2012 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =March 8, 2013}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| [[SonicWall]]
| {{Date table sorting|May 9, 2012}}
| A company with 130 patents, SonicWall develops security products, and is a network and data security provider. ||<ref>Businesswire: [http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20120509005671/en/Dell-Completes-Acquisition-Security-Leader-SonicWALL Dell completes acquisition SonicWall], May 9, 2012</ref><ref>USA Today, page B1, published March 14, 2008, "Dell buys security specialist SonicWall"</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| [[Wyse]]
| {{Date table sorting|April 2, 2012}}
| A global market-leader for [[thin client]] systems. ||<ref name="Dell-Inc-May-2012-10-Q"/><ref>InformationAge.com website: [http://www.information-age.com/channels/data-centre-and-it-infrastructure/news/2096693/dell-buys-thin-client-market-leader-wyse.thtml Dell buys thin client market leader Wyse], April 2, 2012. Visited: April 3, 2012</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| Clerity Solutions
| {{Date table sorting|April 3, 2012}}
| Clerity, a company offering services for application (re)hosting, was formed in 1994 and has it headquarters in Chicago. At the time of the take-over approximately 70 people were working for the company. ||<ref name="Dell-Inc-May-2012-10-Q"/><ref>Dell press-release [http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/secure/2012-04-02-dell-acquisitions-clerity-solutions.aspx Dell Acquires Clerity Solutions, Launching New Applications Modernization Services] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403165051/http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/secure/2012-04-02-dell-acquisitions-clerity-solutions.aspx |date=April 3, 2012}}, April 3, 2012</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| [[Quest Software]]
| {{Date table sorting|September 28, 2012}}
| ||<ref name="Dell-Inc-Jul-2012-8-K">{{cite web|url=http://edgar.secdatabase.com/2572/119312512291776/filing-main.htm |title=Dell Inc, Form 8-K, Current Report, Filing Date Jul 2, 2012 |publisher=secdatabase.com |access-date =March 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/story/2012-07-02/dell-buys-quest/55978194/1|title=Dell buying Quest Software for $2.36 billion|work=USA Today|date=July 2, 2012|access-date=July 2, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/dell-ponies-up-24b-to-buy-quest-software/|title=Dell ponies up $2.4B to buy Quest Software|work=CBS News|date=July 2, 2012|access-date=July 11, 2012}}</ref><ref>Dell official pressrelease: [http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/secure/2012-09-28-dell-acquisition-quest-software.aspx Dell completes acquisition of Quest software] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103121318/http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/secure/2012-09-28-dell-acquisition-quest-software.aspx |date=November 3, 2012}}, September 28, 2012. Visited: November 1, 2012</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| [[Gale Technologies]]
| {{Date table sorting|November 16, 2012}}
| A provider of infrastructure automation products. Gale Technologies was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. ||<ref>Dell Pressreleases: [http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/secure/2012-11-16-dell-acquisitions-gale-technologies.aspx Dell Acquires Gale Technologies, a Leading Provider of Infrastructure Automation Solutions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119213359/http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/secure/2012-11-16-dell-acquisitions-gale-technologies.aspx |date=November 19, 2012}}, November 16, 2012. Visited: November 28, 2012</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| [[Credant Technologies]]
| {{Date table sorting|December 18, 2012}}
| A provider of storage protection services. Credant is the 19th acquisition in four years, as Dell had spent $13 billion on acquisitions since 2008 and $5 billion in the past year alone. ||<ref>Dell press-release: [http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/secure/2012-12-18-dell-acquisition-credant-technologies.aspx Dell reaches agreement for acquiring Credant Technologies] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102221245/http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/secure/2012-12-18-dell-acquisition-credant-technologies.aspx |date=January 2, 2013}}, December 18, 2012. Visited: December 26, 2012</ref><ref>informationweek.com: [http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/data-centers/6-dell-storylines-to-watch-in-2013/240145028?pgno=1 6 Dell storylines to watch in 2013], December 20, 2012. Visited: December 26, 2012</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| [[StatSoft]]
| {{Date table sorting|March 24, 2014}}
| A global provider of analytics software, in order to bolster its [[big data]] services offering. ||<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/uscorp1/secure/2014-03-17-dell-acquires-statsoft-data-analytics-software|title=Dell Acquires StatSoft to Bolster Portfolio of Big Data Solutions|publisher=dell.com|access-date=March 25, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508013014/http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/uscorp1/secure/2014-03-17-dell-acquires-statsoft-data-analytics-software|archive-date=May 8, 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"| [[EMC Corporation|EMC²]]
| {{Date table sorting|October 12, 2015}}
|[[EMC Corporation#Products and services|Storage, virtualization, services, cloud, data center, security and compliance]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|title = Dell EMC agree to merge in biggest tech deal ever|url = https://money.cnn.com/2015/10/12/technology/dell-emc/index.html|website = CNNMoney|access-date = 2015-10-22|first = David|last = Goldman| date=October 12, 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Press Release: Michael S. Dell, MSD Partners and Silver Lake Lead Transaction to Combine Dell and EMC, Creating Premier End-to-End Technology Company|url = http://www.emc.com/about/news/press/2015/20151012-02.htm|website = www.emc.com|access-date = 2015-10-22}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Dell and EMC: Why, and What It Means - Reflections|url = https://reflectionsblog.emc.com/2015/10/dell-and-emc-why-and-what-it-means/|website = Reflections| date=October 12, 2015 |access-date = 2015-10-22}}</ref>
|}
==Dell facilities==
Dell's headquarters is located in [[Round Rock, Texas]].<ref>"[https://web.archive.org/web/20130116171630/http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/dellcare/en/contactusaddress Contact Us – Dell Mailing Address]." Dell. Retrieved February 8, 2012.</ref> {{as of|2013}} the company employed about 14,000 people in central Texas and was the region's largest private employer,<ref name="AS">Austin American-Statesman: [http://www.statesman.com/news/business/the-dell-deal-what-would-be-different-if-company-g/nT2yc/ The Dell deal: what would be different if...] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304231012/http://www.statesman.com/news/business/the-dell-deal-what-would-be-different-if-company-g/nT2yc/ |date=March 4, 2016 }}, January 19, 2013. Visited: January 23, 2013</ref> which has {{convert|2100000|sqft|sqm}} of space.<ref name="GreenHQ">Staff. "[http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2008/03/31/daily24.html Dell headquarters now carbon-free]." ''[[New Mexico Business Weekly]]''. Wednesday April 2, 2008. Retrieved May 4, 2010.</ref> As of 1999 almost half of the general fund of the city of Round Rock originated from sales taxes generated from the Dell headquarters.<ref>Jacobs, Janet. "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0E9C23E34AFB39E9&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D Cash flow from Dell lets Round Rock boost budget] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122215859/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0E9C23E34AFB39E9&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D |date=November 22, 2018 }}." ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]''. September 9, 1999. A1. Retrieved May 4, 2010. "Almost half the city's general fund comes from sales tax at Dell's headquarters,"</ref>
Dell previously had its headquarters in the [[Arboretum (Austin, Texas)|Arboretum]] complex in northern Austin, Texas.<ref name="PopeDis">Pope, Kyle. "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAD8B0BE43127B9&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D Dell chief disbands project]." ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]''. February 25, 1990. A1. Retrieved May 4, 2010. "Dell is headquartered at the Arboretum complex in North Austin and employs about 1200 people."</ref><ref>''[[PC Magazine]]''. Volume 12, 1993. [https://books.google.com/books?id=S4fyAAAAMAAJ&q=Dell+%22Austin,+TX%22 175]. "Dell Computer Corp., 9505 Arboretum Blvd., Austin, TX 78759."</ref> In 1989 Dell occupied {{convert|127000|sqft|sqm}} in the Arboretum complex.<ref>Pope, Kyle. "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAD893F735FE53E&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D Dell plans expansion and move High-tech firm inks Braker Center deal]." ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]''. January 24, 1989. B7. Retrieved May 4, 2010. "Dell occupies 127000 square feet of office space at the Arboretum."</ref> In 1990, Dell had 1,200 employees in its headquarters.<ref name="PopeDis"/> In 1993, Dell submitted a document to Round Rock officials, titled "Dell Computer Corporate Headquarters, Round Rock, Texas, May 1993 Schematic Design." Despite the filing, during that year the company said that it was not going to move its headquarters.<ref>Ladendorf, Kirk and R. Michelle Breyer. "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAD91C285B1FB96&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D Despite document, Dell says no headquarters move planned]." ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]''. May 22, 1993. E1. Retrieved May 4, 2010.</ref> In 1994, Dell announced that it was moving most of its employees out of the Arboretum, but that it was going to continue to occupy the top floor of the Arboretum and that the company's official headquarters address would continue to be the Arboretum. The top floor continued to hold Dell's board room, demonstration center, and visitor meeting room. Less than one month prior to August 29, 1994, Dell moved 1,100 customer support and telephone sales employees to Round Rock.<ref>"[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAD95EA4EAA0C35&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D Dell to keep top floor at Arboretum offices]." ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]''. August 29, 1994. C1. Retrieved May 4, 2010.</ref> Dell's lease in the Arboretum had been scheduled to expire in 1994.<ref>Ladendorf, Kirk and Mike Todd. "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EAD904A92559062&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D Dell seeks space for expansion Firm makes proposal for tax abatements]." ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]''. November 5, 1992. B4. Retrieved May 4, 2010. "The lease on the company's headquarters building at the Arboretum expires in 1994."</ref>
[[File:Dell diamond2.jpg|thumb|left|The company sponsors [[Dell Diamond]], the home stadium of the [[Round Rock Express]], the AAA [[minor league baseball]] affiliate of the [[Texas Rangers (baseball)|Texas Rangers]] major league baseball team.]]
By 1996, Dell was moving its headquarters to Round Rock.<ref name="HQMoving">Ladendorf, Kirk. "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EA25E61F00C5BA3&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D Dell expanding in Central Texas]." ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]''. October 1, 1996. A1. Retrieved May 4, 2010.</ref> As of January 1996, 3,500 people still worked at the current Dell headquarters. One building of the Round Rock headquarters, Round Rock 3, had space for 6,400 employees and was scheduled to be completed in November 1996.<ref>Mahoney, Jerry. "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EA213C608C5F711&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D Dell's success is Round Rock's gain]." ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]''. January 9, 1996. A1. Retrieved May 4, 2010. "Dell will have room for 6400 employees when it finishes Round Rock 3 in November. The company, which still employs about 3500 people at its headquarters."</ref> In 1998 Dell announced that it was going to add two buildings to its Round Rock complex, adding {{convert|1600000|sqft|sqm}} of office space to the complex.<ref>Mahoney, Jerry. "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EA074DB8D81792F&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D Dell to expand its office complex]." ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]''. May 30, 1998. D1. Retrieved May 4, 2010.</ref>
In 2000, Dell announced that it would lease {{convert|80000|sqft|sqm}} of space in the [[Las Cimas]] office complex in [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]] [[Travis County, Texas]], between Austin and [[West Lake Hills]], to house the company's executive offices and corporate headquarters. 100 senior executives were scheduled to work in the building by the end of 2000.<ref>Pletz, John. "[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=AASB&p_theme=aasb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0E9B7EC401E73E0F&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D Dell moving executives closer to Austin]." ([https://web.archive.org/web/20121104024332/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-62107161.html Alternate link]) ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]''. May 9, 2000. A1. Retrieved May 4, 2010.</ref> In January 2001, the company leased the space in Las Cimas 2, located along [[Loop 360]]. Las Cimas 2 housed Dell's executives, the investment operations, and some corporate functions. Dell also had an option for {{convert|138000|sqft|sqm}} of space in Las Cimas 3.<ref name="Subleaselascimas">"[http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2002/03/04/daily46.html Dell seeks to sublease Las Cimas offices]." ''[[Austin Business Journal]]''. Friday March 8, 2002. Retrieved May 4, 2010.</ref> After a slowdown in business required reducing employees and production capacity, Dell decided to sublease its offices in two buildings in the Las Cimas office complex.<ref>Pletz, John. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20121104024344/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-120511547.html Article: Dell Leaders to Return to Round Rock, Texas, Campus.]" ''[[Austin American-Statesman]]''. March 8, 2002. Retrieved May 4, 2010.</ref> In 2002 Dell announced that it planned to sublease its space to another tenant; the company planned to move its headquarters back to Round Rock once a tenant was secured.<ref name="Subleaselascimas"/> By 2003, Dell moved its headquarters back to Round Rock. It leased all of Las Cimas I and II, with a total of {{convert|312000|sqft|sqm}}, for about a seven-year period after 2003. By that year roughly {{convert|100000|sqft|sqm}} of that space was absorbed by new subtenants.<ref>Hudgins, Matt. "[http://austin.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2003/05/12/story5.html Dell space taken]." ''[[Austin Business Journal]]''. Friday May 9, 2003. Retrieved May 4, 2010.</ref>
In 2008, Dell switched the power sources of the Round Rock headquarters to more environmentally friendly ones, with 60% of the total power coming from [[TXU Energy]] wind farms and 40% coming from the Austin Community Landfill gas-to-energy plant operated by [[Waste Management, Inc.]]<ref name="GreenHQ"/>
Dell facilities in the United States are located in Austin, Texas; [[Nashua, New Hampshire]]; [[Nashville, Tennessee]]; [[Oklahoma City]], Oklahoma; [[Peoria, Illinois]]; [[Hillsboro, Oregon]] (Portland area); [[Winston-Salem, North Carolina]]; [[Eden Prairie, Minnesota]] ([[Compellent|Dell Compellent]]); [[Bowling Green, Kentucky]]; [[Lincoln, Nebraska]]; and Miami, Florida. Facilities located abroad include [[Penang, Malaysia]]; [[Xiamen]], China; [[Bracknell]], UK; [[Manila, Philippines]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/careers/locations/default?c=in&l=en&s=corp |title=Dell Locations Corporate Web Site |publisher=.ap.dell.com |access-date=November 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080821060936/http://www1.ap.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/careers/locations/default?c=in&l=en&s=corp |archive-date=August 21, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Chennai, India]];<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.eetindia.co.in/ART_8800474316_1800007_NT_e19571eb.HTM |title=EET India article on Dell |publisher=Eetindia.co.in |access-date=November 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130709192722/http://www.eetindia.co.in/ART_8800474316_1800007_NT_e19571eb.HTM |archive-date=July 9, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Hyderabad, India]]; [[Noida, India]]; [[Hortolândia]] and [[Porto Alegre]], Brazil; [[Bratislava]], Slovakia; [[Łódź|Łódź, Poland]];<ref>{{cite news
| url = https://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/10/billionaires-2009-richest-people_Michael-Dell_WJOB.html
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090314034601/http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/10/billionaires-2009-richest-people_Michael-Dell_WJOB.html
| url-status = dead
| archive-date = March 14, 2009
| title = #25 Michael Dell
| work = The World's Billionaires 2009
| access-date = October 21, 2009
| quote = [Michael Dell] caused ire in Ireland after relocating factory to cheaper Poland.
| date = March 11, 2009}}</ref> Panama City, [[Panama]]; [[Dublin]] and [[Limerick]], Ireland; [[Casablanca]], Morocco and Montpellier, France.
The US and India are the only countries that have all Dell's business functions and provide support globally: research and development, manufacturing, finance, analysis, and customer care.<ref name="tech.fortune.cnn.com">{{cite news | url=http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/02/10/how-dell-conquered-india/ | publisher=CNN | title=How Dell conquered India | date=February 10, 2011 | access-date=February 11, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110212062631/http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2011/02/10/how-dell-conquered-india/ | archive-date=February 12, 2011 | url-status=dead}}</ref> Dell was recognized as "India's Most Desired Brand in 2023", as per TRA's Most Desired Brands report 2023.
===Manufacturing===
From its early beginnings, Dell operated as a pioneer in the "configure to order" approach to manufacturing—delivering individual PCs configured to customer specifications. In contrast, most PC manufacturers in those times delivered large orders to intermediaries on a quarterly basis.<ref>Dedrick, J. and Kraemer, K. L. (March 2007) [https://web.archive.org/web/20120427221617/http://pcic.merage.uci.edu/papers/2007/MarketMaking.pdf "Market Making in the PC Industry"], Chapter 10, in Hamilton, Senauer and Petrovic (eds) ''The Market Makers: How Retailers are Reshaping the Global Economy''. Oxford University Press. {{ISBN|0199655871}}</ref>
To minimize the delay between purchase and delivery, Dell has a general policy of manufacturing its products close to its customers. This also allows for implementing a [[just-in-time (business)|just-in-time]] (JIT) manufacturing approach, which minimizes [[inventory]] costs. Low inventory is another signature of the Dell business model—a critical consideration in an industry where components depreciate very rapidly.<ref>Kraemer, K. L. and Dedrick, J. (2002) [https://web.archive.org/web/20120427221617/http://crito.uci.edu/papers/2002/dell.pdf "Dell Computer: Organization of a Global Production Network"], Center for Research on Information Technology and Organizations.</ref>
Dell's manufacturing process covers assembly, software installation, functional testing (including "burn-in"), and quality control. Throughout most of the company's history, Dell manufactured desktop machines in-house and contracted out the manufacturing of base notebooks for configuration in-house.<ref>Company Annual Reports, various years.</ref> The company's approach has changed, as cited in the 2006 Annual Report, which states, "We are continuing to expand our use of original design manufacturing partnerships and manufacturing outsourcing relationships." ''The Wall Street Journal'' reported in September 2008 that "Dell has approached contract computer manufacturers with offers to sell" their plants.<ref>Scheck, J: "Dell Plans to Sell Factories in Effort to Cut Costs", ''The Wall Street Journal'', September 5, 2008.</ref> By the late 2000s, Dell's "configure to order" approach of manufacturing—delivering individual PCs configured to customer specifications from its US facilities was no longer as efficient or competitive with high-volume Asian contract manufacturers as PCs became powerful low-cost commodities.<ref name="statesman1"/>
Assembly of desktop computers for the North American market formerly took place at Dell plants in Austin, Texas, (original ___location) and [[Lebanon, Tennessee]], (opened in 1999), which were closed in 2008 and early 2009, respectively. The plant in [[Winston-Salem, North Carolina]], opened in 2005 but ceased operations in November 2010.<ref name="theregister.co.uk" /><ref name="bizjournals.com" /> Most of the work that used to take place in Dell's US plants was transferred to contract manufacturers in Asia and Mexico, or some of Dell's own factories overseas. The [[Miami, Florida]], facility of its Alienware subsidiary remains in operation, while Dell continues to produce its servers (its most profitable products) in Austin, Texas.<ref name="statesman1" />
Dell assembled computers for the [[Europe, the Middle East and Africa|EMEA]] market at the [[Limerick]] facility in the Republic of Ireland, and once employed about 4,500 people in that country. Dell began manufacturing in Limerick in 1991 and went on to become Ireland's largest exporter of goods and its second-largest company and foreign investor. On January 8, 2009, Dell announced that it would move all Dell manufacturing in Limerick to Dell's new plant in the Polish city of [[Łódź]] by January 2010.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130116235908/http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0108/Dell.html 1,900 jobs lost at Dell in Limerick]. RTÉ New Report — January 8, 2009</ref> [[European Union]] officials said they would investigate a €52.7million aid package the Polish government used to attract Dell away from Ireland.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20130116235921/http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0108/Dell1.html EU to investigate Dell aid package]. RTÉ New Report — January 8, 2009</ref> European Manufacturing Facility 1 (EMF1, opened in 1990) and EMF3 form part of the [[Raheen Industrial Estate]] near Limerick. EMF2 (previously a [[Wang Laboratories|Wang]] facility, later occupied by [[Flextronics]], situated in Castletroy) closed in 2002,{{Citation needed|date=September 2007}} and Dell Inc. has consolidated production into EMF3 (EMF1 now{{When|date=January 2010}} contains only offices).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.blythe.org/nytransfer-subs/2000ire/IEP:_The_IE_Professional_No.250_5-17|title=Dell reorganises Irish operations|access-date=November 17, 2011|work=The IE Professional|issue=250|date=May 17, 2000|url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928070625/http://www.blythe.org/nytransfer-subs/2000ire/IEP:_The_IE_Professional_No.250_5-17 |archive-date=September 28, 2011}}</ref> Subsidies from the Polish government did keep Dell for a long time.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.industryweek.com/articles/dell_to_sell_polish_plant_to_taiwans_foxconn_20540.aspx|title=Dell to Sell Polish Plant to Taiwan's Foxconn|agency=Agence France-Presse|publisher=IndustryWeek|access-date=May 8, 2012|archive-date=March 24, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324221512/http://www.industryweek.com/articles/dell_to_sell_polish_plant_to_taiwans_foxconn_20540.aspx|url-status=dead}}</ref> After ending assembly in the Limerick plant the [[Cherrywood, Dublin|Cherrywood]] Technology Campus in Dublin was the largest Dell office in the republic with over 1200 people in sales (mainly UK & Ireland), support (enterprise support for EMEA) and research and development for cloud computing, but no more manufacturing except<ref name="ida">IDA Ireland website on [http://www.idaireland.com/dell/ Dell] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130110164148/http://www.idaireland.com/dell/ |date=January 10, 2013 }}, visited October 12, 2012</ref> Dell's Alienware subsidiary, which manufactures PCs in an Athlone, Ireland, plant. Whether this facility will remain in Ireland is not certain.<ref>RTE News: [http://www.rte.ie/news/2009/0325/dell-business.html Fears for 70 jobs at Athlone's Alienware facility], March 25, 2009. Checked: October 12, 2012</ref> Dell started production at EMF4 in Łódź, Poland, in late 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www1.euro.Dell.com/content/topics/topic.aspx/emea/corporate/pressoffice/2006/uk/en/2006_09_18_brk_000?c=uk&l=en&s=corp |title=Dell Announces Manufacturing Facility In Poland To Serve Growing Central And Eastern European Markets |website=euro.dell.com |access-date=November 17, 2011}}</ref>
Dell moved desktop, notebook and PowerEdge server manufacturing for the South American market from the [[Eldorado do Sul, Brazil|Eldorado do Sul]] plant opened in 1999, to a new plant in [[Hortolândia|Hortolândia, Brazil]], in 2007.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080219213123/http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/pressoffice/en/2001/2001_02_19_pa_000?c=us&l=en&s=corp Dell Starts Manufacturing Servers in Brazil]. Dell, Porto Alegre, Brazil, February 19, 2001</ref>
==Products==
===Scope and brands===
[[File:Dell wiki.JPG|thumb|Dell's tagline "Yours is Here", as seen at their [[SM Mall of Asia|Mall of Asia]] branch in [[Pasay]], Philippines]]
<!-- Commented out: [[File:Adamo by Dell Spring 2009.JPG|thumb|upright|Dell's 2009 marketing campaign features its [[subnotebook]] [[Dell Adamo|Adamo]] brand.]] -->
The corporation markets specific brand names to different [[market segment]]s.
Its Business/Corporate class includes:
* [[Dell OptiPlex|OptiPlex]] (office [[desktop computer]] systems)
* [[Dell Dimension|Dimension]] (home desktop computer systems)
* [[Dell Vostro|Vostro]] (office/small business desktop and [[laptop|notebook]] systems)
* [[Dell n Series|n Series]] (desktop and notebook computers shipped with [[Linux]] or [[FreeDOS]] installed)
* [[Dell Latitude|Latitude]] (business-focused notebooks)
* [[Dell Precision|Precision]] ([[Computer workstation|workstation]] systems and high-performance "Mobile Workstation" notebooks),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.Dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/precn_n?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd |title=Dell Precision Open-Source Workstations with Linux |publisher=Dell.com |access-date=November 17, 2011 |archive-date=August 10, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100810163355/http://www.dell.com/content/products/features.aspx/precn_n?c=us&cs=04&l=en&s=bsd |url-status=dead}}</ref>
* [[Dell PowerEdge|PowerEdge]] (business servers)
* [[Dell PowerVault|PowerVault]] (direct-attach and [[network-attached storage]])
* [[Force10]] ([[network switch]]es)
* [[Dell PowerConnect|PowerConnect]] ([[network switch]]es)
* [[Dell Compellent]] ([[storage area network]]s)
* [[EqualLogic]] (enterprise class [[iSCSI]] [[Storage area network|SANs]])
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20130123095422/http://content.dell.com/us/en/healthcare/healthcare-electronic-medical-records.aspx Dell EMR] (electronic medical records)
Dell's Home Office/Consumer class includes:
* [[Dell Inspiron|Inspiron]] (medium-range desktop and notebook computers)
<!-- * [[Dell Studio|Studio]] (mainstream desktop and laptop computers) -->
* [[Dell XPS|XPS]] (high-end desktop and notebook computers)
<!-- * [[Dell Studio XPS|Studio XPS]] (high-end design-focus of XPS systems and extreme multimedia capability) -->
* [[Dell G Series|G Series]] (high/medium-performance gaming laptops)
* [[Alienware]] (high-performance gaming systems)
<!-- * [[Dell Adamo|Adamo]] (high-end luxury laptop) -->
* [[Dell Venue|Venue]] (Tablets Android / Windows)
Dell's Peripherals class includes [[Keydrive|USB keydrives]], [[LCD television]]s, and [[printer (computing)|printers]]; Dell monitors includes [[LCD|LCD TVs]], [[Plasma display|plasma TVs]] and [[Video projector|projectors]] for [[HDTV]] and [[Computer display|monitors]]. Dell UltraSharp is further a high-end brand of monitors.
Dell service and support brands include the ''Dell Solution Station'' (extended domestic support services, previously "Dell on Call"), ''[[Dell Support Center]]'' (extended support services abroad), ''Dell Business Support'' (a commercial service-contract that provides an industry-certified technician with a lower call-volume than in normal queues), ''Dell Everdream Desktop Management'' ("[[Software as a service]]" [[remote-desktop management]], originally a SaaS company founded by [[Elon Musk]]'s cousin, [[Lyndon Rive]], which Dell bought in 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/blog/2010/12/family-joins-colleagues-for-teslas-musk.html|title=Lyndon Rive, Elon Musk: Cousins, partners|date=December 28, 2010|work=Silicon Valley Business Journal}}</ref>), and ''Your Tech Team'' (a support-queue available to home users who purchased their systems either through Dell's website or through Dell phone-centers).
Discontinued products and brands include [[Dell Axim|Axim]] ([[Personal digital assistant|PDA]]; discontinued April 9, 2007),<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080720061330/http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/04/11/11397.aspx Goodbye, Axim]. Direct2Dell.com. April 11, 2007</ref> [[Dell Dimension|Dimension]] (home and small office desktop computers; discontinued July 2007), [[Dell Digital Jukebox]] (MP3 player; discontinued August 2006), Dell PowerApp (application-based servers), Dell Optiplex (desktop and tower computers previously supported to run server and desktop operating systems), Dell Unix (an [[UNIX System V|SVR4]]-based Unix operating system for its Dell-branded PCs and workstations; discontinued in 1993) and Dell Mobile Connect(Windows Mobile application; discontinued July 31, 2022).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=2022-07-25 |title=Dell is getting out of the phone syncing game |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/25/23278047/dell-mobile-connect-discontinued-2023 |access-date=2022-07-27 |website=The Verge |language=en}}</ref>
==Security==
===Self-signed root certificate===
In November 2015, it emerged that several Dell computers had shipped with an identical pre-installed [[root certificate]] known as "eDellRoot".<ref name=ars-selfsigned>{{cite web|title=Dell does a Superfish, ships PCs with easily cloneable root certificates|url=https://arstechnica.com/security/2015/11/dell-does-superfish-ships-pcs-with-self-signed-root-certificates/|website=Ars Technica|date=November 23, 2015 |publisher=Conde Nast|access-date=November 25, 2015}}</ref> This raised such security risks as attackers impersonating [[HTTPS]]-protected websites such as [[Google]] and [[Bank of America]] and malware being signed with the certificate to bypass Microsoft software filtering.<ref name=ars-selfsigned /> Dell apologized and offered a removal tool.<ref name=ars-removal>{{cite web|title=Dell apologizes for HTTPS certificate fiasco, provides removal tool|url=https://arstechnica.com/security/2015/11/dell-apologizes-for-https-certificate-fiasco-provides-removal-tool/|website=Ars Technica|date=November 24, 2015 |publisher=Conde Nast|access-date=November 25, 2015}}</ref>
===Dell Foundation Services===
Also in November 2015, a researcher discovered that customers with diagnostic program Dell Foundation Services could be digitally tracked using the unique service tag number assigned to them by the program.<ref name=ars-dfs>{{cite web|title=PCs running Dell support app can be uniquely ID'd by snoops and scammers|url=https://arstechnica.com/security/2015/11/pcs-running-dell-support-app-can-be-uniquely-idd-by-snoops-and-scammers/|website=Ars Technica|date=November 25, 2015 |publisher=Conde Nast|access-date=November 25, 2015}}</ref> This was possible even if a customer enabled [[private browsing]] and deleted their [[browser cookie]]s.<ref name=ars-dfs /> ''[[Ars Technica]]'' recommended that Dell customers uninstall the program until the issue was addressed.<ref name=ars-dfs />
==Commercial aspects==
===Marketing===
Dell advertisements have appeared in several types of media including television, the Internet, magazines, [[Mail-order catalog|catalogs]], and newspapers. Some of Dell Inc's marketing strategies include lowering prices at all times of the year, free bonus products (such as Dell printers), and free shipping to encourage more sales and stave off competitors. In 2006, Dell cut its prices in an effort to maintain its 19.2% market share. This also cut profit margins by more than half, from 8.7 to 4.3 percent. To maintain its low prices, Dell continues to accept most purchases of its products via the Internet and through the telephone network, and to move its customer-care division to India and [[El Salvador]].<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090105132801/http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/pressoffice/en/2007/2007_03_20_ndi_000?c=us&l=en&s=corp Michael Dell Sees India Playing a Key Role in the Online World]. Dell, New Delhi, India, March 20, 2007.</ref>
A popular United States television and print ad campaign in the early 2000s featured the actor [[Ben Curtis (actor)|Ben Curtis]] playing the part of "Steven", a lightly mischievous blond-haired youth who came to the assistance of bereft computer purchasers. Each television advertisement usually ended with Steven's catch-phrase: "Dude, you're gettin' a Dell!"<ref name=SlateDell>{{cite web|last1=Walker|first1=Rob|title=The Mystery of the Dell Dude|url=http://www.slate.com/articles/business/ad_report_card/2002/06/the_mystery_of_the_dell_dude.html|website=slate.com|date=June 3, 2002 |publisher=Slate Magazine|access-date=October 14, 2015}}</ref>
A subsequent advertising campaign featured [[intern]]s at Dell headquarters (with Curtis' character appearing in a small cameo at the end of one of the first commercials in this particular campaign).
In 2007, Dell switched advertising agencies in the US from [[BBDO]] to [[Working Mother]] Media. In July 2007, Dell released new advertising created by Working Mother to support the Inspiron and XPS lines. The ads featured music from the [[The Flaming Lips|Flaming Lips]] and [[Devo]] who re-formed especially to record the song in the ad "Work it Out". Also in 2007, Dell began using the slogan "Yours is here" to say that it customizes computers to fit customers' requirements.<ref name="engadget">{{cite web|url=https://www.engadget.com/2007/11/21/dell-launches-star-studded-yours-is-here-ad-campaign/|title=Dell launches star-studded "Yours Is Here" ad campaign|work=[[Engadget]]|date=November 21, 2007 |access-date=July 14, 2010}}</ref>
Beginning in 2011, Dell began hosting a conference in Austin, Texas, at the Austin Convention Center titled "Dell World". The event featured new technology and services provided by Dell and Dell's partners. In 2011, the event was held October 12–14.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dell World 2011 |publisher=Dell |access-date=December 16, 2013 |url=http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/uscorp1/corp-comm/pk-dellworld-2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131124094728/http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/uscorp1/corp-comm/pk-dellworld-2011 |archive-date=November 24, 2013}}</ref> In 2012, the event was held December 11–13.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dell World 2012 Press Kit |publisher=Dell |access-date=December 16, 2013 |url=http://www.dell.com/learn/us/en/uscorp1/secure/2012-dell-world-press |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130517115347/http://www.dell.com/Learn/us/en/uscorp1/secure/2012-dell-world-press |archive-date=May 17, 2013}}</ref> In 2013, the event was held December 11–13.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dell World 2013 |publisher=Dell |access-date=December 16, 2013 |url=https://dellworld2013.activeevents.com/portal/newreg.ww |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131217050630/https://dellworld2013.activeevents.com/portal/newreg.ww |archive-date=December 17, 2013}}</ref> In 2014, the event was held November 4–6.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/techflash/2014/09/dell-world-speaker-schedule-without-star-keynote.html|title=Dell World speaker schedule without star keynote; panel to open show |website=bizjournals.com|access-date=August 18, 2018}}</ref>
====
In late 2007, Dell Inc. announced that it planned to expand its program to [[value-added reseller]]s (VARs), giving it the official name of "Dell Partner Direct" and a new Website.<ref>{{cite web | title = Partner Direct | publisher=Dell | access-date =June 13, 2011 | url = http://partner.Dell.com/}}</ref>
Dell India has started Online Ecommerce website<ref>{{cite news| url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-06-03/news/39714982_1_dell-india-consumer-products-vostro | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130903202220/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2013-06-03/news/39714982_1_dell-india-consumer-products-vostro | url-status=dead | archive-date=September 3, 2013 | work=The Times of India | title=Dell enables online purchases through DESA platform | date=June 3, 2013}}</ref> with its Dell Partner www.compuindia.com GNG Electronics Pvt Ltd<ref>[http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/info-tech/dell-launches-online-estore-dell-express-ship-affiliate/article4777976.ece "Dell launches online e-store Dell Express Ship Affiliate"]. ''The Hindu''. June 3, 2013</ref> termed as Dell Express Ship Affiliate(DESA).
The main objective was to reduce the delivery time. Customers who visit Dell India official site are given the option to buy online which then will be redirected to Dell affiliate website compuindia.com.<ref name="tech.fortune.cnn.com"/>
====Global
Dell also operates a captive analytics division which supports pricing, web analytics, and supply chain operations. DGA operates as a single, centralized entity with a global view of Dell's business activities. The firm supports over 500 internal customers worldwide and has created a quantified impact of over $500 million.{{citation needed|date=July 2016}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Parker |date=2023-05-08 |title=Dell Global Analytics (DGA) Empowering Data-Driven Insights for Global Success |url=https://dellmenia.com/dell-global-analytics/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230508034751/https://dellmenia.com/dell-global-analytics/ |archive-date=May 8, 2023 |access-date=2023-05-08 |website=Dell Menia }}</ref>
====Criticisms of marketing of laptop security====
In 2008, Dell received press coverage over its claim of having the world's most secure laptops, specifically, its Latitude D630 and Latitude D830.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2220173/dell-scolded-laptop-ads |title=Dell Scolded for Laptop Ads |publisher=Vnunet.com |author=Nichols, Shaun |date=June 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023034729/http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2220173/dell-scolded-laptop-ads |archive-date=October 23, 2008}}</ref> At Lenovo's request, the (US) National Advertising Division (NAD) evaluated the claim, and reported that Dell did not have enough evidence to support it.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://digitaldaily.allthingsd.com/20080623/dont-worry-Dell-your-laptops-are-still-the-worlds-ugliest/ |title=Dell's Claim as World's Most Secure Commercial Laptops? |publisher=Digitaldaily.allthingsd.com |date=June 23, 2008 |access-date=November 17, 2011}}</ref>
==
Dell first opened their retail stores in India.<ref name="tech.fortune.cnn.com"/>
====United States====
In the early 1990s, Dell sold its products through [[Best Buy]], [[Costco]] and [[Sam's Club]] stores in the United States. Dell stopped this practice in 1994, citing low profit margins on the business, exclusively distributing through a direct-sales model for the next decade. In 2003, Dell briefly sold products in [[Sears]] stores in the US. In 2007, Dell started shipping its products to major retailers in the US once again, starting with [[Sam's Club]] and [[Walmart|Wal-Mart]]. [[Staples Inc.|Staples]], the largest office-supply retailer in the US, and Best Buy, the largest electronics retailer in the US, became Dell retail partners later that same year.
=====Kiosks=====
Starting in 2002, Dell opened [[kiosk]] locations in the United States to allow customers to examine products before buying them directly from the company. Starting in 2005, Dell expanded [[kiosk]] locations to include shopping malls across Australia, Canada, Singapore and Hong Kong. On January 30, 2008, Dell announced it would shut down all 140 kiosks in the US due to expansion into retail stores.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/press-releases/2008-01-30-00-direct-retail.aspx |title=Dell Focuses on Direct and Retail Business, Closes Kiosks in U.S |publisher=Content.dell.com |date=January 30, 2008 |access-date=November 17, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111113024054/http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/press-releases/2008-01-30-00-direct-retail.aspx |archive-date=November 13, 2011}}</ref> By June 3, 2010, Dell had also shut down all of its mall kiosks in Australia.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gizmodo.com.au/2010/04/dell-closing-down-their-retail-kiosks-across-the-country/|title=Dell Closing Down Their Retail Kiosks Across The Country |publisher=gizmodo.com |date=April 1, 2010 |access-date=November 18, 2011}}</ref>
====Retail stores====
{{As of|2008|2|alt=As of the end of February 2008}}, Dell products shipped to one of the largest office supply retailers in Canada, [[Staples Business Depot]]. In April 2008, [[Future Shop]] and [[Best Buy]] began carrying a subset of Dell products, such as certain desktops, laptops, printers, and monitors.
Since some shoppers in certain markets show reluctance to purchase technological products through the phone or the Internet, Dell has looked into opening retail operations in some countries in Central Europe and Russia. In April 2007, Dell opened a retail store in [[Budapest]]. In October of the same year, Dell opened a retail store in Moscow.
In the UK, [[HMV]]'s flagship [[Trocadero (London)|Trocadero]] store has sold Dell XPS PCs since December 2007. From January 2008 the UK stores of [[DSG International (retailer)|DSGi]] have sold Dell products (in particular, through [[Currys]] and [[PC World (retailer)|PC World]] stores). As of 2008, the large supermarket chain [[Tesco]] has sold Dell laptops and desktops in outlets throughout the UK.
In May 2008, Dell reached an agreement with the office supply chain, [[Officeworks]] (part of [[Coles Group]]), to stock a few modified models in the Inspiron desktop and notebook range. These models have slightly different model numbers, but almost replicate the ones available from the Dell Store. Dell continued its retail push in the Australian market with its partnership with Harris Technology (another part of Coles Group) in November of the same year. In addition, Dell expanded its retail distributions in Australia through an agreement with the discount electrical retailer, [[The Good Guys (Australasia)|The Good Guys]], known for "Slashing Prices". Dell agreed to distribute a variety of makes of both desktops and notebooks, including [[Studio]] and [[Dell XPS|XPS]] systems in late 2008. Dell and [[Dick Smith Electronics]] (owned by [[Woolworths Limited]]) reached an agreement to expand within Dick Smith's 400 stores throughout Australia and New Zealand in May 2009 (1 year since Officeworks—owned by Coles Group—reached a deal). The retailer has agreed to distribute a variety of [[Inspiron]] and [[Studio]] notebooks, with minimal Studio desktops from the Dell range. {{As of|2009}}, Dell continues to run and operate its various kiosks in 18 shopping centers throughout Australia. On March 31, 2010, Dell announced to Australian Kiosk employees that they were shutting down the Australian/New Zealand Dell kiosk program.
In Germany, Dell is selling selected smartphones and notebooks via [[Media Markt]] and Saturn, as well as some shopping websites.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.netzwelt.de/news/87864-discounter-check-dell-venue-pro-media-markt.html |title=Dell Venue Pro offered by Media Markt |publisher=Netzwelt.de |date=February 22, 1999 |access-date=November 17, 2011}}</ref>
===Competition===
Dell's major competitors include [[Lenovo]], [[Hewlett-Packard]] (HP), [[Hasee]], [[Acer Inc.|Acer]], [[Fujitsu]], [[Toshiba]], [[Gateway, Inc.|Gateway]], [[Sony]], [[Asus]], [[Micro-Star International|MSI]], [[Panasonic]], [[Samsung]] and [[Apple Inc.|Apple]]. Dell and its subsidiary, Alienware, compete in the enthusiast market against AVADirect, [[Falcon Northwest]], [[VoodooPC]] (a subsidiary of HP), and other manufacturers. In the second quarter of 2006, Dell had between 18% and 19% share of the worldwide personal computer market, compared to HP with roughly 15%.
{{As of|2006|alt=In late 2006}}, Dell lost its lead in the PC business to Hewlett-Packard. Both [[Gartner]] and [[International Data Corporation|IDC]] estimated that in the third quarter of 2006, HP shipped more units<ref>Kirdahy, Matthew (October 19, 2006) [https://www.forbes.com/2006/10/19/dell-computer-earnings-markets-equity-cx_mk_1019markets07.html]. Forbes.</ref> worldwide than Dell did. Dell's 3.6% growth paled in comparison to HP's 15% growth during the same period. The problem got worse in the fourth quarter, when Gartner estimated<ref>{{cite web |url=http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070117006106&newsLang=en |title=Gartner Says Hewlett-Packard Takes Clear Lead in Fourth Quarter Worldwide PC Shipments and Creates a Virtual Tie with Dell for 2006 Year-End Results |publisher=Business Wire |date=January 17, 2007 |access-date=June 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721195555/http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20070117006106&newsLang=en |archive-date=July 21, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> that Dell PC shipments declined 8.9% (versus HP's 23.9% growth). As a result, at the end of 2006 Dell's overall PC market share stood at 13.9% (versus HP's 17.4%).
IDC reported that Dell lost more server market share than any of the top four competitors in that arena. IDC's Q4 2006 estimates show Dell's share of the server market at 8.1%, down from 9.5% in the previous year. This represents an 8.8% loss year-over-year, primarily to competitors EMC and IBM. As of 2021, Dell is the third-largest PC manufacturer after Lenovo and HP.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Canalys Newsroom - Global PC shipments pass 340 million in 2021 and 2022 is set to be even stronger |url=https://canalys.com/newsroom/global-pc-market-Q4-2021 |access-date=2022-05-27 |website=canalys.com |language=en}}</ref>
===Partnership with EMC===
In 2001, Dell and EMC entered into a partnership whereby both companies jointly design products, and Dell provided support for certain EMC products including midrange storage systems, such as [[fibre channel]] and [[iSCSI]] [[storage area network]]s. The relationship also promotes and sells OEM versions of backup, recovery, replication and archiving software.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.emc.com/about/news/press/us/2001/20011022-1125.htm | title=Dell, EMC Sign Multi-Billion-Dollar Enterprise Storage Agreement | publisher=[[Dell EMC]] | date=October 22, 2001}}</ref> On December 9, 2008, Dell and EMC announced the multi-year extension, through 2013, of the strategic partnership with EMC. In addition, Dell expanded its product lineup by adding the EMC Celerra NX4 storage system to the portfolio of Dell/EMC family of networked storage systems and partnered on a new line of [[data deduplication]] products as part of its TierDisk family of [[data storage device]]s.<ref>{{cite press release | url=https://www.emc.com/about/news/press/2008/20081209-01.htm |title=Dell, EMC Extend and Expand Strategic Alliance | publisher=[[Dell EMC]] | date=December 9, 2008}}</ref>
On October 17, 2011, Dell discontinued reselling all EMC storage products, ending the partnership 2 years early.<ref>{{cite news | title=Dell, EMC End Storage Reseller Partnership Two Years Early | url=http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Data-Storage/Dell-EMC-End-Storage-Reseller-Partnership-Two-Years-Early-705362/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730100730/http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Data-Storage/Dell-EMC-End-Storage-Reseller-Partnership-Two-Years-Early-705362/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=July 30, 2012 | work=EWeek | date=October 17, 2011 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | title=Dell ends 10-year reseller relationship with EMC | url=http://www.computerworld.com/article/2499048/data-center/dell-ends-10-year-reseller-relationship-with-emc.html | first=Lucas | last=Mearian | work=[[Computerworld]] | date=October 17, 2011 | access-date=July 3, 2018 | archive-date=July 4, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180704034559/https://www.computerworld.com/article/2499048/data-center/dell-ends-10-year-reseller-relationship-with-emc.html | url-status=dead }}</ref> Later Dell would acquire and merge with EMC in the largest tech merger to date.
==Environmental record==
Dell committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from its global activities by 40% by 2015, with the 2008 fiscal year as the baseline year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/corp-comm/cr-earth-emissions.aspx |title=Walking the Walk on Greenhouse Gas Reduction |publisher=Dell|access-date=January 13, 2011}}</ref> It is listed in [[Greenpeace]]'s Guide to Greener Electronics that scores leading electronics manufacturers according to their policies on sustainability, [[climate and energy]] and how green their products are. In November 2011, Dell ranked 2nd out of 15 listed electronics makers (increasing its score to 5.1 from 4.9, which it gained in the previous ranking from October 2010).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/climate-change/cool-it/Guide-to-Greener-Electronics/ |title=Guide to Greener Electronics |publisher=Greenpeace International |access-date=November 14, 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111112022636/http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/climate-change/cool-it/Guide-to-Greener-Electronics/ |archive-date=November 12, 2011}}</ref>
Dell was the first company to publicly state a timeline for the elimination of toxic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs), which it planned to phase out by the end of 2009. It revised this commitment and now aims to remove toxics by the end of 2011 but only in its computing products.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/toxics/2010/version16/Ranking%20tables%20Oct%202010-Dell.pdf|title=Ranking tables – October 2010|publisher=Greenpeace International|access-date=January 13, 2011}}</ref>
In March 2010, Greenpeace activists protested at Dell offices in Bangalore, Amsterdam and Copenhagen calling for Dell's founder and CEO Michael Dell to "drop the toxics" and claiming that Dell's aspiration to be 'the greenest technology company on the planet'<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dell.com/content/topics/global.aspx/corp/pressoffice/en/2007/2007_06_05_lon_000?c=us&l=en |title=Dell Sets Goal Of Becoming Greenest Technology Company|publisher=Dell|access-date=January 13, 2011}}</ref> was "hypocritical".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/features/dell-breaking-promise-290310/ |title=Dell targeted for breaking promise on toxic chemicals|publisher=Greenpeace International|access-date=January 13, 2011}}</ref> Dell has launched its first products completely free of PVC and BFRs with the G-Series monitors (G2210 and G2410) in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/corp-comm/earth-greener-products-materials.aspx |title=Materials Use: What's Inside Our Products – And What's Not|publisher=Dell|access-date=August 16, 2010}}</ref>
In its 2012 report on progress relating to [[conflict minerals]], the [[Enough Project]] rated Dell the eighth-highest of 24 consumer electronics companies.<ref name='EnoughProject2012'>{{cite web | url = http://www.enoughproject.org/files/CorporateRankings2012.pdf | title = Taking Conflict Out of Consumer Gadgets: Company Rankings on Conflict Minerals 2012 | access-date = August 17, 2012 | last1 = Lezhnev | first1 = Sasha |author2=Alex Hellmuth | date = Aug 2012 | publisher = [[Enough Project]]}}</ref>
===Green initiatives===
Dell became the first company in the [[information technology industry]] to establish a product-[[recycling]] goal (in 2004) and completed the implementation of its global consumer recycling-program in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/1421.html|title=Dell First US Computer Company to Commit to a Global Recycling Goal|author=William Baue|publisher=SocialFunds|access-date=August 2, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070804185622/http://www.socialfunds.com/news/article.cgi/1421.html|archive-date=August 4, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref>
On February 6, 2007, the National Recycling Coalition awarded Dell its "Recycling Works" award for efforts to promote producer responsibility.<ref name="National Recycling Coalition">{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20100308223409/http://www.nrc-recycle.org/recyclingworkswinners.aspx Winners of NRC's "Recycling Works" Award]}}. National Recycling Coalition</ref>
On July 19, 2007, Dell announced that it had exceeded targets in working to achieve a multi-year goal of recovering 275 million pounds of computer equipment by 2009. The company reported the recovery of 78 million pounds (nearly 40,000 tons) of IT equipment from customers in 2006, a 93-percent increase over 2005; and 12.4% of the equipment Dell sold seven years earlier.<ref name="Dell Inc.">[https://web.archive.org/web/20130116172136/http://content.dell.com/us/en/corp/d/press-releases/2007-07-19-01-recycle.aspx Dell Ahead of Schedule to Achieve Multi-Year Product Recycling Goal]. Dell. July 19, 2007</ref>
On June 5, 2007, Dell set a goal of becoming the greenest technology company on Earth for the long term.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20070605005323/en/Dell-Sets-Goal-Greenest-Technology-Company|title=Dell Sets Goal of Becoming Greenest Technology Company|access-date=March 8, 2018|language=en}}</ref> The company launched a [[zero-carbon]] initiative that includes:
# reducing Dell's [[carbon intensity]] by 15 percent by 2012
# requiring primary suppliers to report carbon emissions data during quarterly business reviews
# partnering with customers to build the "greenest PC on the planet"
# expanding the company's carbon-offsetting program, "Plant a Tree for Me"
Dell reports its environmental performance in an annual [[Corporate Social Responsibility]] (CSR) Report that follows the [[Global Reporting Initiative]] (GRI) protocol. Dell's 2008 CSR report ranked as "Application Level B" as "checked by GRI".<ref>Dell 2008 Corporate Social Responsibility Report: [http://i.Dell.com/sites/content/corporate/environment/en/Documents/Dell%20Corporate%20Responsibility%20Report%202008.pdf Section "GRI Performance Indicators Index"], Dell Inc, 2008. Retrieved October 28, 2012</ref>
The company aims to reduce its external environmental impact through an energy-efficient evolution of products, and also reduce its direct operational impact through energy-efficiency programs.{{citation needed|date=February 2021}}
==Criticism==
{{See also|Lawsuits involving Dell Inc.}}
In the 1990s, Dell switched from using primarily [[ATX]] [[motherboard]]s and [[Computer power supply|PSU]] to using boards and power supplies with mechanically identical but differently wired connectors. This meant customers wishing to upgrade their hardware would have to replace parts with scarce Dell-compatible parts instead of commonly available parts. While motherboard power connections reverted to the industry standard in 2003, Dell remains secretive about their motherboard pin-outs for peripherals (such as MMC readers and power on/off switches and LEDs).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=339053 |title=Dell proprietary (non-standard) ATX design | Dell proprietary (non-standard) ATX design |publisher=InformIT |access-date=November 17, 2011}}</ref><ref>Mueller, Scott (2002). ''Upgrading and Repairing PCs'', 13ed, Indianapolis: Que Publications, {{ISBN|0-7897-2542-8}}, and subsequent editions</ref>
In 2005, complaints about Dell more than doubled to 1,533, after earnings grew 52% that year.<ref>{{cite web|title = It's Dell vs. the Dell Way|url = http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/feb2006/tc20060223_710372.htm|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060225065449/http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/feb2006/tc20060223_710372.htm|url-status = dead|archive-date = February 25, 2006|work=Bloomberg BusinessWeek|access-date=October 30, 2012}}</ref>
In 2006, Dell acknowledged that it had problems with customer service. Issues included call transfers<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20110417230232/http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/jun2006/tc20060612_046085.htm Dell Spiffs Up Its Service]. ''Business Week''. June 13, 2006</ref>
of more than 45% of calls and long wait times. Dell's [[blog]] detailed the response: "We're spending more than a $100 million—and a lot of blood, sweat, and tears of talented people—to fix this."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080704114048/http://www.direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2006/07/13/433.aspx No Magic Wands For Customer Service], The Official Dell blog. July 13, 2006</ref> Later in the year, the company increased its spending on customer service to $150 million.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2006/09/18/8386121/index.htm|publisher=CNN|date=September 18, 2006|access-date=May 1, 2010|title=Dell in the penalty box|first1=David|last1=Kirkpatrick}}</ref> Since 2018, Dell has seen significant increase in consumer satisfaction. Moreover, their customer service has been praised for its prompt and accurate answers to most questions, especially those directed to their social media support.<ref>[https://www.laptopmag.com/articles/dell-tech-support Dell Customer Service Rating 2018: Undercover Tech Support Review]. ''Laptop Mag''. April 24, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.notebookcheck.net/Notebook-Service-and-Support-Satisfaction-Survey-Who-has-the-best-laptop-service.299092.0.html Notebook Service and Support Satisfaction Survey – Who has the best laptop service? – NotebookCheck.net Reviews]. ''Notebookcheck''. April 15, 2018.</ref>
On August 17, 2007, Dell Inc. announced that after an internal investigation into its accounting practices it would restate and reduce earnings from 2003 through to the first quarter of 2007 by a total amount of between $50 million and $150 million, or 2 cents to 7 cents per share.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2007/aug/17/technology.news Dell pares past profits because of "massaging"]. The Guardian. August 17, 2007.</ref> The investigation, begun in November 2006, resulted from concerns raised by the [[U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission]] over some documents and information that Dell Inc. had submitted.<ref>{{cite news|first=Damon|last=Darlin|title=Dell Accounting Inquiry Made Formal by S.E.C|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/16/technology/16Dell.html |work=The New York Times |date=November 16, 2006|access-date=August 19, 2007}}</ref> It was alleged that Dell had not disclosed large exclusivity payments received from [[Intel]] for agreeing not to buy processors from rival manufacturer [[AMD]]. In 2010 Dell finally paid $100 million ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=100000000|start_year=2010|r=-5|fmt=eq}}) to settle the SEC's charges of fraud. Michael Dell and other executives also paid penalties and suffered other sanctions, without admitting or denying the charges.<ref>{{cite news |first=Kevin |last=Reed |title=Dell pays $100m penalty to settle accounting fraud charges |url=http://www.accountancyage.com/accountancyage/news/2266948/dell-pays-100m-penalty-settle |work=Accountancy Age |date=July 23, 2010 |access-date=July 23, 2010 |archive-date=July 25, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725104512/http://www.accountancyage.com/accountancyage/news/2266948/dell-pays-100m-penalty-settle |url-status=dead}}</ref>
In July 2009, Dell apologized after drawing the ire of the Taiwanese Consumer Protection Commission for twice refusing to honor a flood of orders against unusually low prices offered on its Taiwanese website. In the first instance, Dell offered a 19" LCD panel for $15. In the second instance, Dell offered its Latitude E4300 notebook at NT$18,558 (US$580), 70% lower than the usual price of NT$60,900 (US$1900). Concerning the E4300, rather than honor the discount taking a significant loss, the firm withdrew orders and offered a voucher of up to NT$20,000 (US$625) a customer in compensation. The consumer rights authorities in Taiwan fined Dell NT$1 million (US$31250) for customer rights infringements. Many consumers sued the firm for unfair compensation. A court in southern Taiwan ordered the firm to deliver 18 laptops and 76 flat-panel monitors to 31 consumers for NT$490,000 (US$15,120), less than a third of the normal price.<ref>[http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2010/06/07/2003474881 Dell loses Taiwan consumer lawsuit: report], June 7, 2010. Visited: October 28, 2012.</ref> The court said the event could hardly be regarded as mistakes, as the prestigious firm said the company mispriced its products twice on its Taiwanese website within 3 weeks.<ref>Taiwanese lawsuit: [http://jirs.judicial.gov.tw/FJUD/PrintFJUD03_0.aspx?jrecno=98%2c%e8%a8%b4%2c1009%2c20100531%2c2&v_court=TND+%e8%87%ba%e7%81%a3%e8%87%ba%e5%8d%97%e5%9c%b0%e6%96%b9%e6%b3%95%e9%99%a2&v_sys=V&jyear=98&jcase=%e8%a8%b4&jno=1009&jdate=990531&jcheck=2 full-text verdict]. Retrieved October 28, 2012</ref>
After Michael Dell made a $24.4 billion buyout bid in August 2013 ({{Inflation|index=US-GDP|value=24400000000|start_year=2013|r=-7|fmt=eq}}), activist shareholder [[Carl Icahn]] sued the company and its board in an attempt to derail the bid and promote his own forthcoming offer.<ref>{{cite news| title=Icahn sues Dell in latest attempt to foil buyout |author1=Poornima Gupta |author2=Edwin Chan | work=Reuters| url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-dell-icahn-idUSBRE97012520130802| date=August 1, 2013}}</ref>
In 2020, the [[Australian Strategic Policy Institute]] accused at least 82 major brands, including Dell, of being connected to forced [[Uyghurs|Uyghur]] labor in [[Xinjiang]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.aspi.org.au/report/uyghurs-sale |title=Uyghurs for Sale |publisher=[[Australian Strategic Policy Institute]] |first1=Vicky Xiuzhong |last1=Xu |first2=Danielle |last2=Cave |first3=James |last3=Leibold |first4=Kelsey |last4=Munro |first5=Nathan |last5=Ruser |date=March 1, 2020 |access-date=March 17, 2022 |archive-date=August 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824215335/https://www.aspi.org.au/report/uyghurs-sale |url-status=dead }}</ref>
==See also==
{{Portalbar|Companies|Telecommunication|Electronics|Technology}}
* [[Dell laptops]]
* [[List of computer system manufacturers]]
* [[List of Dell ownership activities]]
* [[Configurator]]
* [[Mass customization]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==Further reading==
{{Refbegin|35em}}
* [http://www.hoovers.com/Dell/--ID__13193--/free-co-factsheet.xhtml Dell Company Information]
* [[Michael Dell]], Catherine Fredman, ''Direct From Dell'', {{ISBN|0-88730-914-3}}
* {{cite news|first = Andy|last = Serwer|title = Dell's Midlife Crisis|work=[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]|pages = 63–66|date = November 28, 2005}}
* [https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/mostadmired/industries/industry_114.html Dell as the seventh-most-admired computer company in the USA], [https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/mostadmired/ eighth overall], [https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/globalmostadmired/top50/ and seventh worldwide]. ''[[Fortune (magazine)|Fortune]]'', ''Most Admired Companies 2006''. <!--This doesn't make sense... 8th overall but 7th worldwide?-->
* ''[[BBC News]]'', August 21, 2003, [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3169407.stm ''Dell makes grab for market share'']
* ''[[USA Today]]'', January 20, 2001, [https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2003-01-19-Dell-cover_x.htm ''Dell business model turns to muscle as rivals struggle'']
* ''[[Ubuntu Forums]]'', June 7, 2007, [https://web.archive.org/web/20091007032518/http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=465723&highlight=dellbuntu ''Dell's with Ubuntu called Dellbuntu'']
{{Refend}}
==External links==
{{Commons category|Dell}}
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