AIM alliance

A historical alliance between Apple, IBM, and Motorola

The Apple logo

The IBM logo

The Motorola logo

The AIM alliance was a strategic partnership formed in 1991 between Apple, IBM, and Motorola. The alliance aimed to create a new computing platform that would challenge the dominance of Microsoft Windows and Intel-based systems, often referred to as the "Wintel" monopoly.

Background

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the personal computer market was dominated by the Wintel architecture. Apple, IBM, and Motorola sought to create an alternative platform that would leverage their respective strengths in hardware and software development.

Apple

Apple was known for its innovative Macintosh computers, which featured a graphical user interface and were popular in creative industries. However, Apple faced challenges in expanding its market share against the growing popularity of Windows PCs.

IBM

IBM was a major player in the computer industry, known for its IBM PC and enterprise solutions. IBM was interested in diversifying its offerings and reducing its reliance on Intel processors.

Motorola

Motorola was a leading semiconductor manufacturer, known for its 68000 series of microprocessors, which were used in early Macintosh computers. Motorola sought to expand its presence in the personal computer market.

Objectives

The AIM alliance had several key objectives:

• Develop a new RISC-based microprocessor architecture, known as the PowerPC, to compete with Intel's x86 architecture.
• Create a new operating system, Taligent, that would offer advanced features and a modern user interface.
• Establish a new software development environment, Pink, to attract developers and support cross-platform applications.

PowerPC Architecture

The PowerPC architecture was a central component of the AIM alliance's strategy. It was based on the IBM POWER architecture and was designed to offer high performance and energy efficiency. The PowerPC was used in a variety of systems, including Apple's Power Macintosh line and IBM's RS/6000 workstations.

Taligent and Pink

Taligent was a joint venture between Apple and IBM, focused on developing a new object-oriented operating system. Pink was the code name for the software development environment that aimed to simplify application development and support cross-platform compatibility.

Impact and Legacy

The AIM alliance had a significant impact on the computer industry, particularly in the development of the PowerPC architecture. While the alliance did not achieve all of its original goals, it influenced the design of future computing systems and contributed to the diversification of the personal computer market.

Related pages

• Apple Inc.
• IBM
• Motorola
• PowerPC
• Taligent

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