1990s - Into The Future

1990 Net Sales: $10,885,000,000. Employees: 105,000.

Robert W. Galvin steps down as chairman of Motorola on January 11 to become chairman of the executive committee. Exactly 50 years earlier, his father, Paul Galvin, invited him to perform his first assignment for the company - an address to its national sales convention.

The Government Electronics Group supplies radio equipment for the Galileo, Magellan, and Hubble Space Telescope missions. A new 8.5 pound portable Lightweight Satellite Terminal (LST) radio is introduced.

The Wireless In-Building Network (WIN) becomes available. It uses high frequency, short-range radio technology to provide wireless local area network communications among personal computers. Motorola also develops a cost-effective narrow band cellular technology, allowing a three-fold expansionof cellular system capacity.

The Communications Sector is divided into the Paging and Telepoint Systems Group and the Land Mobile Products Sector. Focusing on the growth of wireless technologies in these businesses, Land Mobile Products includes both two-way and data communications radio equipment and systems.

Motorola's third-generation 32-bit microprocessor, the 68040, is adopted by more than 100 customers for applications in their products. The "040" contains 1.2 million transistors, can process 20 million instructions per second, and is compatible with existing software developed for the 68000 family of microprocessors.

1991

Development of a cellular communications system designed to reach every point on the globe is underway. The system, call "Iridium", will be based on an array of 66 small satellites in low-Earth orbit.

The Motorola Museum of Electronics opens. Exhibits chronicle the closely intertwined evolution of Motorola and the electronics industry. "it is the voice of our past," says Robert W. Galvin. "But through the lessons and examples contained in this museum, we are better prepared to address our future."

Gary L. Tooker is elected vice chairman and chief executive officer. Christopher B. Galvin is elected president and chief operating officer. William J. Weisz becomes chairman.

To develop technologies and markets for non-voice wireless messaging and multi-media products Motorola forms the Messaging, Information and Media Sector.

History of Motorola
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