Company Overview

The story is ingrained in corporate legend: Michael Dell, student at the University of Texas at Austin, selling made-to-order computers from his dorm room and turning that model into a multi-billion-dollar corporation. Indeed, the company bearing Michael Dell’s name has become the foremost PC maker in the world, with Dell himself still retaining approximately 10 percent of the company. Dell Inc., formerly known as Dell Computer, is still one of the largest computer makers in the world. However, as the name change implies, Dell’s products reach far beyond just desktop and notebook PCs. Dell’s offerings include printers, storage devices, servers, accessories, and handheld computing devices. The company has aimed to increase its software business in recent years, acquiring ASAP Software in 2008 and MessageOne in 2008. Though direct sales remain at the heart of Dell’s business, a broader strategy has emerged since Michael Dell returned to lead the company in early 2007, after CEO Kevin Rollins resigned. Dell ranks 34th on the Fortune 500 (2007).