Technology has seeped into nearly every aspect of modern life, from the food we eat to the ways we communicate. Consequently, telecommunications and technology coprorations have gained huge power over the past two decades. Cable companies bicker with telephone monopolies over the internet; customer support for ubiquitous laptop computers is offshored from Silicon Valley to Bangalore; obsolete electronics pile up in developing world landfills, exposing children to toxic metals; and multinationals tinker with the technology of nature to make a tomato that doesn't spoil on a grocery shelf. Ubiquity, especially when it melds into the background of daily life, is perhaps the most powerful tool of corporate power.
Nokia, based in Helsinki, Finland, is a global leader in telecommunications and the world’s largest mobile phone manufacturer. While it maintains several manufacturing units in Europe and the US, Nokia is shifting some of its production to Southeast Asia, Latin America and Central and Eastern Europe in order to keep production costs low and margins and profits high.
Motorola is the second largest maker of wireless handsets after global leader Nokia. After its spin-off of its semiconductor unit, Motorola reorganized to focus on enterprise mobility, mobile devices, and home and networks mobility. It also supplies wireless infrastructure equipment such as cellular transmission base stations, amplifiers, and servers. In 2006, it had sales of $43 billion and profits of $3.6 billion.
General Electric Co. manufactures electrical equipment, lighting products and household appliances. It also owns the broadcasting network NBC. In terms of market capitalization, GE is the world's second largest company and also second in the BrandZ ranking. In the 1960s, aspects of U.S. tax laws and accounting practices led to a rise in the assembly of conglomerates. GE, which was a conglomerate long before the term was coined, is arguably the most successful organization of this type.
Comcast is the largest cable provider and the second largest internet service provider in the United States. It has had a reputation for abysmal customer service and is being investigated by the FCC for blocking customer's access to internet content.
Acer Inc. is one of the world's largest PC manufacturers, with revenue of $461.7 billion worldwide in 2007 according to the company's website. (Acer Preliminary Financial Information 2007)
BT Group Plc is formerly known as "British Telecom" and is the primary phone and Internet provider for the UK.
Caterpillar Inc. is the world's largest manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, diesel and natural gas engines, and industrial gas turbines. Famous for their products featuring caterpillar tracks and a distinctive yellow paint scheme, Caterpillar produces a wide range of heavy equipment, mainly engineering and demolition vehicles, including the Caterpillar D9 bulldozer. Among other controversies Caterpillar has been accused of human rights abuses in the Israeli Palestinian conflict by selling demolition equipment to the Israeli Defense Force.
StatoilHydro is the leading integrated energy company of Norway and the largest off shore oil and gas corporation in the world. It has operations in nearly 40 countries worldwide and was the result of a recent merger between Statoil and the oil and gas division of Norsk Hydro. StatoilHydro has been cited on a number of cases regarding environmental issues and corruption.
Telefónica, S.A. is one of the largest telecommunications companies worldwide. Based in Spain Telefónica owns and operates neumerious fixed-line and mobile communications companies around the globe; of the five major telecommunications companies worldwide Telefónica is second in terms of clients and in 2007 ranked fourth behind China Mobile, AT&T, and Vodafone in market value.
L-3 has grown from a motley collection of businesses spun off from Lockheed Martin in 1997 to a $14 billion company that is one of the largest military contractors. It provides a wide range of high-tech electronics and communications services not only to the Pentagon but also to U.S. intelligence agencies. Not all its services are high-tech: the company’s MPRI subsidiary, acquired in 2000, is among the providers of controversial private security services in places such as Iraq. With its 2005 acquisition of Titan Corp., L-3 got into the business of providing translators to assist U.S.
