# IBM PALM processor

> 16-bit CPU released by IBM in 1975

**Wikidata**: [Q5968928](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5968928)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_PALM_processor)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ibm-palm-processor

## Summary
The IBM PALM processor is a 16-bit central processing unit (CPU) released by IBM in 1975. It is classified as a microprocessor, defined as a computer processor contained on an integrated-circuit chip. The processor was manufactured by IBM, a major American technology corporation.

## Key Facts
*   **Release Date:** 1975
*   **Manufacturer:** IBM
*   **Architecture:** 16-bit CPU
*   **Classification:** Microprocessor (subclass of computer processor on an integrated-circuit chip)
*   **Also Known As:** Ibm palm
*   **Parent Company Origin:** IBM is a United States corporation founded on June 16, 1911.

## FAQs
### Q: When was the IBM PALM processor released?
A: The IBM PALM processor was released in 1975.

### Q: What type of processor is the IBM PALM?
A: It is a 16-bit central processing unit (CPU) classified as a microprocessor.

### Q: Who manufactured the PALM processor?
A: It was manufactured by IBM (International Business Machines Corporation), an American multinational technology company.

## Why It Matters
The IBM PALM processor represents a specific point in the evolution of computing hardware during the mid-1970s. As a 16-bit microprocessor released by IBM in 1975, it stands as an example of early processor development from a major multinational corporation. At the time, the transition to 16-bit architecture was a significant step in increasing computing power and memory addressing capabilities compared to earlier 8-bit chips. Its existence highlights IBM's role not just as a system integrator but as a developer of core processing components during the early era of microprocessors.

## Notable For
*   **Architecture:** Being a 16-bit CPU, a distinct technical classification for processor width.
*   **Origin:** Being a processor developed and released by IBM, a foundational entity in the computer industry.
*   **Classification:** Falling under the strict definition of a microprocessor (a processor on an integrated circuit chip).

## Body
### Technical Classification
The IBM PALM processor is technically defined as a **microprocessor**. This classifies it as a computer processor contained on an integrated-circuit chip. It is specifically categorized as a **16-bit CPU**, indicating the width of the data paths or the word size it processes.

### Manufacturer Details
The entity behind the PALM processor is **IBM** (International Business Machines Corporation).
*   **Nature:** American multinational technology corporation.
*   **Industry:** Software industry, computer industry, IT service management.
*   **Headquarters:** Armonk, New York, United States.

### Historical Context
The processor was officially released in **1975**. This places its development and deployment during a pivotal era in computing history, shortly after the widespread adoption of integrated circuit technology in commercial computing.