Overview
Icom Incorporated is a Japanese manufacturer of wireless communications equipment founded by Tokuzo Inoue in 1954. Originally established as Inoue Electric Seisakusho Co., Ltd., the company became Icom Incorporated in 1978 and grew into one of the world’s leading manufacturers of amateur radio, marine, aviation, commercial, and digital communications equipment.
Icom has been particularly influential in the amateur radio market, producing a wide range of HF, VHF, and UHF transceivers, receivers, handheld radios, mobile radios, repeaters, and accessories. The company was also an early developer of D-STAR digital voice and data communications technology.
OldTubeRadio.com currently documents more than 130 Icom products, ranging from early VHF transceivers of the 1970s through modern HF transceivers, D-STAR equipment, receivers, microphones, power supplies, and repeater systems.
Technical Specifications
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Icom Incorporated |
| Founded | 1954 |
| Original Name | Inoue Electric Seisakusho Co., Ltd. |
| Founder | Tokuzo Inoue |
| Headquarters | Osaka, Japan |
| Industry | Wireless Communications Equipment |
| Products | Amateur Radio Equipment, Commercial Two-Way Radios, Marine Radios, Aviation Radios, Communications Receivers, Repeaters |
| Markets Served | Worldwide |
| Type | Public Company |
Description
Icom manufactures communications equipment for amateur, commercial, marine, aviation, government, and industrial users. Its product lines have included HF base transceivers, VHF/UHF mobile and handheld radios, communications receivers, repeater systems, power supplies, microphones, speaker systems, and digital networking equipment.
Notable product families documented by OldTubeRadio.com include the IC-20, IC-211, IC-701, IC-720 series, IC-735, IC-745, IC-746 series, IC-756 series, IC-775DSP, IC-7800, IC-910 series, IC-R8600 receiver, and D-STAR products such as the ID-1, ID-31A, ID-80AD, ID-92AD, ID-880H, and ID-RP repeater systems.
The company has maintained a strong presence in amateur radio since the 1970s. One of its earliest documented amateur products was the IC-20, introduced around 1974 as a 12-channel VHF FM transceiver.
History
Historical Addresses
Inoue Electric Seisakusho Co., Ltd.
Osaka, Japan
Icom Incorporated
1-6-19 Kami Kuratsukuri
Hirano-Ku, Osaka
Japan
Icom Incorporated
6-9-16 Kamihigashi
Hirano-ku, Osaka 547
Japan
Phone: 06-793-5301
Fax: 06-793-0013
Icom America – Corporate Headquarters
2380 116th Avenue N.E.
Bellevue, Washington 98004 USA
Icom West, Inc. (~1979)
Suite 3
13256 Northup Way
Bellevue, Washington 98005 USA
Icom East, Inc. (~1979)
Suite 307
3331 Towerwood Drive
Dallas, Texas 75234 USA
Icom Canada (~1979)
7087 Victoria Drive
Vancouver, British Columbia V5P 3Y9
Canada
Timeline
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1954 | Tokuzo Inoue founded Inoue Electric Seisakusho in Osaka, Japan. |
| 1964 | Company incorporated as Inoue Electric Seisakusho Co., Ltd. |
| ~1974 | Introduction of the IC-20 VHF FM transceiver. |
| 1978 | Company name changed to Icom Incorporated. |
| 1979 | Expansion into North America with Icom America, Icom West, Icom East, and Icom Canada operations. |
| 1980s | Rapid growth in amateur radio equipment including the IC-211, IC-290, IC-701, and IC-720 series. |
| 2000s | Expansion of D-STAR digital voice and data products including the ID-1 and ID-RP repeater systems. |
| Present | Icom remains one of the largest manufacturers of amateur and professional communications equipment worldwide. |
References
- https://www.icomjapan.com/company/history/ – Official Icom corporate history.
- https://www.icomamerica.com/company/company_profile/ – Official Icom America company profile.