Icom History

The beginning of Icom

Mr. Inoue, founder and Chairman of Icom, became interested in radio when he was junior high school student, and often visited radio shops in Koriyama, Nara prefecture. He had been kept and grown up interesting for the wireless communications. He looks back on those days as “When I decided my lifework would be in wireless communications.”

After graduating from high school, he started a shop for electronic equipment at his parent’s house. But he soon joined a medical equipment manufacturer. At the manufacturer, his technical knowledge was highly valued, and he had responsibility for designing RF medical equipment. However, it was so far from his house to the office, taking 2 hours for one way. The president of the manufacturer advised to Mr. Inoue to establish a subcontract company and continue designing for the medical manufacturer. Mr. Inoue made a small shack in the yard, then started the business as “Inoue Electric Seisakusho” in 1954.

This is the beginning of ICOM

Icom Timeline & Products for Ages

Years 1964 - 1977, Established Company and Brand Name

Moved to a new headquarters building (1970)

Inoue Electric Seisakusho started as subcontracted works and producing amateur radio equipment. The company was a late comer for amateur radio manufacturing; therefore, it was necessary to create something new. The company adopted transistors, instead of tubes, in designing the FDAM-1 all Transistors AM radio.  It was pioneer for replacing vacuum tube with transistor. 

Inoue Electric Seisakusho adopted new technologies constantly after that. Designing an Analog PLL circuit was one of big changes, which ended a generation of multi-crystal frequency-controlled radios. They designed HF radio, the IC-701 (Japanese model of the IC-710) which included digital PLL synthesizer. Mr. Inoue brought it then visited Mr. Arthur Collins who was one of most famous radio engineers in the world. When Mr. Inoue presented the IC-701, Mr. Collins said “Mr. Inoue, you did everything I wanted.” Then he advised Mr. Inoue that the company will grow if you continue developing advanced engineering. His words gave Mr. Inoue additional confidence to continue developing Icom’s amateur radio business.

Timeline
 

1964 Inoue Electric Seisakusho Co., Ltd. established by Tokuzo Inoue
1970 Moved to a new headquarters building
Opened Tokyo sales office
1971

Corporate symbol mark introduced

1973

Corporate logo mark introduced

Export Sales department established
1975 Opened Kyusyu sales office
1976 Entered the marine radio market
Icom (Europe) GmbH, established in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Product

FDAM-1

50 MHz AM portable

FDAM-1 (1964)

The first model designed and built by Inoue Electric Seisakusho. It was our legendary all-transistor 50 MHz radio, in which vacuum tubes were not used at all. It made Icom history.

FDFM-25

50 MHz FM mobile

FDFM-25 (1965)
The controller could be mounted on the car dashboard, and the radio unit could be installed in the trunk. It was the forerunner of in-vehicle radios.

IC-700T/IC-700R

HF desktop transmitter/receiver

IC-700T/IC-700R (1967)
The first amateur HF radio for Icom. Transistors were used in all stages, except for the final stage. Icom became famous for radios using semiconductors.

FDAM-3

50 MHz FM/AM portable

FDAM-3 (1968)
It was a revolutionary 50 MHz radio using high stability dual VFOs (Variable Frequency Oscillators). One each was used for the transmitter and receiver units, which challenged the mainstream crystal control radio.

IC-71

50 MHz FM/AM/CW desktop

IC-71 (1969)
A single high stability VFO (Variable Frequency Oscillator) controlled both transmitter and receiver units. The IC-71 was the first 50 MHz radio that did not require frequency calibration.

IC-20

144 MHz FM mobile

IC-20 (1970)
The first 12 channel 144 MHz radio. Helical resonators were used in the receiver unit to reduce intermodulation distortion.

IC-105C

VHF convenience mobile radio

IC-105C (1972)
Introduced know-how cultivated in amateur radio. It became Icom’s first business radio for the Japanese market.

IC-200

144 MHz FM mobile

IC-200 (1972)
Used an analog type PLL (Phase Locked Loop) synthesizer and covered the 144 MHz band with 100 channels. The original idea and technology allowed us to differentiate our product from others.

IC-M25

VHF marine fixed mount

IC-M25 (1975)
The first marine radio. A programming method using a diode matrix was adopted, and up to 25 channels could be programmed. With this radio, crystals were no longer needed for expanding channels, and it drew attention in the US market.

IC-211

144 MHz SSB/CW/FM desktop

IC-211 (1976)
The first amateur radio to use a system control LSI (SC-3062). It was an Icom original CMOS LSI, which was the largest at that time, with a 6 x 6 mm, 6000-element configuration. This realized digital frequency control, and the dual VFO system.

IC-710

HF all band desktop

IC-710 (1977)
The industry’s first HF LSI radio that employed the SC-3062 LSI, and the smallest HF radio at that time. Transistors were used in all stages, including the final stage.

Years 1978 - 1983, Entire Japan and Expand to Worldwide

Built the Kami factory (1978)

Inoue Electric Seisakusho built a sales network covering not only all of Japan, but also worldwide in the 1970s, and expanded business operations.

Capital was increased for facility investment and the product category was expanded from amateur radios to Business radios and Marine radios. The IC-2N (Japanese model of IC-2AT/IC-2E) amateur handheld VHF transceiver was launched in 1980. It was a small and high-performance radio, which had thumbhole switches to set frequencies in the PLL IC. These functionalities were very well received. Over 2 million IC-2N series transceivers were sold throughout the world. Icom was really grew in the radio manufacture industry.

In these years, the company name was changed to Icom Incorporated, from Inoue Electric Seisakusho.

Timeline
 

1978 The company name was changed to Icom Incorporated.
Kami factory established in Kami, Hirano, Osaka
1979 Icom America Inc. established in Bellevue, Washington, U.S.A.
1982 Icom (Australia) Pty. Established in Melbourne, Australia
Entered the land mobile radio market 

Product

IC-280

144 MHz FM mobile

IC-280 (1978)
The world's first amateur radio equipped with a microcomputer in its main unit. A front panel separate system established a new type of mobile radio.

IC-551

50 MHz all mode desktop

IC-551 (1979)
Had an auto watch function controlled by a built-in CPU. It had good sales as a 50MHz SSB base station radio.

IC-720

HF all band desktop

IC-720 (1980)
Built-in general coverage receiver from 1.8 MHz through 30 MHz. Since this IC-720, a built-in general coverage receiver became a de facto standard specification for HF radios.

IC-2A/AT/E

144 MHz FM handheld

IC-2A/AT/E (1980)
This model was a huge success, with over two million units sold all over the world. User friendly thumbwheel switches for frequency change, and a detachable battery pack were adopted.

IC-751

HF all band desktop

IC-751 (1983)
The DFM (Direct Feed Mixer) provided 105 dB of dynamic range. It had an 8-bit CPU, 32 memory channels and dual VFOs for cross band operation.

IC-02A/AT/E

144 MHz FM handheld

IC-02A/AT/E (1983)
The first handheld radio that adopted a power module, achieving the maximum output of 5W. In addition, it had an LCD display. The radio had a splash-proof construction. Was an evolution of the IC-2N (IC-2AT)

Years 1984 - 1993, Stock listing for additional expansion

Listed Osaka Stock Exchange 2nd section(1990)

Icom listed its stock on the second section of the Osaka securities exchange on December 19th, 1990. The first price was JPY 6900 which exceeded JPY 410 from the public offering price. Two days before the listing, Mr. Inoue informs to employee, “I feel a debt of gratitude to all my employees for listing, as we started as a garage manufacture.”

Icom started a new category of Marine Navigation and challenged the use of new technologies onto current categories.  The IC-781 had gained prominence in these years. A 5-inch CRT in the center of the front panel became the Icom style, along with a spectrum scope and high-performance characteristics. This transceiver surprised amateur radio operators as a dream rig.

Timeline
 

1986 Hirano factory established in Hirano, Osaka (Transferred from the Kami factory)
1987 Tokyo R&D Center established

Revised the corporate logo mark to the current one.

Wakayama Icom Inc. (factory) established in Wakayama
1989 Entered the marine navigation market with radars and fish finders
1990 Increased capital by 953.5 million JPY
Listed Osaka Stock Exchange 2nd section
Increased capital by 7 billion JPY
1992 Tokyo sales office merged with the R&D section

Product

IC-3200A/E

144/430 MHz FM mobile

IC-3200A/E (1985)
The first dual band mobile radio covering 144/430 (440) MHz. The “dual band radio” became very popular after this model was introduced.

IC-A2

Avionics VHF handheld radio

IC-A2 (1985)
Icom’s first avionics radio. It had a 4.8 W output power (PEP). It evolved into the IC-A20, which can receive VOR navigation system signals.

IC-1271

1200 MHz all mode desktop

IC-1271 (1985)
World's first transceiver equipped with an ATV function. Adopted a specially designed power module SC-1040 to support continuous ATV transmission. It also had a large-capacity CPU and an external RAM unit.

IC-H16T

Land mobile VHF handheld

IC-H16T (1985)
Equipped with the 5-tone system used in Europe, and supported various other tone systems. Explosive sales were recorded.

IC-275A/E/H

144 MHz all mode desktop

IC-275A/E/H (1986)
Equipped with a newly developed DDS synthesizer. High-speed transmission / reception switching that supported PACKET, AMTOR, and other data communications was achieved.

IC-μ2A/E, IC-μ4A/E

IC-μ2: 144 MHz FM / IC-μ4: 430(440) MHz FM handheld

IC-μ2A/E, IC-μ4A/E (1987)
Provided long lasting battery life with an auto power save function, and worked with R6 (AA) type battery cells.

IC-3MR

Marine radar

IC-3MR (1988)
Icom’s first marine radar with a compact design and easy operation.

IC-900A/E

28 MHz/VHF/UHF FM mobile

IC-900A/E (1987)
Called the “super multi-bander system”, utilized an optical fiber cable in data transfer technology. The optical fiber cable was an industry’s first and ensured transmit and receive performance by preventing the influence of external noise and interface.

IC-781

HF+50 MHz all mode desktop

IC-781 (1988)
A dream rig providing a large 5-inch CRT display with a spectrum scope located in the center of the front panel. Icom’s legendary layout emerged from this model.

IC-4001

Low-power license free 9 channel handheld

IC-4001 (1991)
Japanese low-power license free radio that achieved a surprising palm-sized compactness and lightness that broke the conventional wisdom.

IC-4003

Low-power license free 9 channel handheld

IC-4003 (1992)
The first generation of the brand name "Withcall" of Icom’s low-power license free radios in Japanese market. A storage antenna type that improves portability. Equipped with a function to notify reception of a call by a ringer sound.

Years 1994 - 2003, Pursuit of new possibilities

Narayama R&D office established in Nara, Japan(1994)

Icom opens Narayama R & D center to strengthen middle and long-term engineering development capabilities. Dedicated to research and development on elemental technologies one step ahead of the engineering department. The first Digital amateur transceiver for D-STAR was designed in this R & D center.
In these years, Icom concluded a delivery contract with the US Department of Defense's Soldier Intercom for transceivers, becoming the first company of all the Japanese manufactures to do so. They made hard and strict tests, then selected Icom IC-F3S as the best performance radio. Icom had other contracts in public safety and utilities markets in other countries.
In addition, using RF technologies, Icom entered and expanded a new category of wireless LAN networks.

Timeline
 

1994 Narayama R & D center established in Nara, Japan
1995 Distribution center relocated to the Wakayama factory
1997 Icom Spain S.L. established in Barcelona, Spain
1998 Asia Icom established in Taipei, Taiwan
Contracted with the US Department of Defense for radios. 
Entered the wireless LAN market.
Acquired ISO 9001 certification.
1999 Icom Information Products Inc. established in Osaka, Japan.
2000 The headquarters relocated to the new building in Hirano, Osaka.
2001 Listed in the Tokyo and Osaka Stock Exchange 1st sections
2003 Acquired ISO 14001 certification.

Product

IC-821

144/430 MHz all mode desktop

IC-821 (1994)
It has dual band simultaneous reception as well as satellite communication capability. Incredible reception sensitivity of -19dBμ was achieved for SSB/CW.

IC-706

HF/50/144 MHz all mode mobile

IC-706 (1995)
The world’s smallest HF/50/144 MHz radio. It became a benchmark of the multiband radio and proved our advantage in wideband technology.

IC-775DXII

HF all mode desktop

IC-775DSP (1995)
The world's first circuit configuration using digital signal processor (DSP) featured noise reduction and auto notch, which allows signals to emerge from noise.

MCA7

Digital MCA mobile radio

MCA7 (1995)
Icom's first digital MCA (Multi-Channel Access; Japanese trunking system). Used a large display with excellent visibility.

MCA22

MCA handheld radio

MCA22 (1996)
Sophisticated design like a mobile phone at the time.

UX-117

Data transmission unit

UX-117 (1996)
Data transmission unit for a 2.4GHz spread spectrum system. Adopted a modulation method that was later used for wireless LANs.

IC-F3S

Land mobile VHF FM handheld

IC-F3S (1997)
Recognized for its reliability, robustness, and operability, and was officially adopted as the US Department of Defense's Soldier Intercom. Delivered 23,000 sets.

IC-2800A/E

144/430 MHz FM mobile

IC-2800A/E (1998)
The world's first amateur radio to use a 3-inch color TFT LCD display. Equipped with an external video input terminal, it could be used as a sub-monitor for car navigation system.

BR-200

Building to building WLAN

BR-200 (1998)
Icom's first wireless communication unit between buildings that wirelessly connects distant buildings. An innovative product that eliminates the cost of laying a dedicated wired line.

IC-756PRO

HF/50 MHz all mode desktop

IC-756PRO (1999)
Icom’s proprietary technology 32-bit floating point IF DSP radio. Eliminated the analog filter and put IF DSP in its place.

IC-UH35ACT

UHF Convenience radio handheld

IC-UH35ACT (2001)
Using knowledge obtained from Marine transceivers, Icom realized a robust waterproof radio with a JIS7 rating (same level as IPx7) in the Japanese market.

IC-7800

HF/50 MHz all mode desktop

IC-7800 (2003)
Included the best performance for each function, and Icom realized an IP3 of + 40 dBm using all technologies collected over many years. This was the flagship model for several years. 

AP-5100

Wireless Access point

AP-5100 (2003)
Dual bands wireless LAN (2 band simultaneously operation). Realized 5.4 Mbps (5.2 GHz / 2.4GHz) 

Years 2004 - 2013, Challenges to Growth

Kinokawa Plant of Wakayama Icom Inc. established in Wakayama, Japan.(2009)

During economic growth in worldwide, Icom also had best sales record of 33.1 billion JPY was achieved during these years. However, the sub-prime housing loan problem, and Lehman Brothers bankruptcy, occurred in 2008, and the world economy went into in a recession. Icom combined engineering and sales divisions that made good efficiency from planning to product launches to make it through the difficult situation.
Also entered an IP telephone category, which was expected to increase growth, and made partner contracts with major telephone carriers for delivering wireless routers and access points.
In addition, started digital technology for business transceivers, then made standardization of Land Mobile Radios for the US, Europe and Japan. The result was Icom announced IDAS (Icom Digital Advanced System) to the world. 

Timeline
 

2004 Conclude “Solution Creative Partner Program (SCP)” with NTT Docomo.
2006 Tokuzo Inoue assumed the position of Chairman
Tsutomu Fukui assumed the position of President
2007 Concluded a partnership agreement with KDDI.
2009 Kinokawa Plant of Wakayama Icom Inc. established in Wakayama, Japan.
2010 Acquired ISO27001 certification. 
2013 Made cooperation with Companies Ageet and NTT West Japan.

Product

ID-1

1200MHz FM DV DD Mobile

ID-1 (2004)
The first model made for the D-Star system, which developed by JARL (Japan Amateur Radio League). Use the same protocol of Internet for communicate method. New generation of Amateur digital radio was started by this radio. 

SR-5200VoIP

Wireless broadband router

SR-5200VoIP (2004)
The first model of collaboration under the “Solution Creative Partner Program (SCP)” with NTT Docomo.
Wireless LAN broadband router to meet the 050 IP telephone service.

IC-7000

HF/50/144/430MHz all mode Mobile

IC-7000 (2005)
Successor to the long selling IC-706MKII. Adopts IF DSP in this class first, then realized almost nearly basic performance with high class model of IC-756PROIII

IC-VH35 series

Japanese Business transceiver

IC-VH35 series (2005)
Icom guaranteed one-year water-proof protection, a first for a Japanese radio manufacturer.
Guarantee models are the IC-VH35 series, the IC-UH401 and the IC-4800.

IC-R9500

Wideband receiver desktop

IC-R9500 (2006)
All technologies for wideband receivers and DSP were put into this receiver. It included record and other functions/abilities for high level frequency search and analysis.  Many government offices and Radio Regulatory Bureaus adopted this receiver. 

IC-D400

Digital low-power license free handheld

IC-D400 (2006)
New concept of a digital low-power radio system in combination with an IP network. Then wide area range could be obtained, even for a low-power license free radio.

IC-M33

VHF marine handheld

IC-M33/M34 (2006)
An industry first! A transceiver that floats in water. Fundamentally redesigned internal circuits, mechanical components and the battery. Icom realized the user’s desires for a floating radio.

IC-DU55C

DCR handheld

IC-DU55C (2008)
The first DCR digital radio designed as soon as the Japanese regulations were approved.

IC-F3161DT/DS・IC-F5061D・IC-FR5000

Land mobile transceivers
(handheld, mobile, and repeater)

IC-F3161DT/DS・IC-F5061D・IC-FR5000 (2008)
Lunched IDAS (Icom Digital Advance System) transceiver adopting 6.25 kHz 4-level FSK using the FDMA method. Icom matched to the US FCC ultra-narrow bandwidth regulation. (Other manufactures did not meet it, so they called theirs “6.25 equivalent”.)

IC-M604

VHF marine mount type

IC-M603/M604 (2008)
Won the NMEA award for the best VHF marine radio. Icom has won multiple awards in various categories since 1984.

ID-31A/E

430MHz FM/DV handheld

ID-31A/E (2011)
Newly designed next generation D-Star handheld. It was first amateur radio equipped with the micro SD slot. This model accelerated the popularity and use of D-Star.

IP100H

IP transceiver

IP100H (2013)
Using wireless LAN as access points, full duplex communication was realized. Many industry users adopt this newly concept transceiver.

Years 2014 to the future, Jump up for the next 50 years

Wakayama Icom Inc. Robot line (2019)

The RF direct sampling system is developed and adopted in the IC-7300. This is an industry first in amateur radio, and many users replaced or added this model to their shacks. The first high-speed, real-time spectrum scope and good phase noise characteristics set new standards.
In the business radio field, the IP501H LTE transceiver is launched to match the general requirements of IP usage.
For producing additional solutions, Icom collaborated with Iridium Communication Inc, to produce a satellite PTT unit which can communicate to and from any place in the world.
In looking for production efficiency and stable quality, Icom investigated installing robot lines in the factory.

Timeline
 

2014 Purcom Co. Ltd. Established in Shenzhen, China.
2016 IC-A220 approved TSO (Technical Standard Order) of FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). 
2017 Masataka Harima assumed the position of President
Start AVL service cooperated with Navitime Japan 
2018 Repair center completed at Kinokawa plant
Collaborated with Iridium Inc. for designing the Satellite PTT
2019 Robot line is installed onto the Arida plant of Wakayama Icom Inc.
2020 Icom Asia Co., Ltd. Established in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Tokuzo Inoue assumed the position of Chairman and President
2021 Hiroshi Nakaoka assumed the position of President

Product

IC-7851

HF/50 MHz all mode desktop

IC-7851 (2014)
RMDR characteristics completely exceeds other models. Ultra-high-speed dual scope helpful for DX hunting. This is flagship model of the Amateur Radio.

IC-7300

HF/50 MHz all mode desktop

IC-7300 (2016)
New technology of RF Direct Sampling is employed. For this method, high speed real-time Spectrum Scope is realized.

IP501H

LTE transceiver

IP501H (2015)
Covers entire the country through an LTE (4G) and 3G Network with multiple users in the call group instantaneously.

IC-A220TSO

VHF Avionics radio Panel mount

IC-A220TSO (2016)
TSO certified model, therefore it can be used as a primary VHF radio in general aviation (part 23) aircraft

IC-7610

HF/50 MHz all mode desktop

IC-7610 (2017)
Adopts the RF direct sampling system for 110 dB RMDR performance. Independent dual receivers for a real Dual-watch function, on different bands and in different modes. 

IC-F7010 / IC-F7510

P25 VHF radio (handheld/Mobile)

IC-F7010 / IC-F7510 (2017)
Full functionality for US public safety models, such as P25 phase 2, color LCD, AES encryption, IP68 submersible and MIL standard 810G.  

IC-DPR7

Digital transceiver

IC-DPR7 (2018)
Japanese digital business radio “DPR” series transceiver.
800mW audio output, IP67 water/dust proof and MIL standard 810G with a strong construction.

VE-PG4

RoIP gateway

VE-PG4 (2018)
Communication expanding unit across systems and devices. Includes built-in RoIP, SIP gateway, IP router, IP PBX and IP communication controller functions, in one box. Allows connection to any system, such as NXDN digital transceivers, LTE radios, satellite PTT, external devices, and so on. 

IC-DRC1

Digital low-power community radio system

IC-DRC1 (2018)
Newly established Japanese standard “Digital low-power community radio system”.  Icom lunched this system terminal to meet the regulation issued for safety and security of municipal corporations.

IC-SAT100

Satellite PTT

IC-SAT100 (2019)
Uses satellites for worldwide communication, therefore it can communicate even when all infrastructures are shut down. In addition, the IC-SAT100 can be used reliably in areas with no infrastructure, such as mountain areas and remote islands.