Brother developed a fax machine and small All-in-Ones that met the needs of a work-style called SOHO, in which an individual or a group of a few individuals runs a business by using their home, and so forth, as their office, and became a pioneer in this market. In 1992, the company entered into the online karaoke business by utilizing self-developed content distribution technologies and infrastructure.
Chronology
| 1991 | Sewing machines with computer-controlled embroidery mechanism launched. |
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| 1991 |
ZHUHAI BROTHER INDUSTRIES, CO., LTD. established in China as a home sewing machine manufacturing company.
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| 1992 | XING INC. established in Japan to enter the online karaoke business. |
| 1992 |
FAX-600, thermal fax machines that are greatly differentiated from competitors in terms of price and functionality, launched in the U.S. at 399 dollars.
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| 1992 | "JOYSOUND", the industry’s first karaoke network system via ISDN lines, launched. |
| 1993 | "JS-1X", the industry’s first centralized control system for karaoke establishments in the network karaoke field, launched. |
| 1993 | ZHUHAI BROTHER INDUSTRIES, CO., LTD. started production of home sewing machines. |
| 1993 | Shipment of FAX-900 plain fax paper series and a series of faxes with cutters started (share in the European market for SOHO users increased). |
| 1993 | XIAN TYPICAL BROTHER INDUSTRIES, CO., LTD., joint venture with Xian Typical, established in China as a manufacturing company. |
| 1994 | BROTHER CORPORATION (ASIA) LIMITED. established in Hong Kong SAR to manufacture parts (company name changed to BROTHER INTERNATIONAL (HK) LTD. on March 10, 2014). |
| 1994 | Low-end FAX-620 fax machines with cutter launched; targeting the U.S. SOHO market. |
| 1994 | Production of HL-630 laser printers started (Brother’s first completely in-house produced product; launched in the U.S. at 399 dollars). |
| 1994 | BROTHER INDUSTRIES JOHOR SDN. BHD. established in Malaysia as a manufacturing company. Production of fax machines started. |
| 1994 |
Buji Nanling Factory, China (currently BROTHER TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) LTD.) started production of information and communications equipment.
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| 1995 | Production of MFC-4500ML series, compact laser All-in-One machines with multiple functions (fax machine, printer, copier, and scanner), started. |
| 1997 |
Inkjet All-in-One MFC-7000FC (the first color inkjet All-in-One with a selling price of less than 1,000 dollars) launched.
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| 1999 | Brother Group Global Charter established (revised in April 2008). |
| 1999 | BROTHER SALES, LTD. made into a wholly owned subsidiary. |
