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OEM

OEM (pronounced as separate letters) is short for original equipment manufacturer, which is a misleading term for a company that has a special relationship with computer producers. OEMs are manufacturers who resell another company's product under their own name and branding.

While an OEM is similar to a VAR (value-added reseller), it refers specifically to the act of a company rebranding a product to its own name and offering its own warranty, support and licensing of the product. The term is really a misnomer because OEMs are not the original manufacturers; they are the customizers.

See also "What is an OEM Company?" in the Quick Reference section of Webopedia.
Contrast with IHV (Independent Hardware Vendor).



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