Microsoft – The Rise and Fall of a Fortune 500 Company
As one of the largest companies in the world, Microsoft has an impressive range of products and services. The Microsoft Business Group covers Office, Devices, Windows, and communications, as well as education, search, and other information services. Other areas of responsibility include Microsoft’s software platform, applications, and retail stores. The company’s Research and Incubation division oversees the company’s most ambitious projects. These include cloud computing, virtual reality, and the company’s infrastructure and agents. In 2018, Microsoft earned more than $110 billion in revenue, with the company’s businesses and services spanning more than one hundred nations.
Microsoft began as a hardware manufacturer and supplier before the PC craze hit the market. As the demand for personal computers grew, Microsoft turned its attention to selling its software to consumers. In 1990, Microsoft was one of the first software companies to surpass $1 Billion in sales. In the following decade, Microsoft’s products helped the company capture a greater share of the PC market worldwide. Today, the company has over five billion users worldwide. Microsoft also offers direct sales programs for small businesses and corporate customers.
Despite the many positives that Microsoft has experienced, the company has also faced numerous criticisms. Although its products are acclaimed for their quality and productivity, some employees believe that the company overworks its employees. In a 1989 Seattle Times article, Microsoft was called a “velvet sweatshop” because of the high workload and convenience it offers employees. As a result, the company has received negative press for its management style and sex discrimination policies.
Bill Gates financed the company with his own savings. The company went on to make millions of dollars from the sale of Altair computers. This deal was the first step toward the company’s rise to success. He invested in the company and was soon making millions of dollars in sales. Microsoft went on to become one of the world’s leading software companies, and eventually surpassed both Mac OS and Lotus in terms of productivity. And it didn’t take long for Windows to catch up.
Microsoft Corporation is an American corporation that focuses on computer software, cloud computing, video games, and hardware. Microsoft has offices in over 60 countries. Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded the company in 1975 and the company’s first hardware was the Microsoft mouse 10. Since then, the company has grown to encompass a wide range of technologies. Microsoft has also expanded into the realm of consumer electronics. The company also owns LinkedIn, Nokia devices, and Github.
With its IPO in 1986, Microsoft created three billionaires and more than one thousand millionaires. However, Microsoft has expanded beyond PC operating systems and office suites and has acquired Skype Technologies in May 2011 for $8.5 billion. In addition to its PC operating system and office suite market, Microsoft is active in video games, digital services, and mobile phones. In addition to cloud computing, Microsoft has made major investments in other areas. They acquired Skype Technologies in 2011, which is a major step forward for the company.
