The Rise of Microsoft
What began as a company run by two nerds is now one of the world’s most influential tech giants. Microsoft is the maker of countless devices, including PCs and laptops, game consoles, office software, cloud computing services and more. Its mission is to empower people and organizations to reach their full potential through technology. The company creates products that are powerful, accessible, and easy to use, and it works with partners and customers to innovate across the globe.
Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft changed the way people use computers. Initially, the company sold programming tools and microprocessors. Later, it began producing MS-DOS, an operating system that ran many of the early personal computers. The success of this system paved the way for Microsoft to dominate the computer industry, and the company soon released a program called Windows that provided a graphical user interface and made computing easy for anyone.
In the 1990s, Microsoft expanded its product line with new software programs like the Office suite and development tools such as Visual Basic and Visual C++ that allowed programmers to create applications for Windows. It also introduced the Internet Explorer web browser, which quickly became the dominant market leader. The company also entered the entertainment industry with its Encarta multimedia encyclopedia and MSNBC cable news network. In 2000, Gates stepped down as CEO and was replaced by Steve Ballmer. Under his leadership, the company diversified its product offerings and invested heavily in research and development.
During this time, the company was also embroiled in numerous legal battles. Some of these battles focused on its near-monopoly practices. The U.S. Department of Justice filed antitrust charges against Microsoft, and it was forced to modify some of its corporate policies to reduce its unfair market monopoly. Other cases were brought by rivals who claimed that Microsoft’s business practices stifled competition and technical innovation.
Today, Microsoft is one of the largest tech companies in the world, with a presence in every continent except Antarctica. Its main products include the Windows operating system, the Microsoft Office suite of productivity applications, and the Xbox gaming consoles. In addition, the company offers a variety of cloud computing and artificial intelligence solutions.
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Mary Jo Foley has been covering the technology industry for more than 30 years. Her articles have been featured on CNN, Bloomberg and The New York Times. She is a frequent guest on podcasts and has spoken at events around the world.
The number of ratings a product has received on the Microsoft Store is visible to everyone and helps users make better buying decisions. The rating score is based on a product’s most recent ratings and is displayed on its page and in search results.
