What Is Microsoft?
Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft is one of the largest computer software companies in the world. The company is based in Redmond, Washington, and develops a wide range of software products, hardware, and services. Microsoft is also one of the largest providers of cloud computing services, with its Windows Azure platform. The company also develops consumer electronics and hardware, and has offices in more than 60 countries.
Microsoft is known for its software products, including the Microsoft Office suite, Internet Explorer, and Windows. The company also produces hardware, including the Microsoft Xbox video game console. Microsoft also sells related services, such as Office Live Workspace, which allows users to save documents globally. The company has also entered the mobile phone market. Microsoft has a main research and development center in Redmond, Washington, as well as research labs in New York, India, and Bermuda. Microsoft has also developed a line of hybrid tablet computers called the Surface.
The company focuses on cloud computing, which allows its users to access data and information from multiple devices. Microsoft offers a cloud version of the Microsoft Office suite, which includes Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. The company also offers cloud-based versions of Outlook, which serves as a mail and contact portal. Microsoft also provides Office Online, a free version of the Office suite.
Microsoft produces software development through Visual Studio, its software development tool. The company also owns Github, a public source code repository. It also produces hardware, including the Xbox video game console, the Surface tablet computer, and the Mojang video game franchise. The company has sales offices in more than 60 countries. The company has a workforce of nearly 122,000 employees worldwide. The company was a leading software developer for IBM PCs before shifting to a consumer market in the 1990s.
The company has been criticized for its security practices. It has been accused of overworking employees. The company has also been accused of forcing employees to remain with the company. Several employees have gone on to become millionaires.
Microsoft has also been accused of using forceful retention tactics. The company has been accused of forcing its employees to work long hours, resulting in burnout. Microsoft’s rapid growth sparked resentment from rivals. This led to an investigation by the U.S. Justice Department, which concluded with a settlement in 1994. The company was ordered to change its sales practices.
Microsoft has been criticized for its software, including security issues. The company’s products were also criticized for being too stable and fast. Microsoft is often referred to as a “Velvet Sweatshop” because of its overworked employees. This characterization was popularized by an article in the Seattle Times in 1989.
In 2011, Microsoft acquired Skype for $8.5 billion. The company also purchased the Los Angeles Clippers NBA team in 2014. Microsoft also refocused its business model on services and devices. In February 2014, Steve Ballmer stepped down from the company’s CEO position. He was replaced by Satya Nadella. Nadella focuses on cloud computing. Microsoft is one of the largest companies in the United States with a market cap of more than $1 trillion. Microsoft also owns LinkedIn, Mojang, and Hexadite.