What is Microsoft?
microsoft is an American multinational technology company that develops computer software and produces hardware. Its best known products are the Windows operating system and Office productivity suite, but it also produces a wide range of other consumer and enterprise software, as well as online services. It is the world’s largest computer software seller, and its hardware includes the Xbox video gaming consoles. It is also one of the most valuable companies in the world.
The company was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975. The company’s name is a portmanteau of “microcomputer” and “software.” Its original product was an operating system that ran on IBM-compatible personal computers. In 1980, Microsoft formed a partnership with IBM that made it the exclusive provider of an operating system for their PCs, enabling them to dominate the market. This deal was crucial to the company’s success, as it ensured that they would receive royalties on every machine sold.
In the years that followed, Microsoft expanded its business to include a variety of different devices and software. It dominated the PC compatible operating systems market, and its Office suite of products became the standard productivity software for business. The company diversified into other markets, including Internet search (through Bing), digital media (through MSN), virtual reality (HoloLens), and cloud computing with Azure.
Today, Microsoft has over a million active customers across all its platforms. Its hardware products include Windows-based laptops, tablets, and phones; the Xbox gaming console; and Surface tablet computers. Its software offerings include Windows and the Office productivity suite, along with Bing search engine, MSN News, Skype, and Azure cloud services.
While Microsoft’s products have received a great deal of praise, the company has faced criticism over its business practices. Its use of permatemp employees – temporary workers who were denied medical insurance and forced to stay with the company or risk being sued if they left – has been particularly controversial. It has also been accused of overworking its employees, leading to burnout and a loss of productivity.
Microsoft is a public corporation with its headquarters in Redmond, Washington. Its stock is traded under the ticker symbol MSFT. It is one of the world’s most valuable companies, and it has a market capitalization of over USD$780 billion as of April 2018. In addition to its main products, Microsoft also owns LinkedIn, Nokia devices and services, Hexadite, Github, and Skype. It is also involved in research and development for autonomous vehicles, drones, and wearable technologies. In 2018, the company’s revenue grew by 29% to USD$12.7 billion, its highest ever. The company has more than 180,000 employees worldwide. In a company survey, its employees rated it 4.0 out of 5 for Workplace Culture, 4.2 for Compensation and Benefits, 3.9 for Growth Opportunities, and 4.2 for Support You Get. The average salary at Microsoft is $81,000 annually. This is a high figure when compared to the national average of $66,000 per year.
