What is Microsoft?
The American multinational computer technology corporation Microsoft is best known for its Windows operating system, the Internet Explorer and subsequent Microsoft Edge web browsers, the Office suite of productivity software plus services, and the Visual Studio IDE. It also produces hardware, including the Surface tablet line of PCs and the Xbox gaming console system. It is headquartered in Redmond, Washington and has operations around the world.
The company was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, two school friends from Seattle, who were developing a BASIC interpreter for the Altair 8800, a primitive early personal computer. After the success of the Altair, Gates and Allen used the proceeds from sales of the software to found Microsoft. The name derives from the words microcomputer and software.
As Microsoft became one of the most profitable and influential companies in history, its rapid rise sparked jealousy and envy among rivals. They complained that its practices, such as bundling some of its programs with its operating system, violated laws against unfair competition. Microsoft’s defenders countered that, far from stifling innovation and competition, its success encouraged both.
During the dot-com boom, Microsoft introduced the widely successful Windows 95, which included an innovative interface that millions of users worldwide have since come to know and love. The Windows 95 interface—a desktop with icons, a start button that accesses programs, and a taskbar that displays the programs currently running—revolutionized the way people work and play on computers.
Microsoft’s products and technologies enable people to create and share ideas, connect with others, and reach their full potential. With trusted security built into every device, application, and cloud service, you can focus on what’s important—and stay connected with the people and things that matter most to you.
With apps like Outlook, Word, and SharePoint, and products such as Bing, Azure, and VS Code, Microsoft makes it easy to store and manage your files online, collaborate on projects with team members, and more. From AI-generated design to photo editing and video creation, we have the tools to bring your creative vision to life.
The company’s most famous product is Windows, the computer operating system that is the world’s dominant platform. It is used in almost every country on the planet, and it is estimated that over 90% of all personal computers run the Windows operating system. Microsoft’s other products include the Office software suite of productivity apps, the Windows Phone mobile operating system, and the Azure cloud computing platform. In addition, it offers a variety of other consumer and business products, such as the Surface line of tablet computers and the Xbox video game console system. The company also publishes books through its own publishing division and operates MSNBC, a joint cable news venture with the National Broadcasting Company. The company has a wide range of corporate social responsibility initiatives. Some of these are global in scope, such as the Corporate Social Investment program, and some are focused on the United States.