What is Microsoft?
In the world of computer technology microsoft is one of the top players. The company produces and sells a wide variety of software products and services. The most well-known product is the Windows operating system, which runs more than 90% of personal computers in the world. Microsoft is also a major seller of software suites like MS Office and cloud-based productivity services.
The company was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. They were childhood friends who were inspired to create a computer programming language for use with the Altair 8800, an early personal computer. When they were unable to get the manufacturer of the Altair to license their BASIC interpreter, they decided to start their own company to develop the software for the machine. They drew their name from the microprocessors and software used in the machine, and the word “microsoft” was later added to reflect the expanding line of computer products that the company would eventually produce.
Since its inception, microsoft has grown into an international company with offices in many countries. Its headquarters are in Redmond, Washington, United States. It has research and development centers in Cambridge, England; Beijing, China; and Bangalore, India. In addition, it has a global network of sales and support centers.
Currently, microsoft has several divisions that include office commercial, consumer, and intelligent cloud. Each of these divisions has their own teams that are responsible for their respective products and services. Office commercial is a set of applications that includes office 365, SharePoint, and a host of other business products and features. Microsoft also offers a number of security products including antivirus software, a security operations platform, and identity solutions.
In the consumer market, microsoft has developed the Surface device line of tablet-based laptops and all-in-one PCs. They are also a leading supplier of gaming consoles through the Xbox brand and its associated gaming subscription services. Microsoft also has a growing presence in the cloud with Azure and its related services, as well as its Microsoft 365 software suite of office productivity tools.
Corporate social responsibility is a priority for microsoft, and the company works to make sure that all of its operations are ethical and sustainable. The company is also committed to giving back to the community through various programs and donations.
Microsoft is a publicly-traded company with a wide range of shareholders. The largest shareholders include Vanguard Group Inc, which holds 8.4% of the total shares, BlackRock Inc with 6.8%, and State Street Corp with 4.2%.
The company is led by chief executive officer Satya Nadella, who has held the position since 2014. Nadella has previously worked at Microsoft in a number of leadership roles, most recently as executive vice president of its cloud and enterprise groups. He has been with the company since 1992. Nadella is credited with guiding Microsoft towards its current transition to the cloud infrastructure, which has helped the company become one of the leading providers today.
