What is Microsoft?
Microsoft is a multinational technology corporation that creates computer software, personal computers and consumer electronics. It is headquartered in Redmond, Washington. The company also develops computer hardware and software for other companies. The company has several subsidiary companies. Founded in 1975, Microsoft now employs more than 75,000 people worldwide. It has an annual revenue of nearly $82 billion.
Microsoft started out as a small company called Micro-Soft, but later changed its name to Microsoft. The company originally developed software for the Altair 8800, an early personal computer. Bill Gates left Harvard University to work at Microsoft. The company’s headquarters were in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but it eventually moved to Seattle, Washington. Bill Gates eventually became the youngest billionaire in the world.
Microsoft has shifted its focus toward cloud computing with the launch of the Azure platform in 2008. Azure allows consumers to build computing infrastructure in the “cloud” and offer it to other users. Microsoft has also begun offering Office 365, a cloud version of its popular business software suite. The company has also worked hard to make key on-premises applications compatible with Azure.
Microsoft has a long history of innovation and is one of the world’s largest software companies. Its Windows operating system, Microsoft Office productivity suite and Internet Explorer web browser are among its most well-known products. Microsoft also produces a variety of consumer software and is a leader in the digital services market. It also has a line of hardware, including Xbox.
Microsoft has made billions of dollars by diversifying its business model. It has acquired Skype Technologies for $8.5 billion in May 2011. The company has also become a major player in the mobile phone industry. Microsoft is expanding into new markets, such as video games, and the digital services industry. Microsoft’s Windows Azure platform is the company’s entry into the public cloud computing market.
Microsoft started planning for a new operating system in 2001. The project was initially called Longhorn, but there were delays in its development. The goal was to address consumer concerns over security and to integrate the PC with the modern electronic home. The new operating system, named Vista, was released to software developers in late 2006, and the general public in 2007. It encountered some problems in the early days, such as compatibility issues with older computer peripherals.
Microsoft’s latest acquisition is LinkedIn. The company plans to integrate LinkedIn into its Microsoft Teams social network. It also acquired Nuance Communications, which makes speech recognition software such as Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Microsoft also acquired Activision-Blizzard, which developed the popular games Diablo and Call of Duty. These are just a few of the most recent additions to Microsoft’s portfolio.
Despite the recent changes in the leadership of the company, Microsoft remains a leading player in the information technology world. Microsoft has been defining how computers work since its founding by Bill Gates in 1981.
