Microsoft

Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology company with headquarters in Redmond, Washington. It develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services. Its best known software products are the Microsoft Windows line of operating systems, the Microsoft Office suite, and the Internet Explorer and Edge web browsers. Its flagship hardware products are the Xbox video game consoles and the Microsoft Surface lineup of touchscreen personal computers.

History

Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen on April 4, 1975, to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800. It rose to dominate the personal computer operating system market with MS-DOS in the mid-1980s, followed by Microsoft Windows. The company's 1986 initial public offering (IPO), and subsequent rise in its share price, created three billionaires and an estimated 12,000 millionaires among Microsoft employees.

Products and services

Microsoft's wide range of products and services includes operating systems for personal computers, servers, phones, and other intelligent devices; server applications for distributed computing environments; productivity applications; business solution applications; desktop and server management tools; software development tools; video games; and online advertising.

Software

Microsoft's most popular products are its Microsoft Windows operating systems and Microsoft Office suite. The company also produces a wide range of other software for desktops and servers, and is active in areas including Internet search (with Bing), the video game industry (with the Xbox, Xbox 360 and Xbox One consoles), the digital services market (through MSN), and mobile phones (via the operating systems of Nokia's former phones and Windows Phone OS).

Hardware

Microsoft is a major manufacturer of personal computers, with the Microsoft Surface series of tablets being its flagship hardware line. The company also produces a range of other hardware including the Xbox game console, the Microsoft Band fitness tracker, and the HoloLens augmented reality headset.

Criticism and controversies

Microsoft has faced criticism for its business tactics, including anti-competitive practices, privacy concerns, and its handling of personal data. The company has also been the subject of numerous lawsuits by various governments and other companies for various reasons.

See also

• History of Microsoft
• List of acquisitions by Microsoft
• List of Microsoft software
• List of Microsoft services