Microsoft Corporation, founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen on April 4, 1975, is a multinational technology company headquartered in Redmond, Washington. It is one of the world's largest and most influential technology companies, with a wide range of products and services. Microsoft's primary business is developing, manufacturing, licensing, and supporting software, hardware, and services for personal computers, gaming consoles, and other devices. Microsoft is listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market under the ticker symbol "MSFT."
One of Microsoft's most noteworthy achievements is the development of the Windows operating system. The company released its first version of Windows in 1985, which revolutionized the personal computer industry by introducing a graphical user interface. Windows quickly became the dominant operating system for PCs worldwide and continues to be a flagship product for Microsoft. Over the years, Microsoft has released several major versions of Windows, including Windows 95, Windows XP, Windows 7, and the more recent Windows 10.
In addition to the Windows operating system, Microsoft is known for its productivity software suite, Microsoft Office. This suite includes popular applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, which are widely used in businesses and homes globally. Microsoft Office has become a standard tool for creating and editing documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and managing email.
Another noteworthy aspect of Microsoft's business is its expansion into cloud computing with its Azure platform. Azure provides cloud-based infrastructure and services for businesses, enabling them to build, deploy, and manage applications and services on a global scale. Microsoft has made significant investments in cloud technology and has become a major competitor in the cloud computing market.