Microsoft is a technology company founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen on April 4, 1975. It initially focused on developing software for personal computers. In 1980, Microsoft signed a contract with IBM to provide an operating system (OS) for their upcoming PC, which led to the creation of MS-DOS.
In 1985, Microsoft launched Windows 1.0, its first graphical user interface OS. Over the years, various versions of Windows were released, including Windows 95, Windows XP, Windows 7, and more. Windows became the dominant OS for personal computers globally.
In the 1990s, Microsoft faced antitrust lawsuits for alleged anti-competitive practices. In 2000, the company introduced Windows 2000 and Windows Me. Microsoft also ventured into other areas such as Office software, acquiring companies like PowerPoint and Excel.
The early 2000s saw the release of Windows XP and the launch of Xbox, Microsoft’s gaming console. In 2007, Microsoft released Windows Vista, followed by Windows 7 in 2009.
In 2013, Satya Nadella became the CEO of Microsoft, shifting the company’s focus towards cloud computing and services. Windows 8 and Windows 10 were launched in 2012 and 2015 respectively. Microsoft also acquired LinkedIn in 2016.Under Nadella’s leadership, Microsoft expanded its cloud offerings with Azure and intr
oduced subscription-based services like Microsoft 365. In 2018, Microsoft became the world’s most valuable publicly traded company, surpassing Apple.
Microsoft acquired GitHub, a popular software development platform, in 2018. They also introduced Surface devices and invested in artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies.
In 2020, Microsoft unveiled the Xbox Series X/S gaming consoles and continued to enhance its cloud services. They announced the acquisition of ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda Softworks, a major game developer.
This brings us to the current date. Microsoft remains a technology giant, focusing on cloud computing, software services, hardware, and gaming. It continues to innovate and expand its reach in various sectors of the tech industry.
