Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology corporation that produces 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. Microsoft ranked No. 21 in the 2020 Fortune 500 rankings of the largest United States corporations by total revenue. It is one of the Big Five American information technology companies, alongside Google, Amazon, Apple, and Meta.
1975: Microsoft founded
January 1, 1979: Microsoft moves from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Bellevue, Washington
By 1980, Microsoft formed its Consumer Products Division and is adapting software like Adventure, Typing Tutor and Olympic Decathlon for various microcomputers like the TRS-80.
In August 1981, IBM shipped its new PC running MS-DOS, Microsoft Basic and Microsoft Cobol and other software are also available, which becomes the new standard for the industry.
In 1982, Microsoft enters the business productivity category with Multiplan, followed shortly by Microsoft Word which happens to work with the new Microsoft Mouse released in early 1983.
In 1985, Windows, Microsoft’s GUI platform finally hits the market after Excel for the Macintosh ups the spreadsheet ante.
In 1986, Big changes in this year when Microsoft moves to its new corporate headquarters in Redmond, WA and goes public at a $21 per share price.
In 1989, the first version of Office hits the market, creating a new category “suite” for productivity software.
In 1990, Windows 3.0 ships in the spring and includes the free and addicting game of solitaire.
In 1991, Visual Basic code-named Thunder launches, pioneering the graphical application development environment category, and making it even easier to develop Windows software. This is also the year when Rick Rashid joins Microsoft to start a new group called Microsoft Research, tasked with expanding the reach of personal computing.
In 1992, Access and FoxPro databases for Windows ships, making it easier for non-developers to manage their data.
In 1993, Microsoft introduces its Home brand of software, including reference titles like Encarta, Dogs and Dinosaurs, and its first software created especially for Kids, Creative Writer and Fine Artist.
In 1994, For the first time, Microsoft launches an advertising campaign for the all-up brand, titled “Where do you want to go today?”.
In 1995, Windows 95 and Office 95 ship this year in a whirlwind of mainstream publicity. MSN ships as a Windows 95 option, and Internet explorer 1.0 ships as part of Windows 95 Plus! Pack.
In 1998, Windows 98 launched simultaneously in more than 40 countries. It features support for a new technology, USB.
In 1999, Internet Explorer 5.0 launches with more than one million downloads in the first week. Office 2000 is also released and mediation begins in the antitrust suit filed a year before.
2001 sees the launch of the Windows XP Operating System and the Office XP office suite. Microsoft also launches the new Xbox gaming console with a five-game line-up including Halo.
2003 sees the release of Windows Server 2003 and Office 2003, which includes a brand new productivity application called OneNote.
In 2005, the Xbox 360 games console is launched as a 24-hour party in the Mojave desert. At the same time, Office and Windows head toward the cloud with preview of their Live versions. This years also sees the granting of Microsoft’s 5,000th patent.
In 2009, some products get a major overhaul and other efforts are brand new, as Microsoft launches Windows 7, Bing search engine, Azure and opens the very first Microsoft Retail Stores.
Social investments mark in 2011, with the purchase of Skype, the video and voice chat service.
In 2013, Office Home Premium launches and hits the one million subscriber mark 100 days later. Also in July, Steve Ballmer announces the “One Microsoft” realignment designed to enable innovation across teams. In the same year, the Xbox One is revealed to the press in May and ships in November.
2015 sees the release of Windows 10, which was built from the ground up to power a cloud-first world.
In 2016, Microsoft introduces Surface Studio, Surface Dial, new Surface Book and Windows 10 Creators Update.
On May 2, 2017, Microsoft introduces new technology for education, including Windows 10 S, new Surface Laptop, and Microsoft Teams for classrooms.
In 2019, Microsoft opens flagship store in London. Other flagship locations include New York City opened in October 2015, and Sydney, Australia opened in November 2015.
Microsoft makes a stunning hardware announcement with two devices. Surface Duo and Surface Neo, available for the 2020 holiday season.
According to tnmoc.org; news.microsoft.com. Source of photo: internet
