Microsoft Corporation
History
Microsoft Corporation was founded by William H. Gates III and Paul Allen on April 4, 1975, with the goal of developing and selling BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800 microcomputer. The company rose to dominate the personal computer operating system market with MS-DOS in the mid-1980s, followed by Microsoft Windows.
Products and Services
Microsoft's core product, the Windows Operating System, has seen numerous iterations since its inception, with the latest version being Windows 10. The company also produces a range of other software for desktops and servers, including Internet search (with Bing), the digital services market (through MSN), and mobile phones (via the operating systems of Nokia's former phones and Windows Phone OS).
In the field of software, Microsoft also provides the Microsoft Office Suite, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, among others. These applications are essential tools in the modern office environment.
In addition to software, Microsoft also ventured into hardware with the launch of the Xbox gaming console series. The Xbox brand has been a strong competitor in the console market, with popular franchises like Halo and Gears of War under its belt.
Corporate Affairs
Microsoft's corporate culture is known for its competitive and demanding nature. The company follows a rigorous performance assessment system known as "stack ranking", which has been subject to criticism.
Microsoft has been involved in numerous legal issues, including anti-trust litigation. The most notable of these is the United States v. Microsoft case, where the company was accused of maintaining a monopoly and engaging in anti-competitive practices.
Criticism and Controversy
Microsoft has faced criticism for various practices including bundling, product activation, copyright infringement, and for being a monopoly. The company has been the subject of numerous lawsuits by various entities, most notably the U.S. government.