Definition: Microsoft

(Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, WA) One of the most successful software companies in the tech world. Microsoft's software and Intel's hardware pioneered the PC and revolutionized the computer industry. Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, its Windows operating systems are the de facto standards on the desktop and major contenders in the server arena. Microsoft Office is the most successful application suite in history. The company also has a thriving business in programming languages, which are its roots, as well as in numerous other software categories.

Gates and Allen were two college students when they wrote the first BASIC interpreter for the Intel 8080 microprocessor (see 8080). MBASIC was licensed to Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems to accompany its Altair 8800 kit. By the end of 1976, more than 10,000 Altairs were sold, and versions were licensed to Radio Shack, Apple and others. Although the company became a leader in programming languages, its outstanding success was caused by fitting IBM PCs with DOS in 1981 and non-IBM PCs with MS-DOS. In 1990, Windows 3.0, its third version of Windows, was enormously popular. Later, Windows 95 and Windows NT cemented Microsoft's leadership. See Altair and Windows 3.0.

After the explosion of the Web, Microsoft gave away its Internet Explorer (IE) browser and then integrated it into Windows. IE became the leading on-ramp to the Internet, and the company embraced the online world with MSN Network and numerous MSN-branded applications and services (see MSN). IE was eventually replaced (see Edge browser).

Although Microsoft is known for its software, it is also a hardware company, offering mice, keyboards, Webcams and the very successful Xbox gaming console (see Xbox). In 2013, Microsoft acquired the handset division of Nokia, giving it complete control over its innovative smartphone platform. However, it later abandoned the mobile phone business (see Windows Phone). Introduced in 2015, the HoloLens ventured into augmented reality (see Windows Mixed Reality). See Windows, DOS, Microsoft Office and Microsoftie.

William H. Gates, III

By the turn of the century, Bill Gates became the most widely known business entrepreneur in the world, regardless of industry. (Image courtesy of Microsoft Corporation.)

The Microsoft Campus

This is the main building of the sprawling Microsoft campus in Redmond, Washington, near Seattle. (Image courtesy of Microsoft Corporation.)