Microsoft (English: Microsoft; NASDAQ: MSFT) is an American multinational computer technology company that mainly develops, manufactures, licenses and provides a wide range of computer software services.
Headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA, its most famous and best-selling products are the Microsoft Windows operating system and Microsoft Office office software, as well as the Xbox gaming business. Microsoft is ranked 95th on the 2015 list of the world's largest 500 companies by Fortune magazine.
Main products:
1. Operating system
1. Windows
Windows: a graphical operating system called "Window"; It has many versions. The latest version of the desktop version is Windows 10, and the latest version of the server is Windows Server 2016. Windows is preinstalled on almost all personal computers.
The earliest version was Windows 1.0, but it was not until Windows 3.0 that it became successful. Since then, Microsoft has successively launched personal user versions and a series of server versions such as Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000, XP, 7, 8, 8.1 and 10. Because it is in an era when personal computers are widely popularized, WindowsXP has far-reaching influence and is widely regarded as the most successful system.
2. Windows Phone
Windows Phone is a mobile operating system released by Microsoft. It integrates Microsoft's Xbox LIVE games, Zune music and unique video experience into mobile phones. The latest system is Windows Phone (now Windows 10 Mobile)
At 9:30 pm on October 11, 2010, Microsoft officially released the smartphone operating system Windows Phone.
2. Application software
1. Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer (IE for short) is the latest version of the Windows Internet Explorer browser series that is widely used around the world ,
It integrates more new functions of personalization, intelligence, and privacy protection, injecting new experiences into online life, making every day online surfing faster, simpler, safer, and full of fun. (Not open source software).
Internet Explorer is a web browser launched by the American Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft). As of September 2010, statistical data shows that IE's share is as high as 59.65%. Although it is still the most widely used web browser, its market share has declined year by year compared with its peak in 2003. On older versions of Windows operating systems, it is independent and free.
2. Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office is an office software suite based on the Windows operating system developed by Microsoft Corporation. Commonly used components include Word, Excel, Powerpoint, etc. The latest version is Office365 (Office2016).
Microsoft Office is a set of office software developed by Microsoft Corporation. It is developed for Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS.
Like the Office application, it includes federated server and Internet-based services. The latest version of Office is called the "Officesystem" version, which includes Word (word processing), Excel (spreadsheet), Access (desktop database), PowerPoint (presentation), and Outlook (personal email and schedule management).
3.
Network products
In the mid-1990s, Microsoft began to expand its product line into the computer network field. Microsoft launched the online service MSN on August 24, 1995.
MSN is a direct competitor of AOL and the flagship brand for Microsoft's other online products.
In 1996, Microsoft and the American broadcast giant NBC jointly founded MSNBC, a comprehensive 24-hour news channel and online news service provider.
At the end of 1997, Microsoft acquired Hotmail, the most popular webmail service provider. Hotmail was renamed MSNHotmail and became MicrosoftAccount, an integrated login services platform, now renamed Outlook.com.
Windows Live Messenger is an instant messaging program launched by Microsoft in 1999. It is the main competitor of America Online's AOL Instant Messager, ICQ, and QQ. It stopped serving on October 31, 2013.
On May 10, 2011, it was announced that it would acquire Skype for US$8.5 billion.
Extended information:
The company was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. In the early days, it mainly developed and sold BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800. In the mid-1980s, it made great progress in the home computer operating system market with MS-DOS. The later emergence of Windows allowed Microsoft to gradually dominate the home desktop computer operating system market.
At the same time, Microsoft also began to expand its business and enter other industries and markets, creating the MSN website. In the computer hardware market, the Microsoft trademark and Xbox game consoles, Zune and MSNTV home entertainment devices also appeared in different years. in the market[3]. Microsoft's initial public offering in 1986 has created four billionaires and 12,000 millionaires thanks to its rising stock price.
As the company becomes stronger, Microsoft has also been increasingly criticized and criticized, and has never stopped for decades. Practices such as refusal to trade and bundled sales invite monopoly and unfair competition lawsuits. The U.S. Department of Justice and the European Commission have both made adverse rulings against Microsoft under antitrust laws.
Reference: Baidu Encyclopedia: Microsoft Corporation