Microsoft is a global corporation that develops software, services, and hardware for the computer. It is based in Redmond, Washington, and has offices in more than 60 countries. The company’s products include Internet browsers, operating systems, business software, computer peripherals, games, and entertainment products.

Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft in thebirdsworld 1975. They began writing a compiler for the Altair 8800, a primitive early computer. Later, they worked on other programming languages, such as BASIC, Visual Basic, and Visual C++.

MS-DOS was released with the IBM PC in 1981. The operating system was a huge moneymaker for Microsoft. By the late 1980s, Microsoft was selling over 100 million copies of its operating system.

In 1993, Microsoft introduced Windows NT. This version of the operating system improved reliability and network security. Windows NT was hailed as a likely standard for PC networking.

Microsoft launched its Xbox game console system in 2001. The system was designed as a direct competitor to Nintendo. However, it faced strong competition from the Sony PlayStation and Nintendo Wii.

Microsoft’s entry into the entertainment industry was not without controversy. Although the company had a competitive product lineup, it was not aware of the commercial potential of networks and the Internet.

The company also received an antitrust infosportsworld lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice. The Department’s investigation concluded with a settlement and a change in Microsoft’s sales practices.

During the Great Recession of 2007-09, Microsoft’s revenue continued to grow. It was one of the companies that saw the largest growth in earnings