Microsoft Corporation is a multinational technology company founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975. Based in Redmond, Washington, USA, Microsoft produces computer software, consumer electronics, and other related services.
Microsoft is known for its Windows operating system, Office software, and electronic game systems. Its products also include cloud computing and business intelligence tools.
Microsoft’s main research and development center is in Redmond, Washington. The company’s sales offices are in more than 60 countries.
Microsoft also operates a research laboratory in Bangalore, India and a research laboratory in Cambridge, England. Besides developing its own products, Microsoft also sells computer peripherals, consumer electronics, and other hardware.
In the 1990s, Microsoft began to develop software for the Internet. However, the company was slow to realize the commercial potential of network systems. Its first major foray into the Internet was with Netscape Communications Corp. Eventually, Microsoft was able to persuade Internet service providers to distribute its own browser, Explorer.
Microsoft also offers various operating systems for desktop computers. These include Windows XP Home, Windows XP Professional, Windows 7 and Windows 8.
One of the most well-known features of Microsoft’s Windows operating system is the user interface. This includes the start button, icons, and a taskbar. The interface has been used in every version of the OS.
Other features include a built-in e-mail program, a calendar, and contacts. Additionally, Microsoft offers a digital notebook called OneNote, which provides users with tools for taking free form notes.
