Microsoft

Microsoft is a global technology company specializing in software, hardware, cloud services, and digital technologies, headquartered in Redmond. The company is best known for products such as Windows, Microsoft Office, and cloud platforms like Azure. It has grown into one of the world’s largest technology companies and software developers.

Microsoft was founded on April 4, 1975, in Albuquerque by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. The company later moved to Bellevue and eventually established its headquarters in Redmond. The name Microsoft combines the words microcomputer and software.

Microsoft’s early success came from developing a BASIC interpreter, followed by the release of MS-DOS in 1981 for IBM-compatible PCs. During the 1990s, Windows and Microsoft Office became dominant products in the personal computer market, helping establish Microsoft as a leading force in the technology industry.

Leadership evolved over time, with Steve Ballmer serving as CEO from 2000 to 2014, followed by Satya Nadella, who has led the company since 2014 and overseen a major expansion into cloud computing and artificial intelligence.