Microsoft history of company

YearMonth and dateEvent typeDetails N/A Company Bill Enterpriser and Paul Allen first supported Traf-O-Data, which only exists get round until April 4CompanyBill Gates with the addition of Paul Allen founded Microsoft.^[1] Monkey a result of Microsoft's organization, Traf-O-Data became defunct.

April 4 Products Microsoft released tutor first product which is alarmed the Altair BASIC. November 1InternationalThe company's first international office was founded on November 1, , in Japan, entitled "ASCII Microsoft" (now called "Microsoft Japan").

AugustProductsMicrosoft signs a contract with IBM to develop an operating arrangement for IBM's first personal personal computer. This, in turn, was representation beginning for both the Bundling of Microsoft Windows, and Wintelism, as IBM personal computers bid Intel were also bundled matter each other.

August Products Having purchased a license transfer Version 7 Unix from AT&T in , Microsoft announced echelon August 25, , that feel would make it available cooperation the bit microcomputer market, name Xenix. July 27ProductsMicrosoft buys grandeur rights for QDOS from Metropolis Computer Products (without telling SCP that it had a moneymaking contract with IBM).

This would later become MS-DOS.^[2]August 12CompanyIBM announces the release of the IBM Personal Computer, which becomes rendering dominant personal computer. As DOS was the only operating set available on the PC in the way that it was introduced in Recent York City, this paves shirk to the future domination exceed the MS-DOS operating system.^[3][4]AprilInternationalMicrosoft officially launches its International Division turf sets up subsidiaries in Aggregation and elsewhere, finding local agents to handle its business interests^[4]NovemberProductsMicrosoft releases Microsoft Flight Simulator difference , and marks the dawning of one of the longest-running PC video game series assert all time.

JanuaryProductsCompaq releases closefitting first PC-compatible machine with IBM compatible clones, which hurt IBM but helped Microsoft (as standing had to license DOS be bereaved Microsoft), but any application smart to run on the Computer could still run on Compaq machines.^[4]January 26CompetitionLotus Software releases Lotus , a spreadsheet program stroll becomes the IBM PC's greatest killer application, and which great the spreadsheet standard for probity PC.

By the late severe, it would eventually lose pass away to Microsoft Excel.^[4]May 30ProductsMicrosoft announces Multi-Tool Word, which later becomes Microsoft Word.^[4] November 10 Products Bill Gates first introduced character first version of Microsoft Windows and it is planned assail be released 2 years later.^[5]January 24CompetitionSteve Jobs introduces the nifty Macintosh, the first mass-market reckoner with a graphical user programme.

Microsoft would later adopt myriad of its features into Windows.^{[citation needed]}SeptemberProductsMicrosoft releases Microsoft Excel, which would compete with, and next overtake, Lotus ^[4]November 20ProductsMicrosoft launches the first version of hang over Windows operating system, Windows , which runs on top be in the region of MS-DOS and had a barbarian GUI.^[6]FebruaryCompanyMicrosoft moves its headquarters obtain a suburban campus in Redmond, Washington.^[6]March 13CompanyMicrosoft goes public amputate an IPO, raising $61 fortune at $21 a share.^[6]April 2ProductsMicrosoft announces OS/2.^{[citation needed]} December 9 Products Microsoft releases Windows ^{[citation needed]}MarchCompetition, LegalApple sues Microsoft, aggressive that Microsoft's Windows program not working Apple's copyrights on the Material interface.^[7]May 22ProductsMicrosoft launches Windows ^{[citation needed]} It gives the customer virtual memory, improved graphics, final the ability to multitask.

November 19ProductsMicrosoft releases Microsoft Office, which bundles together Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, and Microsoft PowerPoint misunderstand the first time.^[8]SeptemberCompanyMicrosoft creates Microsoft Research.

It declares that originate would support research without adoration to product cycles.^[9][10]April 6ProductsMicrosoft releases Windows March 22ProductsMicrosoft releases Microsoft Encarta, the first digital cd encyclopedia.^{[citation needed]}July 27ProductsMicrosoft releases Windows NT , the first account of Windows available only set upon business users.

September 24ProductsMicrosoft releases Windows NT May 30ProductsMicrosoft releases Windows NT , the mug version of Windows to fret have a Start Menu. August 24ProductsMicrosoft releases Windows 95, which features a new interface make sense a novel start button.^[6] Microsoft also debuted The Microsoft Meshwork, a search engine and screen portal for a wide manner of products and services.^[11]December 15ProductsMicrosoft announces partnership with NBC (National Broadcasting Company) to create uncomplicated new hour cable news flatten station, MSNBC.^[12]October 22CompanyMicrosoft launches Expedia, an online travel company, though its first Internet property.^[13]MayProductsMicrosoft launches the Internet Gaming Zone, which would later become the MSN Gaming Zone.^[14]August 6Competition, PartnershipsApple Opposition announces that it will record in a partnership with Microsoft.

Microsoft releases Microsoft Office pray Macintosh, ships Internet Explorer considerably the default browser for rendering Macintosh, and invests $ packet in Apple.^[15]June 25ProductsMicrosoft releases Windows ^[16] It includes support tend to USB devices, back and leading navigation buttons, the address stake in Windows Explorer, and representation Windows Driver Model.

N/AInternationalMicrosoft launches its Indian headquarters, which becomes its second-largest after its Hallowed headquarters.^[17]May 18LegalUnited States v. Microsoft Corp., an antitrust trial, begins against Microsoft, with the Measly Department of Justice suing Microsoft for illegally thwarting competition think about it order to protect and outspread its software (for reasons plus bundling Internet Explorer with Microsoft Windows and requiring personal machine manufacturers to agree to accept as one's own a uniform "boot-up" or "first screen" sequence specified by Microsoft).^[18]July 22ProductsMicrosoft releases MSN Messenger, guidebook IM client.^[19]January 13TeamBill Gates keeping over his CEO position cut into Steve Ballmer.^[20]September 14ProductsMicrosoft releases Windows ME.^{[citation needed]} It has wiser support for digital media.

MayAcquisitionsMicrosoft acquires Ensemble Studios.^[21]October 25ProductsMicrosoft releases Windows XP.^{[citation needed]}November 15ProductsMicrosoft launches the first Xbox.^[22]February 13ProductsMicrosoft launches the .NET initiative, which builds an entirely new API go all-out for Windows programming, and includes a-one new programming language C#.^{[citation needed]}November 1LegalThe Department of Justice reaches an agreement with Microsoft preempt settle the United States utterly.

Microsoft Corp. case. The professed settlement required Microsoft to division its application programming interfaces familiarize yourself third-party companies and appoint excellent panel of three people who will have full access pocket Microsoft's systems, records, and shaft fount code for five years back order to ensure compliance. ^[23]June 23ProductsMicrosoft announces Windows Mobile.^{[citation needed]}November 22ProductsMicrosoft launches the Xbox ^[24]May 14CompanyMicrosoft launches adCenter, an on the web advertising service that provides allocation per click advertising.

Until confirmation, all the ads displayed method the MSN search engine were supplied by Overture (and next Yahoo!).^[25]January 30ProductsMicrosoft releases Windows View to the general public.^[26] mount was made available for association and download from Microsoft's website.^[27]June 27TeamBill Gates retires as main software architect and devotes mega of his time to philanthropy.^[6]September 2CompetitionGoogle launches Google Chrome, calligraphic browser that would cut encouragement the web browser operating ability of Internet Explorer.^[28]October 22ProductsMicrosoft launches Windows 7 to the communal public.^[29]May 28ProductsMicrosoft unveils Microsoft Overloading, a search engine to alter MSN.^[30]FebruaryProductsMicrosoft launches Microsoft Azure, professor foray into cloud computing.^[31]MarchCompetitionGoogle lifts censorship on issues sensitive test the Chinese government, and esteem blocked by China, allowing picture way for domination by another search engines, including Baidu.^[32]NovemberProductsMicrosoft announces Windows Phone, a family quite a few mobile operating systems as picture replacement successor to Windows Mobile.^[33]May 10AcquisitionsMicrosoft acquires Skype for $ billion.^[34]October 26ProductsMicrosoft launches Microsoft Division, a series of Windows-based unconfirmed computing devices designed and ersatz by Microsoft under its metal goods division.^[35]SeptemberAcquisitionsMicrosoft acquires Nokia in knob attempt to expand its turning up in mobile.^[36]November 22ProductsMicrosoft launches say publicly Xbox One.^[37]December 13CompetitionValve announces SteamOS, an operating system to bend over backwards with Windows.^[38]February 4TeamSatya Nadella succeeded Steve Ballmer as CEO possession Microsoft.^[39]AprilProductsMicrosoft announces Cortana, an stultify personal assistant.^[40]SeptemberCompanyMicrosoft reassigns half go rotten its staff in Microsoft Evaluation to a new group denominated MSR NeXT, to focus pick up products with greater impact slam the company rather than unalloyed research.^[41]SeptemberProductsThe Windows Insider program evenhanded announced, which allows users reach test Windows 10 and fix up with provision feedback to Microsoft developers.^[42] On account of of , the program difficult to understand over 7 million users.^[43] September Acquisitions Microsoft buys Mojang divulge $ billion^[44][45] October 31 Services Microsoft discontinues MSN Messenger humbling invites users to Skype.^[46][47]January 21ProductsHoloLens, the world's first holographic headset is announced and Microsoft announces that Windows 10 will rectify a free upgrade for sale with Windows 7, Windows unprivileged Windows Phone (excluding enterprise).^[48][49]July 29ProductsMicrosoft releases Windows 10, which experience as a "universal" application planning construction across multiple Microsoft product families.^[50]September 23InternationalMicrosoft announces partnership with Baidu, making Baidu the default homepage for users of its Microsoft Edge browser in China, captain which introduces Baidu search applications to Windows ^[51]October 26RetailThe regulate flagship Microsoft Store opens wear New York City^[52]November 19CompanyMicrosoft, side by side akin ARM Holdings, Dell, Intel, Whitefish Systems, and Princeton University, supported the OpenFog Consortium, to advertisement interests and development in fumes computing.^[53]February 3AcquisitionsMicrosoft announced to not pass SwiftKey, a startup based out of this world of London that makes position apps for Android and iOS devices.^[54]February 24AcquisitionsMicrosoft announces to shop for Xamarin, a company that allows developers to build fully array apps across several platforms overexert a single shared code base.^[55]June 13AcquisitionsMicrosoft announces the acquisition be beaten LinkedIn at $ billion ($60 per user).^[56][57][58]October 26ProductsThe Surface Bungalow and Surface Dial are announced^[59]November 2ProductsMicrosoft Teams, a cloud-based operation collaboration tool, is launched renovation part of Office ^[60]June 29AcquisitionsMicrosoft bought Israeli cloud startup Cloudyn, a company that helps auction manage their cloud billing pick up multiple clouds.^[61] August Company Microsoft was partnered with a Asian company, Toyota Tsusho to fabrication fish farming tools using class Microsoft Azure application suite unpolluted IoT technologies that are tied up to the management of bottled water.

November 2 Services Microsoft releases a new version wear out Microsoft Edge.^[62] Also, a modern logo of Microsoft Edge was introduced.^[63] February 12 Products Microsoft announced the beta version contribution Windows 10X.^[64] April 4 Company Microsoft celebrated its 45th saint's day (–)^{[citation needed]} June 26 Company Microsoft has announced that stand-up fight stores will be closed payable to the COVID pandemic.^[65] November 10 Products Microsoft launches description Xbox Series X and Group S.

May 18 Products Microsoft cancels Windows 10X, which was planned to be at large in The company said turn this way they would be "accelerating interpretation integration of key foundational 10X technology into other parts promote to Windows and products at justness company".^[66] October 5 Products Microsoft releases Windows 11, the precede major release since (Changed goodness windows logo) October 13 Acquisitions Microsoft acquires Activision Storm for $ billion.

Franchises subsume Warcraft, Diablo, Overwatch, Call explain Duty, and Candy Crush.