Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational corporation and technology company headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Microsoft’s best-known software products are the Windows line of operating systems, the Microsoft 365 suite of productivity applications, and the Edge web browser.
when microsoft founded
Microsoft was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen on April 4, 1975, to develop and sell BASIC interpreters for the Altair 8800.
The January 1975 issue of Popular Electronics featured Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems’s (MITS) Altair 8800 microcomputer, which inspired Allen to suggest that they could program a BASIC interpreter for the device.
Ownership as of 2024
Shareholder name | Percentage |
---|---|
The Vanguard Group | 8.9% |
BlackRock | 5.6% |
State Street Corporation | 4.0% |
Fidelity Investments | 2.9% |
Geode Capital Management | 2.1% |
T. Rowe Price International | 1.9% |
Eaton Vance | 1.7% |
JP Morgan Investment Management | 1.6% |
Bill Gates | 1.4% |
BlackRock Life | 1.4% |
Others | 68.5% |
List of Microsoft software
- Microsoft is a developer of personal computer software.
- Known for Windows operating system, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge web browsers, Microsoft Office, and Visual Studio IDE.
- Also publishes books through Microsoft Press and video games through Xbox Game Studios.
- Produces its own line of hardware.
Microsoft is a renowned developer of personal computer software. They are known for their Windows operating system, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Edge web browsers, Microsoft Office, and Visual Studio IDE. In addition, Microsoft publishes books through Microsoft Press and video games through Xbox Game Studios. They also produce their own line of hardware.
Microsoft offers a wide range of products and services across various categories. Here’s a list covering some of the key Microsoft products as of my last update in January 2022:
- Operating Systems:
- Windows 10
- Windows 11
- Windows Server
- Productivity Suites:
- Microsoft Office (includes applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more)
- Microsoft 365 (subscription-based service that includes Office applications, cloud storage, and other productivity services)
- Cloud Services:
- Microsoft Azure (cloud computing platform and services)
- Microsoft 365 Cloud services (Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, Teams, etc.)
- Development Tools:
- Visual Studio (integrated development environment)
- Visual Studio Code (lightweight source code editor)
- .NET Framework
- Visual Studio Team Services (now Azure DevOps)
- Database Management:
- Microsoft SQL Server
- Azure SQL Database
- Azure Cosmos DB
- Business Applications:
- Dynamics 365 (suite of ERP and CRM applications)
- Power Platform (suite of tools for building and deploying custom apps and workflows)
- Devices and Hardware:
- Xbox gaming consoles
- Surface devices (Surface Pro, Surface Laptop, Surface Studio, etc.)
- Microsoft accessories (keyboards, mice, webcams, etc.)
- Collaboration and Communication:
- Microsoft Teams (collaboration platform)
- Skype (communication platform for video calls, messaging, and voice calls)
- Search and Advertising:
- Bing (search engine)
- Microsoft Advertising (advertising platform)
- Security and Management:
- Microsoft Defender (antivirus and security software)
- Microsoft Endpoint Manager (integrated management platform for devices and applications)
- Business Intelligence and Analytics:
- Power BI (business analytics service)
- Azure Analytics services (various services for data analysis, data warehousing, and big data analytics)
- Education:
- Microsoft Education (suite of tools and services for educators and students)
- Minecraft: Education Edition
This list is not exhaustive, as Microsoft continues to innovate and expand its product portfolio. Additionally, some products may have undergone updates or changes since my last update, so it’s always a good idea to check the latest information from Microsoft’s official website or other reliable sources.
Microsoft rewards
Microsoft Rewards is a loyalty program by Microsoft that allows users to earn points for various activities and then redeem those points for rewards such as gift cards, sweepstakes entries, and donations to charitable organizations. Here’s how it generally works:
- Activities to Earn Points: Users can earn points by performing various tasks such as searching the web using Bing, completing quizzes, taking surveys, shopping at the Microsoft Store, and participating in promotional offers. The activities available to earn points may vary by region.
- Point Accumulation: As users engage in these activities, they accumulate points in their Microsoft Rewards account. The number of points earned for each activity can vary.
- Point Redemption: Once users have accumulated a sufficient number of points, they can redeem them for a variety of rewards. These rewards include gift cards for popular retailers, Xbox Live Gold memberships, Xbox Game Pass subscriptions, discounts on Microsoft products, and more.
- Levels and Perks: Microsoft Rewards offers different levels or tiers of membership, such as Level 1 and Level 2. Users can achieve higher levels by earning more points. Higher levels typically come with perks such as bonus points for certain activities, exclusive offers, and discounts on rewards.
- Bing Rewards Integration: Microsoft Rewards was formerly known as Bing Rewards and has since been integrated into the broader Microsoft Rewards program. Users can still earn points by searching on Bing, but they can also earn points through other activities across the Microsoft ecosystem.
- Membership and Eligibility: Microsoft Rewards is typically available to users with Microsoft accounts in eligible regions. Users must be at least 13 years old to participate, and there may be additional eligibility criteria depending on the region.
Overall, Microsoft Rewards incentivizes users to engage with Microsoft products and services while rewarding them for their loyalty through various activities and incentives.
microsoft exchange
Microsoft Exchange is a messaging and collaboration platform developed by Microsoft. It primarily serves as an email server, but it also includes calendaring, contacts, and tasks functionalities. Here are some key aspects of Microsoft Exchange:
- Email Server: Exchange is primarily known for its email server capabilities. It allows organizations to host their email accounts and manage email communication within their network.
- Calendaring and Scheduling: Exchange includes robust calendaring features that allow users to create, share, and manage calendars. Users can schedule meetings, appointments, and events, and view the availability of others within the organization.
- Contacts and Address Book: Exchange provides a centralized repository for storing and managing contact information. Users can maintain their personal contacts as well as access shared address books within the organization.
- Tasks and Notes: Exchange enables users to create and manage tasks and notes, helping them stay organized and productive.
- Integration with Outlook: Microsoft Outlook is the primary client application used to access Exchange features. Outlook provides a rich interface for email, calendar, contacts, and tasks, seamlessly integrating with Exchange.
- Mobile Access: Exchange supports mobile access, allowing users to access their email, calendar, and contacts from smartphones and tablets using native mail apps or Microsoft Outlook mobile apps.
- Security and Compliance: Exchange offers various security features to protect email communication, including encryption, anti-spam filtering, and anti-malware protection. It also includes features for compliance management and eDiscovery.
- High Availability and Resilience: Exchange is designed to provide high availability and resilience, with features such as database availability groups (DAGs) and automatic failover capabilities to ensure continuous access to email services.
- Hybrid Deployment: Organizations have the option to deploy Exchange on-premises, in the cloud (Microsoft 365), or in a hybrid environment, combining both on-premises and cloud-based Exchange deployments.
Overall, Microsoft Exchange is a versatile messaging and collaboration platform that provides organizations with the tools they need to manage their email communication effectively and securely.