Microsoft

Large software and hardware developer, by sales value their software division is second only to SAP worldwide. The company was the co-author of PC-DOS and OS/2 1.x alongside IBM and the developer of Microsoft Windows, although both DOS and Windows were originally acquired from other companies. The company originally styled its name as MicroSoft as it was a shortened combination of the words "Microcomputer Software".

History

The company was founded in April 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen with the intent of delivering programming products for microcomputers, initially focusing on the FOCAL and BASIC languages due to their small sizes. The company first hit their stride after Altair hired them to deliver a Basic interpreter for the 8800 personal computer.

The company made a deal with IBM in 1981 to supply them with a Basic interpreter and operating system for the forthcoming IBM PC.

Microsoft co-founders Paul Allen & Bill Gates.
Photo taken ca 1981 and features some of the computer systems the company had provided BASIC software for.
Photo copyright Microsoft Corp. 1981.

The first version of Microsoft Windows was introduced in 1985.

Known products

Languages (OS/2)

• Microsoft Macro Assembler
• Microsoft Basic Professional
• Microsoft C
• Microsoft Cobol
• Microsoft FORTRAN
• Microsoft Pascal

Languages (DOS/Windows)

• QBasic
• QuickBASIC
• Quick C
• QuickPascal
• Microsoft Visual Basic
• Microsoft Visual C++

Database

• Rbase
• FoxPro
• SQL Server

Operating Systems

• LAN Manager
• Microsoft Windows
• MS-DOS
• MS OS/2
• Xenix

Links

• http://www.microsoft.com