Microsoft, founded in 1975, developed Windows and became one of the world’s most valuable companies by market capitalization.
Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on April 4, 1975. The company first became known for supplying a version of the BASIC programming language, then gained enormous influence through MS-DOS and the Windows operating system.
Windows became a standard platform for personal computers and helped Microsoft build major businesses in software licensing, productivity applications, and enterprise technology. Microsoft later expanded into cloud computing through Azure, gaming through Xbox, and professional networking through LinkedIn.
Microsoft’s stock-market value has fluctuated with its share price and the number of shares outstanding. Its market capitalization is therefore different from revenue, profit, or total assets. Oracle, IBM, and SAP are also major technology companies, but they are separate corporations with different founding histories and product portfolios.