Microsoft owns the Azure cloud-computing platform and was founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
Gates and Allen established Microsoft in 1975, initially developing software for the Altair 8800 personal computer. The company became a major force in computing through operating systems such as MS-DOS and Windows, and through productivity software including Microsoft Office.
Azure is Microsoft’s cloud-computing platform. It provides services such as virtual machines, databases, storage, networking, analytics, and artificial-intelligence tools. Azure competes with Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud and has become a central part of Microsoft’s business alongside Windows, Office, gaming, and enterprise software.
Microsoft is frequently included among the world’s most valuable public companies by market capitalization. Its market value reflects investors’ assessment of the company’s future earnings and business prospects, rather than a fixed ranking that remains unchanged every day.