Microsoft owns the Windows operating system and has its headquarters in Redmond, Washington.
Bill Gates and Paul Allen founded Microsoft in 1975. The company first became widely known for developing software for personal computers, especially the MS-DOS operating system supplied with IBM-compatible PCs. Windows followed as a graphical operating-system family and became one of Microsoft’s defining products.
Microsoft expanded far beyond Windows. Its major businesses include the Microsoft 365 productivity suite, Azure cloud computing, Xbox gaming, LinkedIn, enterprise software, and professional developer tools. This diversified business model has supported Microsoft’s position among the world’s largest companies by market capitalization.
Microsoft moved its headquarters from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to the Seattle-area region in 1979 and is now based in Redmond. IBM helped popularize the PC market but does not own Windows, while Apple develops macOS and Oracle specializes in enterprise database and cloud technologies.