View source for Company:Microsoft

{{Short description|American multinational technology company}}
{{Infobox company
| name                = Microsoft Corporation
| logo                = Microsoft logo and wordmark.svg
| logo_size           = 250px
| logo_alt            = A square divided into four sub-squares, colored red-orange, green, yellow and blue (clockwise), with the company name appearing to its right.
| logo_caption        = Logo since 2012
| image               = building92microsoft.jpg
| image_size          = 260px
| image_caption       = Building 92 on the Microsoft Redmond campus
| former_name         = Microsoft Consumer Products (1980&ndash;1982)
| type                = [[Finance:Public company|Public]]
| traded_as           = {{Unbulleted list|
{{Nasdaq|MSFT}}
| Nasdaq-100 component
| DJIA component
| S&P 100 component
| S&P 500 component
}}
| ISIN                = US5949181045
| industry            = {{Unbulleted list
| [[Software development]]
| [[Computer hardware]]
| [[Engineering:Consumer electronics|Consumer electronics]]
| [[Social:Social networking service|Social networking service]]
| [[Cloud computing]]
| Video games
| [[Internet]]
| [[Finance:Corporate venture capital|Corporate venture capital]]
}}
| predecessor         = Traf-O-Data
| founded             = {{Start date and age|1975|04|04}} in {{Nowrap|Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.}}
| founders            = {{Unbulleted list
| [[Biography:Bill Gates|Bill Gates]]
| [[Biography:Paul Allen|Paul Allen]]
}}
| hq_location         = One Microsoft Way<br />Redmond, Washington
| hq_location_country = U.S.
| area_served         = Worldwide
| key_people          = {{ubl|Satya Nadella<br>{{small|(Chairman and CEO)}}|Brad Smith<br>{{small|(Vice Chairman and President)}}|Bill Gates<br>{{small|(Technical Adviser)}}}}
| brands              = {{Flatlist|
* [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Windows]]
* [[Software:Microsoft Office|Office]]
* Servers
* [[Software:Skype|Skype]]
* [[Software:Microsoft Visual Studio|Visual Studio]]
* [[Software:Microsoft Dynamics|Dynamics]]
* [[Engineering:Xbox|Xbox]]
* Surface
* [[Company:Microsoft Mobile|Mobile]]
}}
| services            = {{Flatlist|
* [[Software:Microsoft Azure|Azure]]
* [[Software:Microsoft Bing|Bing]]
* [[Company:LinkedIn|LinkedIn]]
* [[Company:Yammer|Yammer]]
* MSDN
* [[Software:Microsoft 365|Microsoft 365]]
* [[Software:OneDrive|OneDrive]]
* [[Software:Outlook.com|Outlook.com]]
* [[GitHub]]
* TechNet
* [[Software:Microsoft Pay|Pay]]
* [[Software:Microsoft Store (digital)|Microsoft Store]]
* [[Software:Windows Update|Windows Update]]
* [[Software:Xbox Game Pass|Xbox Game Pass]]
* Xbox network
}}
| revenue          = {{Increase}} {{US$|161 billion|link=yes}}<ref name="FY20-Q4">{{Cite web|url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/investor/earnings/fy-2021-q4/press-release-webcast|website=Microsoft Investor Relations|publisher=Microsoft|title=FY21 Q4 - Press Releases - Investor Relations - Microsoft}}</ref> (2021)
| operating_income = {{Increase}} {{US$|70 billion}}<ref name="FY20-Q4" /> (2021)
| net_income       = {{Increase}} {{US$|60.6 billion}}<ref name="FY20-Q4" /> (2021)
| assets           = {{Increase}} {{US$|301.3 billion}}<ref name="FY20-Q4" /> (2020)
| equity           = {{Increase}} {{US$|118.3 billion}}<ref name="FY20-Q4" /> (2020)
| num_employees    = {{Increase}} 182,268<ref>{{Cite web|title=Facts About Microsoft|date=October 23, 2014|url=https://news.microsoft.com/facts-about-microsoft/|access-date=August 7, 2021}}</ref> (Q2 2021)
| divisions        = [[Company:Xbox Game Studios|Xbox Game Studios]]
| subsid           = {{Plainlist|
* [[Company:LinkedIn|LinkedIn]]
* Skype Technologies
* [[GitHub]]
* [[Company:RiskIQ|RiskIQ]]
}}
| website          = {{URL|https://www.microsoft.com}}
}}
'''Microsoft Corporation''' is an American [[Finance:Multinational corporation|multinational]] [[Finance:Technology company|technology corporation]] which produces [[Software|computer software]], [[Engineering:Consumer electronics|consumer electronics]], [[Engineering:Personal computer|personal computer]]s, and related services. Its best known software products are the [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]] line of [[Operating system|operating system]]s, the [[Software:Microsoft Office|Microsoft Office]] [[Software:Productivity software#Office suite|suite]], and the [[Software:Internet Explorer|Internet Explorer]] and [[Software:Microsoft Edge|Edge]] [[Software:Web browser|web browser]]s. Its flagship hardware products are the [[Engineering:Xbox|Xbox]] [[Software:Video game console|video game console]]s and the Microsoft Surface lineup of [[Engineering:Touchscreen|touchscreen]] personal computers. Microsoft ranked No. 21 in the 2020 {{wipe|Fortune 500}} rankings of the largest United States corporations by total revenue;<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fortune.com/fortune500/2020/search/|title=Fortune 500 list of companies 2020|website=Fortune|language=en-US|access-date=August 19, 2020}}</ref> it was the world's [[Company:List of the largest software companies|largest software maker]] by revenue as of 2016.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/global2000/list/#industry:Software%2520%2526%2520Programming |title=The World's Biggest Public Companies |newspaper=Forbes |language=en |access-date=January 26, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150410062432/http://www.forbes.com/global2000/list/#industry:Software%2520%2526%2520Programming |archive-date=April 10, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> It is considered one of the Big Five companies in the U.S. [[Engineering:Information technology|information technology]] industry, along with [[Company:Amazon|Amazon]], [[Company:Google|Google (Alphabet)]], [[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple]], and [[Company:Meta Platforms|Facebook (Meta)]].

Microsoft (the word being a portmanteau of "microcomputer software"<ref>{{Cite encyclopedia |url=http://www.britannica.com/topic/Microsoft-Corporation |title=Microsoft Corporation |encyclopedia=Encyclopædia Britannica |access-date=June 18, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150618214355/http://www.britannica.com/topic/Microsoft-Corporation |archive-date=June 18, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>) was founded by [[Biography:Bill Gates|Bill Gates]] and [[Biography:Paul Allen|Paul Allen]] on April 4, 1975, to develop and sell [[Software:BASIC interpreter|BASIC interpreter]]s for the [[Engineering:Altair 8800|Altair 8800]]. It rose to dominate the personal computer operating system market with [[Software:MS-DOS|MS-DOS]] in the mid-1980s, followed by Microsoft Windows. The company's 1986 [[Finance:Initial public offering|initial public offering]] (IPO), and subsequent rise in its share price, created three billionaires and an estimated 12,000&nbsp;millionaires among Microsoft employees. Since the 1990s, it has increasingly diversified from the operating system market and has made a number of corporate acquisitions, their largest being the acquisition of [[Company:LinkedIn|LinkedIn]] for $26.2&nbsp;billion in December 2016,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1271024/000110465916161289/a16-22816_18k.htm |title=U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission{{Snd}} Linkedin |date=December 8, 2016 |work=US SEC |access-date=April 29, 2018 |quote=As a result of the Merger, a change in control of [Linkedin] occurred and [Linkedin] became a wholly-owned subsidiary of [Microsoft]. The transaction resulted in the payment of approximately $26.4 billion in cash merger consideration. |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018154931/https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1271024/000110465916161289/a16-22816_18k.htm |archive-date=October 18, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> followed by their acquisition of Skype Technologies for $8.5&nbsp;billion in May 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-13343600 |title=Microsoft confirms takeover of Skype |publisher=BBC |date=May 10, 2011 |access-date=April 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180620073353/https://www.bbc.com/news/business-13343600 |archive-date=June 20, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{{As of|2015}}, Microsoft is market-dominant in the IBM PC compatible operating system market and the office software suite market, although it has lost the majority of the overall operating system market to [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.computerworld.com/article/2490008/microsoft-windows/microsoft-gets-real--admits-its-device-share-is-just-14-.html |title=Microsoft gets real, admits its device share is just 14% |last=Keizer |first=Gregg |date=July 14, 2014 |website=Computerworld |publisher=International Data Group |quote=[Microsoft's chief operating officer] Turner's 14% came from a new forecast released last week by Gartner, which estimated Windows' share of the shipped device market last year was 14%, and would decrease slightly to 13.7% in 2014. [..] Android will dominate, Gartner said, with a 48% share this year |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160821210826/http://www.computerworld.com/article/2490008/microsoft-windows/microsoft-gets-real--admits-its-device-share-is-just-14-.html |archive-date=August 21, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> The company also produces a wide range of other consumer and enterprise software for desktops, laptops, tabs, gadgets, and servers, including [[Web search engine|Internet search]] (with [[Software:Microsoft Bing|Bing]]), the digital services market (through [[Software:MSN|MSN]]), [[Mixed reality|mixed reality]] ([[Engineering:Microsoft HoloLens|HoloLens]]), cloud computing ([[Software:Microsoft Azure|Azure]]), and software development ([[Software:Microsoft Visual Studio|Visual Studio]]).

Steve Ballmer replaced Gates as CEO in 2000, and later envisioned a "devices and services" strategy.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.businessinsider.com.au/microsoft-device-and-services-2013-8 |title=And Microsoft Is Giving Up On The Software Business! |last=Blodget |first=Henry |date=August 23, 2013 |work=Business Insider Australia |access-date=August 2, 2017 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802165822/https://www.businessinsider.com.au/microsoft-device-and-services-2013-8 |archive-date=August 2, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> This unfolded with Microsoft acquiring [[Company:Danger Inc.|Danger Inc.]] in 2008,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.informationweek.com/applications/notify-the-next-of-kin/d/d-id/1090416 |title=Notify The Next Of Kin |date=June 30, 2010 |work=InformationWeek |access-date=April 24, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140424124515/http://www.informationweek.com/applications/notify-the-next-of-kin/d/d-id/1090416 |archive-date=April 24, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> entering the personal computer production market for the first time in June 2012 with the launch of the Microsoft Surface line of [[Engineering:Tablet computer|tablet computer]]s, and later forming [[Company:Microsoft Mobile|Microsoft Mobile]] through the acquisition of [[Company:Nokia|Nokia]]'s devices and services division. Since Satya Nadella took over as CEO in 2014, the company has scaled back on hardware and has instead focused on [[Cloud computing|cloud computing]], a move that helped the company's [[Finance:Share|shares]] reach its highest value since December 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37724557 |title=Microsoft sees shares hit record high |date=October 21, 2016 |access-date=October 7, 2017 |website=BBC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016012110/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-37724557 |archive-date=October 16, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2017/07/03/microsofts-cloud-focus-could-mean-yet-more-layoffs/ |title=Microsoft's cloud focus could mean yet more layoffs |website=Engadget |access-date=October 7, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170802164433/https://www.engadget.com/2017/07/03/microsofts-cloud-focus-could-mean-yet-more-layoffs/ |archive-date=August 2, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Earlier dethroned by Apple in 2010, in 2018 Microsoft reclaimed its position as the most valuable publicly traded company in the world.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/how-did-microsoft-just-overtake-apple-world-s-most-valuable-n940751 |title=How did Microsoft just overtake Apple as the world's most valuable company? |work=NBC News |access-date=November 28, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129112846/https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/how-did-microsoft-just-overtake-apple-world-s-most-valuable-n940751 |archive-date=November 29, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In April 2019, Microsoft reached the {{Nowrap|trillion-dollar}} [[Social:Market capitalization|market cap]], becoming the third U.S. public company to be valued at over $1&nbsp;trillion after [[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple]] and [[Company:Amazon|Amazon]] respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/24/microsoft-q3-2019-earnings.html |last=Levy |first=Ari |date=April 24, 2019 |title=Microsoft hits $1 trillion market cap after earnings beat estimates |publisher={{wipe|CNBC}} |access-date=April 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424211049/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/04/24/microsoft-q3-2019-earnings.html |archive-date=April 24, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> {{as of|2020||}}, Microsoft has the third-highest global brand valuation.<ref>{{cite news|last=Magazine|first=BrandZ|date=1 July 2020|title=BrandZ Global Top 100 Most Valuable Brands|work=BrandZ|url=https://online.pubhtml5.com/bydd/yeib}}</ref>

== History ==

=== 1972–1985: Founding ===
[[File:Altair 8800 and Model 33 ASR Teletype .jpg|left|thumb|256x256px|An Altair 8800 computer (left) with the popular Model 33 ASR Teletype as terminal, paper tape reader, and paper tape punch.]]
[[File:1981BillPaul.jpg|thumb|left|Paul Allen and Bill Gates on October 19, 1981, after signing a pivotal contract with IBM<ref name="Allan 2001">{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/A_History_of_the_Personal_Computer |title=A History of the Personal Computer |last=Allan |first=Roy A. |publisher=Allan Publishing |isbn=978-0-9689108-0-1 |year=2001 |access-date=July 17, 2010}}</ref>{{Rp|228|date=November 2012}}]]
Childhood friends [[Biography:Bill Gates|Bill Gates]] and [[Biography:Paul Allen|Paul Allen]] sought to make a business using their skills in [[Computer programming|computer programming]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.biography.com/people/bill-gates-9307520#early-life |title=Bill Gates |publisher=Biography.com |access-date=November 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161106203412/http://www.biography.com/people/bill-gates-9307520#early-life |archive-date=November 6, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1972, they founded Traf-O-Data, which sold a rudimentary computer to track and analyze automobile traffic data. Gates enrolled at [[Organization:Harvard University|Harvard University]] while Allen pursued a degree in computer science at [[Organization:Washington State University|Washington State University]], though he later dropped out to work at [[Company:Honeywell|Honeywell]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Company History |url=http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/microsoft-corporation-history/ |access-date=March 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130806021000/http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/microsoft-corporation-history/ |archive-date=August 6, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The January 1975 issue of ''Popular Electronics'' featured [[Company:Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems|Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems]]'s (MITS) [[Engineering:Altair 8800|Altair 8800]] microcomputer,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/12/by_martin_finuc_2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090101055041/http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/12/by_martin_finuc_2.html |archive-date=January 1, 2009 |title=Harvard Square newsstand sold the magazine that started a revolution |work=Boston.com |publisher=The New York Times Company |date=December 30, 2008 |last=Finucane |first=Martin}}</ref> which inspired Allen to suggest that they could program a [[BASIC]] interpreter for the device. Gates called MITS and claimed that he had a working interpreter, and MITS requested a demonstration. Allen worked on a simulator for the Altair while Gates developed the interpreter, and it worked flawlessly when they demonstrated it to MITS in March 1975 in Albuquerque, New Mexico. MITS agreed to distribute it, marketing it as [[Software:Altair BASIC|Altair BASIC]].<ref name="Allan 2001" />{{Rp|108, 112–114|date=November 2012}} Gates and Allen established Microsoft on April 4, 1975, with Gates as CEO,<ref name="BBCTL">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5085630.stm |title=Bill Gates: A Timeline |work=BBC News Online |publisher=BBC |date=July 15, 2006 |access-date=July 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060622201711/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5085630.stm |archive-date=June 22, 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> and Allen suggested the name "Micro-Soft", short for micro-computer software.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1995/10/02/206528/index.htm |date=October 2, 1995 |title=Bill Gates & Paul Allen Talk Check Out The Ultimate Buddy Act in Business History |work=Fortune |publisher=Time Inc. |last=Schlender |first=Brent |access-date=April 25, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503155554/http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1995/10/02/206528/index.htm |archive-date=May 3, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Allen |first=Paul |date=2011 |title=Paul Allen: Idea Man |publisher=Penguin Group |page=91 |url=https://books.google.com/books?isbn=0141969385 |isbn=978-0-14-196938-1}}</ref> In August 1977, the company formed an agreement with ASCII Magazine in Japan, resulting in its first international office of [[Company:ASCII Corporation|ASCII Microsoft]].<ref>{{Cite journal |url=http://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v10n8/192_Kay_Nishi_bridges_the_cul.php |title=Kay Nishi bridges the cultural gap |last=Staples |first=Betsy |journal=Creative Computing |volume=10 |issue=8 |page=192 |date=August 1984 |access-date=July 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511110050/http://www.atarimagazines.com/creative/v10n8/192_Kay_Nishi_bridges_the_cul.php |archive-date=May 11, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Microsoft moved its headquarters to Bellevue, Washington, in January 1979.<ref name="BBCTL" />

Microsoft entered the operating system (OS) business in 1980 with its own version of [[Software:Unix|Unix]] called [[Software:Xenix|Xenix]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.computersourcemag.com/articles/viewer.asp?a=695 |title=Under The Hood: Part 8 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060901182630/http://www.computersourcemag.com/articles/viewer.asp?a=695 |archive-date=September 1, 2006 |work=Computer Source |last=Dyar |first=Dafydd Neal |date=November 4, 2002 |access-date=July 14, 2010}}</ref> but it was [[Software:MS-DOS|MS-DOS]] that solidified the company's dominance. [[Company:IBM|IBM]] awarded a contract to Microsoft in November 1980 to provide a version of the CP/M OS to be used in the [[Engineering:IBM Personal Computer|IBM Personal Computer]] (IBM PC).<ref>{{Cite book |title=Engines That Move Markets: Technology Investing from Railroads to the Internet and Beyond |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=k9xS6t4ibxoC |year=2002 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-471-20595-1 |access-date=February 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323120013/https://books.google.com/books?id=k9xS6t4ibxoC |archive-date=March 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> For this deal, Microsoft purchased a CP/M clone called [[Software:86-DOS|86-DOS]] from [[Company:Seattle Computer Products|Seattle Computer Products]] which it branded as MS-DOS, although IBM rebranded it to [[Software:IBM PC DOS|IBM PC DOS]]. Microsoft retained ownership of MS-DOS following the release of the IBM PC in August 1981. IBM had copyrighted the IBM PC [[BIOS]], so other companies had to reverse engineer it in order for non-IBM hardware to run as IBM PC compatibles, but no such restriction applied to the operating systems. Microsoft eventually became the leading PC operating systems vendor.<ref>{{Cite journal |journal=Smart Computing |publisher=Sandhills Publishing Company |volume=6 |issue=3 |url=http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/r0603/09r03/09r03.asp&guid= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040405051349/http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles%2Farchive%2Fr0603%2F09r03%2F09r03.asp&guid= |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 5, 2004 |title=Microsoft to Microsoft disk operating system (MS-DOS) |date=March 2002 |access-date=August 18, 2008 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Blaxill |first1=Mark |last2=Eckardt |first2=Ralph |title=The Invisible Edge: Taking Your Strategy to the Next Level Using Intellectual Property |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JO6kA0hebJIC&pg=PA210 |year=2009 |publisher=Portfolio |isbn=978-1-59184-237-8 |page=210 |access-date=February 8, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323120014/https://books.google.com/books?id=JO6kA0hebJIC&pg=PA210 |archive-date=March 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{Rp|210|date=November 2012}} The company expanded into new markets with the release of the [[Engineering:Microsoft Mouse|Microsoft Mouse]] in 1983, as well as with a publishing division named Microsoft Press.<ref name="Allan 2001" />{{Rp|232|date=November 2012}}
Paul Allen resigned from Microsoft in 1983 after developing [[Medicine:Hodgkin's lymphoma|Hodgkin's disease]].<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://old.seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2014643290_paulallen31.html |title=Paul Allen goes public with hard feelings toward Gates |work=The Seattle Times |access-date=January 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161104003653/http://old.seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2014643290_paulallen31.html |archive-date=November 4, 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Allen claimed in ''Idea Man: A Memoir by the Co-founder of Microsoft'' that Gates wanted to dilute his share in the company when he was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease because he did not think that he was working hard enough.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052748703806304576232051635476200 |title=Microsoft Co-Founder Hits Out at Gates |last1=Wingfield |first1=Nick |last2=Guth |first2=Robert A. |date=March 30, 2011 |work=Wall Street Journal}}</ref> Allen later invested in low-tech sectors, sports teams, commercial real estate, neuroscience, private space flight, and more.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2014/01/31/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-microsoft-billionaire-paul-allen-seattle-seahawks-owner/#48d64a5f6db1 |title=10 Things You Didn't Know About Microsoft Billionaire Paul Allen, Seattle Seahawks Owner |last=O'Connor |first=Clare |work=Forbes |access-date=February 1, 2018 |language=en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202013548/https://www.forbes.com/sites/clareoconnor/2014/01/31/10-things-you-didnt-know-about-microsoft-billionaire-paul-allen-seattle-seahawks-owner/#48d64a5f6db1 |archive-date=February 2, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 1985–1994: Windows and Office ===
[[File:Microsoft Windows 1.0 pages2 3.jpg|thumb|Windows 1.0 was released on November 20, 1985, as the first version of the Microsoft Windows line]]
Microsoft released [[Software:Microsoft Windows|Microsoft Windows]] on November 20, 1985, as a graphical extension for MS-DOS,<ref name="Allan 2001" />{{Rp|242–243, 246|date=November 2012}} despite having begun jointly developing OS/2 with IBM the previous August.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://pages.prodigy.net/michaln/history/pr/87apr_m3592.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100410013835/http://pages.prodigy.net/michaln/history/pr/87apr_m3592.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 10, 2010 |title=Microsoft OS/2 Announcement |date=April 10, 2010 |access-date=August 9, 2017}}</ref> Microsoft moved its headquarters from Bellevue to Redmond, Washington, on February 26, 1986, and went public on March 13,<ref name="CBSCHRON">{{Cite web |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2006/06/16/in_depth_business/timeline1720211.shtml |title=Microsoft Chronology |work=CBS News |publisher=CBS Interactive |access-date=August 5, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081105185844/http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2006/06/16/in_depth_business/timeline1720211.shtml |archive-date=November 5, 2008}}</ref> with the resulting rise in stock making an estimated four billionaires and 12,000&nbsp;millionaires from Microsoft employees.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/29/business/yourmoney/29millionaire.html?ex=1275019200&en=de3d71cbbb7e06f8&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss |title=The Microsoft Millionaires Come of Age |last=Bick |first=Julie |date=May 29, 2005 |work=The New York Times |access-date=July 3, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060412145540/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/05/29/business/yourmoney/29millionaire.html?ex=1275019200&en=de3d71cbbb7e06f8&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss |archive-date=April 12, 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> Microsoft released its version of OS/2 to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) on April 2, 1987.<ref name="Allan 2001" /> In 1990, the Federal Trade Commission examined Microsoft for possible collusion due to the partnership with IBM, marking the beginning of more than a decade of legal clashes with the government.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/2002/11/u-s-v-microsoft-timeline/ |title=U.S. v. Microsoft: Timeline |date=November 4, 2002 |magazine=Wired |publisher=Condé Nast |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100419063415/http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/news/2002/11/35212 |archive-date=April 19, 2010 |url-status=live |access-date=July 17, 2010}}</ref> {{Rp|243–244|date=November 2012}} Meanwhile, the company was at work on Microsoft [[Software:Windows NT|Windows NT]], which was heavily based on their copy of the OS/2 code. It shipped on July 21, 1993, with a new modular [[Software:Kernel (operating system)|kernel]] and the [[32-bit computing|32-bit]] [[Software:Windows API|Win32]] application programming interface (API), making it easier to port from [[16-bit computing|16-bit]] (MS-DOS-based) Windows. Microsoft informed IBM of Windows NT, and the OS/2 partnership deteriorated.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/winserver2k3_gold1.asp |title=Windows Server 2003: The Road To Gold |last=Thurrott |first=Paul |work=winsupersite.com |publisher=Penton Media |date=January 24, 2003 |access-date=July 15, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100604082534/http://www.winsupersite.com/reviews/winserver2k3_gold1.asp |archive-date=June 4, 2010 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 1990, Microsoft introduced the [[Software:Microsoft Office|Microsoft Office]] suite which bundled separate applications such as [[Software:Microsoft Word|Microsoft Word]] and [[Software:Microsoft Excel|Microsoft Excel]].<ref name="Allan 2001" />{{Rp|301|date=November 2012}} On May 22, Microsoft launched [[Software:Windows 3.0|Windows 3.0]], featuring streamlined user interface graphics and improved protected mode capability for the [[Engineering:Intel 80386|Intel 386]] processor,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.itproportal.com/2010/05/22/microsoft-windows-30-20-years-today/ |title=Microsoft Windows 3.0 Is 20 Years Old Today!!! |work=ITProPortal |last=Athow |first=Desire |date=May 22, 2010 |access-date=April 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120325093045/http://www.itproportal.com/2010/05/22/microsoft-windows-30-20-years-today/ |archive-date=March 25, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> and both Office and Windows became dominant in their respective areas.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1159610,00.asp |title=OS Market Share 1993–2001 – Windows 98 Put to the Test |work=PC Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=August 1, 1998 |access-date=July 3, 2010 |first=Michael |last=Miller |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511141923/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1159610,00.asp |archive-date=May 11, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/18462/a_peek_at_office_upgrade.html |title=A Peek at Office Upgrade |work=PC World |publisher=IDG |date=September 13, 2000 |last=McCracken |first=Harry |access-date=July 4, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090506065942/http://www.pcworld.com/article/18462/a_peek_at_office_upgrade.html |archive-date=May 6, 2009 }}</ref>

On July 27, 1994, the Department of Justice's Antitrust Division filed a competitive impact statement which said: "Beginning in 1988, and continuing until July 15, 1994, Microsoft induced many OEMs to execute anti-competitive 'per processor' licenses. Under a per-processor license, an OEM pays Microsoft a royalty for each computer it sells containing a particular microprocessor, whether the OEM sells the computer with a Microsoft operating system or a non-Microsoft operating system. In effect, the royalty payment to Microsoft when no Microsoft product is being used acts as a penalty, or tax, on the OEM's use of a competing PC operating system. Since 1988, Microsoft's use of per processor licenses has increased."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/cases/f0000/0045.htm |title=Competitive Impact Statement : U.S. v. Microsoft Corporation |publisher=Justice.gov |access-date=May 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510012902/http://www.justice.gov/atr/cases/f0000/0045.htm |archive-date=May 10, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 1995–2007: Foray into the Web, Windows 95, Windows XP, and Xbox ===
[[File:300lx.jpg|thumb|left|In 1996, Microsoft released Windows CE, a version of the operating system meant for personal digital assistants and other tiny computers.]]
Following Bill Gates' internal "Internet Tidal Wave memo" on May 26, 1995, Microsoft began to redefine its offerings and expand its product line into [[Computer network|computer network]]ing and the [[World Wide Web]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/2009-1032-995681.html |title=Victor: Software empire pays high price |last=Borland |first=John |date=April 15, 2003 |work=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111116150815/http://news.cnet.com/2009-1032-995681.html |archive-date=November 16, 2011 |access-date=July 16, 2010}}</ref> With a few exceptions of new companies, like Netscape, Microsoft was the only major and established company that acted fast enough to be a part of the World Wide Web practically from the start. Other companies like [[Company:Borland|Borland]], [[Software:WordPerfect|WordPerfect]], Novell, [[Company:IBM|IBM]] and [[Company:Lotus Software|Lotus]], being much slower to adapt to the new situation, would give Microsoft a market dominance.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qiDsEgYKXRAC&q=Bill+Gates+1994+Internet+blow+over+Netscape+Borland+WordPerfect+Novell+IBM+Lotus&pg=PA11 |title=Network Security Foundations: Technology Fundamentals for IT Success |access-date=March 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323120021/https://books.google.no/books?id=qiDsEgYKXRAC&pg=PA11&dq=Bill+Gates+1994+Internet+blow+over+Netscape+Borland+WordPerfect+Novell+IBM+Lotus&hl=no&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjliaaH-IbhAhVHw4sKHRIlCnkQ6AEIKTAA#v=onepage&q=Bill%20Gates%201994%20Internet%20blow%20over%20Netscape%20Borland%20WordPerfect%20Novell%20IBM%20Lotus&f=false |archive-date=March 23, 2019 |url-status=live |isbn=9780782151367 |last1=Strebe |first1=Matthew |date=February 20, 2006}}</ref> The company released [[Software:Windows 95|Windows 95]] on August 24, 1995, featuring [[Preemption (computing)#PREEMPTIVE|pre-emptive multitasking]], a completely new user interface with a novel [[Software:Start menu|start button]], and 32-bit compatibility; similar to NT, it provided the Win32 API.<ref>{{Cite journal |journal=Smart Computing |publisher=Sandhills Publishing Company |volume=4 |issue=3 |url=http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles/archive/95win/95win02/95win02.asp&guid= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040706233547/http://www.smartcomputing.com/editorial/article.asp?article=articles%2Farchive%2F95win%2F95win02%2F95win02.asp&guid= |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 6, 2004 |title=New And Improved |last=Cope |first=Jim |date=March 1996 |access-date=July 16, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://archive.org/details/windows95systemp00matt |title=Windows 95 Programming Secrets |last=Pietrek |first=Matt |publisher=IDG |isbn=978-1-56884-318-6 |date=March 1996 |access-date=July 17, 2010 |url-access=registration}}</ref>{{Rp|20|date=November 2012}} Windows 95 came bundled with the [[Online service provider|online service]] [[Software:MSN|MSN]], which was at first intended to be a competitor to the Internet,{{Dubious|date=May 2019|reason="The Internet" is a huge network of cables, microwave links and switching equipment, and even Microsoft at the time didn't have the financial means to replicate it, nor would there have been any business reason to do so.}} and (for OEMs) [[Software:Internet Explorer|Internet Explorer]], a [[Software:Web browser|Web browser]]. Internet Explorer was not bundled with the retail Windows 95 boxes, because the boxes were printed before the team finished the Web browser, and instead was included in the Windows 95 Plus! pack.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://winsupersite.com/windows-live/msn-inside-story |title=MSN: The Inside Story |work=Supersite for Windows |last=Thurrott |first=Paul |publisher=Penton Media |date=May 19, 2005 |access-date=July 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523202530/http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/msn_inside_01.asp |archive-date=May 23, 2010}}</ref> Backed by a high-profile marketing campaign<ref>Edwards, Benj (August 24, 2020).[https://www.howtogeek.com/685668/windows-95-turns-25-heres-how-it-transformed-pcs/ "Windows 95 Turns 25: When Windows Went Mainstream."]  ''How To Geek''.  Retrieved November 29, 2020.</ref> and what ''{{wipe|The New York Times}}'' called "the splashiest, most frenzied, most expensive introduction of a computer product in the industry's history,"<ref>Chew, Jonathan (August 24, 2015). [https://fortune.com/2015/08/24/20-years-microsoft-windows-95/ "Microsoft Launched This Product 20 Years Ago and Changed the World."] ''Fortune''.  Retrieved November 29, 2020.</ref> Windows 95 quickly became a success.<ref>Wild, Chris (August 24, 2015).[https://mashable.com/2015/08/24/windows-95-launch/?europe=true "Aug. 24, 1995: Launching Windows 95."] ''Mashable''. Retrieved November 29, 2020.</ref> Branching out into new markets in 1996, Microsoft and [[Company:General Electric|General Electric]]'s NBC unit created a new 24/7 cable news channel, MSNBC.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/1996/07/15_mpp.html |title=Marketplace: News Archives |work=Marketplace |publisher=American Public Media |date=July 15, 1996 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040823174040/http://marketplace.publicradio.org/shows/1996/07/15_mpp.html |archive-date=August 23, 2004}}</ref> Microsoft created [[Software:Windows Embedded Compact#Versions|Windows CE 1.0]], a new OS designed for devices with low memory and other constraints, such as [[Social:Personal digital assistant|personal digital assistant]]s.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hpcfactor.com/support/windowsce/ |last=Tilly |first=Chris |title=The History of Microsoft Windows CE |work=HPC:Factor |access-date=August 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080921144050/http://www.hpcfactor.com/support/windowsce/ |archive-date=September 21, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> In October 1997, the Justice Department filed a motion in the Federal District Court, stating that Microsoft violated an agreement signed in 1994 and asked the court to stop the bundling of [[Software:Internet Explorer|Internet Explorer]] with Windows.<ref name="Allan 2001" />{{Rp|323–324|date=November 2012}}

[[File:Xbox-console.jpg|thumb|Microsoft released the first installment in the Xbox series of consoles in 2001. The Xbox, graphically powerful compared to its rivals, featured a standard PC's 733&nbsp;MHz Intel Pentium III processor.]]
On January 13, 2000, Bill Gates handed over the CEO position to Steve Ballmer, an old college friend of Gates and employee of the company since 1980, while creating a new position for himself as Chief [[Software architect|Software Architect]].<ref name="Allan 2001" />{{Rp|111, 228|date=November 2012}}<ref name="BBCTL" /> Various companies including Microsoft formed the [[Company:Trusted Computing Group|Trusted Computing Platform Alliance]] in October 1999 to (among other things) increase security and protect [[Social:Intellectual property|intellectual property]] through identifying changes in hardware and software. Critics decried the alliance as a way to enforce indiscriminate restrictions over how consumers use software, and over how computers behave, and as a form of [[Engineering:Digital rights management|digital rights management]]: for example the scenario where a computer is not only secured for its owner, but also secured against its owner as well.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/20/technology/20CODE.html?pagewanted=1 |title=Fears of Misuse of Encryption System Are Voiced |work={{wipe|The New York Times}} |last=Markoff |first=John |date=June 20, 2002 |access-date=July 7, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511201709/http://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/20/technology/20CODE.html?pagewanted=1 |archive-date=May 11, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~fms27/papers/2003-stajano-shifting.pdf |last=Stajano |first=Frank |title=Software Security — Theories and Systems |chapter=Security for whom? The shifting security assumptions of pervasive computing |series=Lecture Notes in Computer Science |journal=Software Security—Theories and Systems |volume=2609 |pages=16–27 |publisher=Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg |year=2003 |access-date=July 6, 2010 |doi=10.1007/3-540-36532-X_2 |isbn=978-3-540-00708-1 |citeseerx=10.1.1.127.7219 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128164236/http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~fms27/papers/2003-stajano-shifting.pdf |archive-date=January 28, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> On April 3, 2000, a judgment was handed down in the case of ''United States v. Microsoft Corp.'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=United States v. Microsoft |url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/cases/ms_index.htm |publisher=U.S. Department of Justice |access-date=August 5, 2005 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050804043753/http://www.justice.gov/atr/cases/ms_index.htm |archive-date=August 4, 2005 |url-status=live}}</ref> calling the company an "abusive monopoly."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Thomas Penfield |url=https://www.justice.gov/atr/cases/f3800/msjudgex.htm |title=U.S. vs. Microsoft findings of fact |publisher=U.S. Department of Justice |date=November 5, 1999 |access-date=August 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815034900/http://www.justice.gov/atr/cases/f3800/msjudgex.htm |archive-date=August 15, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> Microsoft later settled with the U.S. Department of Justice in 2004.<ref name="CBSCHRON" /> On October 25, 2001, Microsoft released [[Software:Windows XP|Windows XP]], unifying the mainstream and NT lines of OS under the NT codebase.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/windows-xp2/wininfo-short-takes-windows-xp-launch-special-edition.aspx |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526200156/http://www.windowsitpro.com/article/windows-xp2/wininfo-short-takes-windows-xp-launch-special-edition.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 26, 2012 |title=WinInfo Short Takes: Windows XP Launch Special Edition |last=Thurrott |first=Paul |work=Windows IT Pro |publisher=Penton Media |date=October 26, 2001 |access-date=July 16, 2010}}</ref> The company released the [[Engineering:Xbox (console)|Xbox]] later that year, entering the [[Software:Video game console|video game console]] market dominated by [[Company:Sony|Sony]] and [[Company:Nintendo|Nintendo]].<ref>{{Cite press release |date=February 7, 2002 |title=NPD Reports Annual 2001 U.S. Interactive Entertainment Sales Shatter Industry Record |url=http://www.npd.com/dynamic/releases/press_020207.htm |location=Port Washington, New York |publisher=The NPD Group |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040814133238/http://www.npd.com/dynamic/releases/press_020207.htm |archive-date=August 14, 2004 |access-date=January 28, 2015}}</ref> In March 2004 the [[Organization:European Union|European Union]] brought antitrust legal action against the company, citing it abused its dominance with the Windows OS, resulting in a judgment of €497&nbsp;million ($613&nbsp;million) and requiring Microsoft to produce new versions of Windows XP without [[Software:Windows Media Player|Windows Media Player]]: Windows XP Home Edition N and Windows XP Professional N.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.cnn.com/2004/BUSINESS/03/24/microsoft.eu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060413082435/http://www.cnn.com/2004/BUSINESS/03/24/microsoft.eu |archive-date=April 13, 2006 |title=Microsoft hit by record EU fine |work=CNN |date=March 25, 2004 |access-date=August 14, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Commission Decision of 24.03.2004 relating to a proceeding under Article 82 of the EC Treaty (Case COMP/C-3/37.792 Microsoft) |publisher=Commission of the European Communities |url=http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:62004A0201:EN:NOT |date=April 21, 2004 |access-date=August 5, 2005 |format=PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071011131514/http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=CELEX:62004A0201:EN:NOT |archive-date=October 11, 2007 |url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2005, the company's second video game console, the [[Engineering:Xbox 360|Xbox 360]], was released. There were two versions, a basic version for $299.99 and a deluxe version for $399.99.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://money.cnn.com/2005/08/17/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/index.htm |title=Microsoft sets price for Xbox 360—Aug. 17, 2005 |last=Morris |first=Game Over is a weekly column by Chris |website=money.cnn.com |access-date=January 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425204850/http://money.cnn.com/2005/08/17/commentary/game_over/column_gaming/index.htm |archive-date=April 25, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Increasingly present in the hardware business following Xbox, Microsoft in 2006 released the [[Engineering:Zune|Zune]] series of digital media players, a successor of its previous software platform [[Engineering:Portable Media Center|Portable Media Center]]. These expanded on previous hardware commitments from Microsoft following its original [[Engineering:Microsoft Mouse|Microsoft Mouse]] in 1983; as of 2007 the company sold the best-selling wired keyboard ([[Engineering:Microsoft ergonomic keyboards|Natural Ergonomic Keyboard 4000]]), mouse (IntelliMouse), and desktop webcam ([[Engineering:LifeCam|LifeCam]]) in the United States. That year the company also launched the Surface "digital table", later renamed [[Software:Microsoft PixelSense|PixelSense]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.microsoft.com/2007/08/22/a-microsoft-milestone-hardware-celebrates-25-years-of-proven-success/|title=A Microsoft Milestone: Hardware Celebrates 25 Years of Proven Success|date=August 22, 2007|website=Stories}}</ref>

=== 2007–2011: Microsoft Azure, Windows Vista, Windows 7, and Microsoft Stores ===
[[File:Steve Ballmer - MIX 2008.jpg|thumb|left|CEO Steve Ballmer at the MIX event in 2008. In an interview about his management style in 2005, he mentioned that his first priority was to get the people he delegates to in order. Ballmer also emphasized the need to continue pursuing new technologies even if initial attempts fail, citing the original attempts with Windows as an example.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Steve Ballmer on management style |url=http://www.itworld.com/051109ballmerinterview |work=ITWorld |agency=CIO Asia |publisher=IDG |date=November 10, 2005 |first=Gerald |last=Wee |access-date=January 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514145636/http://www.itworld.com/051109ballmerinterview |archive-date=May 14, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>]]
[[File:Belgique - Bruxelles - Schuman - Berlaymont - 01.jpg|thumb|Headquarters of the European Commission, which has imposed several fines on Microsoft]]
Released in January 2007, the next version of Windows, [[Software:Windows Vista|Vista]], focused on features, security and a redesigned user interface dubbed [[Windows Aero|Aero]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://reviews.cnet.com/windows/windows-vista-ultimate/4505-3672_7-32013603.html |title=Windows Vista Ultimate review |date=January 23, 2007 |access-date=April 4, 2012 |last=Vamosi |first=Robert |work=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120406015257/http://reviews.cnet.com/windows/windows-vista-ultimate/4505-3672_7-32013603.html |archive-date=April 6, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.informationweek.com/gates-says-security-is-job-one-for-vista-/d/d-id/1040561 |title=Gates Says Security Is Job One For Vista |date=February 14, 2006 |access-date=April 4, 2012 |last=Ricadela |first=Aaron |work=InformationWeek |publisher=UBM TechWeb |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120318064254/http://informationweek.com/news/180201580 |archive-date=March 18, 2012 }}</ref> [[Software:Microsoft Office 2007|Microsoft Office 2007]], released at the same time, featured a "[[Ribbon (computing)|Ribbon]]" user interface which was a significant departure from its predecessors. Relatively strong sales of both products helped to produce a record profit in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/vista-gives-microsoft-view-of-record-profit-1-1316524 |title=Vista gives Microsoft view of record profit |work=Edinburgh Evening News |date=April 27, 2007 |publisher=Johnston Press |access-date=February 1, 2009}}</ref> The European Union imposed another fine of €899&nbsp;million ($1.4&nbsp;billion) for Microsoft's lack of compliance with the March 2004 judgment on February 27, 2008, saying that the company charged rivals unreasonable prices for key information about its [[Software:Microsoft SQL Server|workgroup]] and backoffice servers. Microsoft stated that it was in compliance and that "these fines are about the past issues that have been resolved".<ref>{{Cite news |title=AFP:EU hits Microsoft with record 899&nbsp;million euro antitrust fine |url=http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iozBXlp2nzuVxnMx_SwmtKvi7C-w |agency=Agence France-Presse |work=[[Software:Google News|Google News]] |date=February 27, 2008 |access-date=June 1, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080430164250/http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5iozBXlp2nzuVxnMx_SwmtKvi7C-w |archive-date=April 30, 2008}}</ref> 2007 also saw the creation of a multi-core unit at Microsoft, following the steps of server companies such as Sun and IBM.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.serverwatch.com/trends/article.php/3657451/Microsoft-Multicore-and-the-Data-Center.htm |title=Microsoft, Multi-core and the Data Center |access-date=March 18, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130406115001/http://www.serverwatch.com/trends/article.php/3657451/Microsoft-Multicore-and-the-Data-Center.htm |archive-date=April 6, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Gates retired from his role as Chief Software Architect on June 27, 2008, a decision announced in June 2006, while retaining other positions related to the company in addition to being an advisor for the company on key projects.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1977363,00.asp |title=Bill Gates Announces Resignation |last=Conte |first=Natali Del |work=PC Magazine |publisher=Ziff Davis |date=June 15, 2006 |access-date=July 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100420070747/http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,1977363,00.asp |archive-date=April 20, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/3357698/Bill-Gates-steps-down-as-Microsoft-head-to-concentrate-on-philanthropy.html |title=Bill Gates steps down as Microsoft head to concentrate on philanthropy |last=Beaumont |first=Claudine |work=The Telegraph |date=June 27, 2008 |access-date=January 9, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313023003/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/3357698/Bill-Gates-steps-down-as-Microsoft-head-to-concentrate-on-philanthropy.html |archive-date=March 13, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Software:Microsoft Azure|Azure Services Platform]], the company's entry into the [[Cloud computing|cloud computing]] market for Windows, launched on October 27, 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/microsoft-launches-windows-azure/ |title=Microsoft launches Windows Azure |work=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |first=Ina |last=Fried |author-link=Ina Fried |date=October 27, 2008 |access-date=July 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510020425/http://news.cnet.com/microsoft-launches-windows-azure/ |archive-date=May 10, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> On February 12, 2009, Microsoft announced its intent to open a chain of Microsoft-branded retail stores, and on October 22, 2009, the first retail Microsoft Store opened in Scottsdale, Arizona; the same day [[Software:Windows 7|Windows 7]] was officially released to the public. Windows 7's focus was on refining Vista with ease-of-use features and performance enhancements, rather than an extensive reworking of Windows.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10163206-56.html |title=Microsoft follows Apple into the retail business |work=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |first=Ina |last=Fried |author-link=Ina Fried |date=February 12, 2009 |access-date=July 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510020436/http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10163206-56.html |archive-date=May 10, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-microsoft-store-idUSTRE59L5E220091022 |title=Long lines as Microsoft opens retail store |work={{wipe|Reuters}} |publisher=[[Company:Thomson Reuters|Thomson Reuters]] |last=Gaynor |first=Tim |date=October 22, 2009 |access-date=July 3, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204102408/http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/10/22/us-microsoft-store-idUSTRE59L5E220091022 |archive-date=February 4, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/33429899 |title=Windows 7 operating system makes its debut |work=NBCNews.com |publisher=NBCUniversal |agency=Associated Press |last=Mintz |first=Jessica |date=October 22, 2009 |access-date=April 4, 2012}}</ref>

As the smartphone industry boomed in the late 2000s, Microsoft had struggled to keep up with its rivals in providing a modern smartphone operating system, falling behind [[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple]] and [[Company:Google|Google]]-sponsored [[Software:Android (operating system)|Android]] in the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://money.cnn.com/2010/10/11/technology/windows_phone_7/index.htm|title=Microsoft unveils Windows Phone 7 partners - Oct. 11, 2010|website=money.cnn.com}}</ref> As a result, in 2010 Microsoft revamped their aging flagship mobile operating system, [[Software:Windows Mobile|Windows Mobile]], replacing it with the new [[Software:Windows Phone|Windows Phone]] OS that was released in October that year. It used a new user interface design language, codenamed "Metro", which prominently used simple shapes, typography and iconography, utilizing the concept of minimalism. Microsoft implemented a new strategy for the software industry, providing a consistent user experience across all smartphones using the Windows Phone OS. It launched an alliance with [[Company:Nokia|Nokia]] in 2011 and Microsoft worked closely with the company to co-develop Windows Phone,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marketingweek.com/nokia-to-partner-with-microsoft-under-new-structure/|title=Nokia to partner with Microsoft under new structure|first=Rosie|last=Baker|date=February 11, 2011}}</ref> but remained partners with long-time Windows Mobile OEM [[Company:HTC|HTC]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2012/9/19/3356676/htc-microsoft-windows-phone-8-marketing-partnership|title=HTC rekindles its old Microsoft romance and bets on Windows Phone 8|first=Tom|last=Warren|date=September 19, 2012|website=The Verge}}</ref> Microsoft is a founding member of the Open Networking Foundation started on March 23, 2011. Fellow founders were [[Company:Google|Google]], [[Hewlett Packard Enterprise Networking|HP Networking]], [[Company:Yahoo!|Yahoo!]], [[Company:Verizon Communications|Verizon Communications]], Deutsche Telekom and 17 other companies. This nonprofit organization is focused on providing support for a [[Cloud computing|cloud computing]] initiative called Software-Defined Networking.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.openflow.org/wp/2011/03/open-networking-foundation-formed-to-speed-network-innovation/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110326044008/http://www.openflow.org/wp/2011/03/open-networking-foundation-formed-to-speed-network-innovation/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 26, 2011 |title=Open Networking Foundation News Release |first=David |last=Erickson |work=Openflow.org |date=March 21, 2011 |access-date=May 29, 2011}}</ref> The initiative is meant to speed innovation through simple software changes in telecommunications networks, wireless networks, data centers and other networking areas.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/380663/google_other_titans_form_open_networking_foundation/?fp=4&fpid=78268965 |title="Google and other titans form Open Networking Foundation." Noyes, March 23, 2011 |work=Computerworld |publisher=IDG |date=March 23, 2011 |access-date=May 29, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110406121956/http://www.computerworld.com.au/article/380663/google_other_titans_form_open_networking_foundation/?fp=4&fpid=78268965 |archive-date=April 6, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2011–2014: Windows 8/8.1, Xbox One, Outlook.com, and Surface devices ===
[[File:SurfacePro3.JPG|thumb|Surface Pro 3, part of the Surface series of laplets by Microsoft]]
Following the release of [[Software:Windows Phone|Windows Phone]], Microsoft undertook a gradual [[Social:Rebranding|rebranding]] of its product range throughout 2011 and 2012, with the corporation's logos, products, services and websites adopting the principles and concepts of the [[Metro (design language)|Metro design language]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_phone/b/wpdev/archive/2010/03/18/windows-phone-7-series-ui-design-amp-interaction-guide.aspx |title=Windows Phone 7 Series UI Design & Interaction Guide |access-date=October 9, 2010 |date=March 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527071856/http://blogs.windows.com/windows_phone/b/wpdev/archive/2010/03/18/windows-phone-7-series-ui-design-amp-interaction-guide.aspx |archive-date=May 27, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Microsoft unveiled [[Software:Windows 8|Windows 8]], an operating system designed to power both personal computers and [[Engineering:Tablet computer|tablet computer]]s, in Taipei in June 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/info-tech/article3479381.ece |title=Microsoft releases final test version of Windows 8 |work=Business Line |publisher=Kasturi & Sons |date=June 1, 2012 |access-date=August 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828170727/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/industry-and-economy/info-tech/article3479381.ece |archive-date=August 28, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> A developer preview was released on September 13, which was subsequently replaced by a consumer preview on February 29, 2012, and released to the public in May.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/01/05/businessinsider-microsoft-spills-beans-on--at-ces-2011-1.DTL |title=OK, So Windows 8 Is Coming To ARM Tablets&nbsp;... Someday (MSFT) |newspaper=San Francisco Chronicle |first=Matt |last=Rosoff |date=January 5, 2011 |access-date=January 5, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110629064811/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fg%2Fa%2F2011%2F01%2F05%2Fbusinessinsider-microsoft-spills-beans-on--at-ces-2011-1.DTL |archive-date=June 29, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Surface was unveiled on June 18, becoming the first computer in the company's history to have its hardware made by Microsoft.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Sullivan |first=Mark |url=http://www.pcworld.com/article/257840/microsoft_announces_new_surface_tablet_pc.html |title=Microsoft Announces New 'Surface' Tablet PC |magazine=PCWorld |date=June 18, 2012 |access-date=June 19, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208230356/http://www.pcworld.com/article/257840/microsoft_announces_new_surface_tablet_pc.html |archive-date=February 8, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="VF2012">Eichenwald, Kurt, [https://vanityfair.com/business/2012/08/microsoft-lost-mojo-steve-ballmer "Microsoft's Lost Decade: How Microsoft Lost Its Mojo"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130816012416/http://www.vanityfair.com/business/2012/08/microsoft-lost-mojo-steve-ballmer |date=August 16, 2013}}, ''Vanity Fair'', August 2012</ref> On June 25, Microsoft paid US$1.2&nbsp;billion to buy the social network [[Company:Yammer|Yammer]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft buys Internet startup Yammer for $1.2 billion |url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2012-06-25/microsoft-yammer-aquisition/55811172/1 |work=[[Software:USA Today|USA Today]] |publisher=[[Company:Gannett|Gannett Company]] |first=Byron |last=Acohido |date=June 25, 2012 |access-date=June 25, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120626105139/http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2012-06-25/microsoft-yammer-aquisition/55811172/1 |archive-date=June 26, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> On July 31, they launched the [[Software:Outlook.com|Outlook.com]] [[Software:Webmail|webmail service]] to compete with [[Software:Gmail|Gmail]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows-live/outlookcom-mail-microsoft-reimagines-webmail-143877 |title=Outlook.com Mail: Microsoft Reimagines Webmail |first=Paul |last=Thurrott |date=July 31, 2012 |work=Supersite for Windows |publisher=Penton Media |access-date=August 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120803011439/http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows-live/outlookcom-mail-microsoft-reimagines-webmail-143877 |archive-date=August 3, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On September 4, 2012, Microsoft released [[Software:Windows Server 2012|Windows Server 2012]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/new.aspx |title=Windows Server 2012 "Save the Date" Announcement |date=August 8, 2012 |publisher=Microsoft |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131107032736/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/new.aspx |archive-date=November 7, 2013}}</ref>

In July 2012, Microsoft sold its 50% stake in MSNBC, which it had run as a joint venture with NBC since 1996.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Venkatesan |first1=Adithya |last2=Mukherjee |first2=Supantha |last3=Leske |first3=Nicola |title=Comcast buys Microsoft stake in MSNBC.com |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-msnbc-microsoft-idUSBRE86F04W20120716 |access-date=February 13, 2015 |work=Reuters |date=July 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213235010/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/16/us-msnbc-microsoft-idUSBRE86F04W20120716 |archive-date=February 13, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> On October 1, Microsoft announced its intention to launch a news operation, part of a new-look [[Software:MSN|MSN]], with Windows 8 later in the month.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-microsoft-msn-idUSBRE8900WN20121001 |title=Microsoft launching news operation, new MSN |work=Reuters |access-date=October 1, 2012 |first=Bill |last=Rigby |date=October 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002064137/http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/10/01/us-microsoft-msn-idUSBRE8900WN20121001 |archive-date=October 2, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> On October 26, 2012, Microsoft launched Windows 8 and the Microsoft Surface.<ref name="VF2012" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/windows-8s-delivery-date-october-26-7000001158/ |title=Windows 8's delivery date: October 26 |newspaper=ZDNet |date=July 18, 2012 |access-date=September 17, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120919182044/http://www.zdnet.com/windows-8s-delivery-date-october-26-7000001158/ |archive-date=September 19, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> Three days later, [[Software:Windows Phone 8|Windows Phone 8]] was launched.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.liveside.net/2012/08/30/mary-jo-foley-windows-phone-8-launch-dates-revealed/ |title=Mary Jo Foley: Windows Phone 8 launch date revealed |publisher=LiveSide.net |date=August 30, 2012 |access-date=November 27, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121103151119/http://www.liveside.net/2012/08/30/mary-jo-foley-windows-phone-8-launch-dates-revealed/ |archive-date=November 3, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> To cope with the potential for an increase in demand for products and services, Microsoft opened a number of "holiday stores" across the U.S. to complement the increasing number of "bricks-and-mortar" Microsoft Stores that opened in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wpcentral.com/microsoft-prepping-everything-complete-brand-and-product-relaunch |title=Microsoft prepping for complete brand and product line relaunch, New York store coming the 26th |publisher=wpcentral.com |access-date=November 3, 2012 |date=October 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102010038/http://www.wpcentral.com/microsoft-prepping-everything-complete-brand-and-product-relaunch |archive-date=November 2, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> On March 29, 2013, Microsoft launched a Patent Tracker.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2013/03/28/microsoft-launches-patent-tracker-to-help-you-search-its-library-of-intellectual-property/ |title=Microsoft launches 'Patent Tracker' to help you search its library of intellectual property |work=The Next Web |date=March 28, 2013 |access-date=March 29, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130331031250/http://thenextweb.com/microsoft/2013/03/28/microsoft-launches-patent-tracker-to-help-you-search-its-library-of-intellectual-property/ |archive-date=March 31, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In August 2012, the New York City Police Department announced a partnership with Microsoft for the development of the Domain Awareness System which is used for Police surveillance in New York City.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nypd-unveils-new-40-million-super-computer-system-data-network-cameras-license-plate-readers-crime-reports-article-1.1132135 |title=NYPD unveils new $40 million super computer system that uses data from network of cameras, license plate readers and crime reports |last1=Parascandola|first1=Rocco|last2=Moore|first2=Tina |website=New York Daily News |access-date=June 15, 2019}}</ref>

[[File:Xbox One Console Set.jpg|thumb|left|The Xbox One console, released in 2013]]
The [[Engineering:Kinect|Kinect]], a motion-sensing input device made by Microsoft and designed as a video game controller, first introduced in November 2010, was upgraded for the 2013 release of the [[Engineering:Xbox One|Xbox One]] video game console. Kinect's capabilities were revealed in May 2013: an ultra-wide 1080p camera, function in the dark due to an infrared sensor, higher-end processing power and new software, the ability to distinguish between fine movements (such as a thumb movement), and determining a user's heart rate by looking at their face.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The all-seeing Kinect: tracking my face, arms, body and heart on the Xbox One |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/5/21/4353232/kinect-xbox-one-hands-on/in/4116279 |work=The Verge |publisher=[[Company:Vox Media|Vox Media]] |access-date=May 28, 2013 |first=David |last=Pierce |date=May 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607054123/http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/21/4353232/kinect-xbox-one-hands-on/in/4116279 |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Microsoft filed a patent application in 2011 that suggests that the corporation may use the Kinect camera system to monitor the behavior of television viewers as part of a plan to make the viewing experience more interactive. On July 19, 2013, Microsoft stocks suffered their biggest one-day percentage sell-off since the year 2000, after its fourth-quarter report raised concerns among the investors on the poor showings of both Windows 8 and the Surface tablet. Microsoft suffered a loss of more than US$32&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57594612-75/funky-friday-more-than-$32-billion-in-microsoft-stock-value-wiped-out/ |title=Funky Friday: More than $32 billion in Microsoft stock value wiped out &#124; Microsoft—CNET News |publisher=News.cnet.com |access-date=July 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130822073858/http://news.cnet.com/8301-10805_3-57594612-75/funky-friday-more-than-$32-billion-in-microsoft-stock-value-wiped-out/ |archive-date=August 22, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In line with the maturing PC business, in July 2013, Microsoft announced that it would reorganize the business into four new business divisions, namely Operating System, Apps, Cloud, and Devices. All previous divisions will be dissolved into new divisions without any workforce cuts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.fiercemobileit.com/story/microsofts-sweeping-reorganization-shifts-focus-services-devices/2013-07-11 |title=Microsoft's sweeping reorganization shifts focus to services, devices |date=July 11, 2013 |access-date=October 28, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026191536/http://www.fiercemobileit.com/story/microsofts-sweeping-reorganization-shifts-focus-services-devices/2013-07-11 |archive-date=October 26, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> On September 3, 2013, Microsoft agreed to buy [[Company:Nokia|Nokia]]'s mobile unit for $7&nbsp;billion,<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2013/9/2/4688530/microsoft-buys-nokias-devices-and-services-unit-unites-windows-phone/in/4453001 |title=Microsoft buying Nokia's phone business in a $7.2 billion bid for its mobile future |date=September 3, 2013 |access-date=September 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170929192139/https://www.theverge.com/2013/9/2/4688530/microsoft-buys-nokias-devices-and-services-unit-unites-windows-phone/in/4453001 |archive-date=September 29, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> following Amy Hood taking the role of CFO.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-microsoft-cfo-idUSBRE94711Q20130508 |title=Microsoft names insider Amy Hood as CFO |agency=Reuters.com |date=May 8, 2013 |access-date=April 18, 2014 |newspaper=Reuters |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140409123351/http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/08/us-microsoft-cfo-idUSBRE94711Q20130508 |archive-date=April 9, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>
{{Clear}}

=== 2014–2020: Windows 10, Microsoft Edge, HoloLens ===
[[File:Satya smiling-print.jpg|thumb|Satya Nadella succeeded Steve Ballmer as the CEO of Microsoft in February 2014]]
On February 4, 2014, Steve Ballmer stepped down as [[Social:Chief executive officer|CEO]] of Microsoft and was succeeded by Satya Nadella, who previously led Microsoft's Cloud and Enterprise division.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer to retire within 12 months |url=https://news.microsoft.com/2013/08/23/microsoft-ceo-steve-ballmer-to-retire-within-12-months/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130823130816/http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/news/press/2013/aug13/08-23AnnouncementPR.aspx |archive-date=August 23, 2013 |date=August 23, 2013}}</ref> On the same day, John W. Thompson took on the role of chairman, in place of Bill Gates, who continued to participate as a technology advisor.<ref name=chairex>{{Cite web |last1=David |first1=Javier E |title=Nadella named new Microsoft CEO as Gates era ends |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/business/microsoft-names-satya-nadella-ceo-2D12054182 |website=NBCNews.com |publisher=NBCUniversal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205010025/https://www.nbcnews.com/business/microsoft-names-satya-nadella-ceo-2D12054182 |archive-date=February 5, 2014 |date=February 5, 2014}}</ref> Thompson became the second chairman in Microsoft's history.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theroot.com/john-w-thompson-to-become-1st-black-chairman-of-micros-1790874479 |title=John W. Thompson to Become 1st Black Chairman of Microsoft |last=Edwards |first=Breanna |work=The Root |access-date=February 1, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180202012807/https://www.theroot.com/john-w-thompson-to-become-1st-black-chairman-of-micros-1790874479 |archive-date=February 2, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> On April 25, 2014, Microsoft acquired Nokia Devices and Services for $7.2&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite news |title=Microsoft to close its acquisition of Nokia's devices and services business on April 25 |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-04-22/news/49318731_1_nokia-india-nokia-corp-microsoft-corp |newspaper=The Economic Times |access-date=May 25, 2016 |date=April 22, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805051448/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2014-04-22/news/49318731_1_nokia-india-nokia-corp-microsoft-corp |archive-date=August 5, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> This new subsidiary was renamed Microsoft Mobile Oy.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Borges |first1=Andre |title=Nokia phone division to be renamed Microsoft Mobile, reveals leaked letter |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/report-nokia-phone-division-to-be-renamed-microsoft-mobile-reveals-leaked-letter-1980628 |publisher=dna |access-date=May 25, 2016 |date=April 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161015073328/http://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/report-nokia-phone-division-to-be-renamed-microsoft-mobile-reveals-leaked-letter-1980628 |archive-date=October 15, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> On September 15, 2014, Microsoft acquired the video game development company [[Company:Mojang|Mojang]], best known for ''[[Software:Minecraft|Minecraft]]'', for $2.5&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hutchinson |first1=Lee |title=It's official: Microsoft acquires Mojang and Minecraft for $2.5 billion |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/09/its-official-microsoft-acquires-mojang-and-minecraft-for-2-5-billion/ |website=Ars Technica |access-date=September 19, 2014 |ref=152 |date=September 15, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140919004256/http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2014/09/its-official-microsoft-acquires-mojang-and-minecraft-for-2-5-billion/ |archive-date=September 19, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> On June 8, 2017, Microsoft acquired Hexadite, an Israeli security firm, for $100&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Dellinger |first1=AJ |title=Microsoft Buys Cybersecurity Company Hexadite To Respond To Cyberattacks |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/microsoft-buys-cybersecurity-company-hexadite-respond-cyberattacks-2549768 |website=International Business Times |date=June 8, 2017 |access-date=June 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170608231948/http://www.ibtimes.com/microsoft-buys-cybersecurity-company-hexadite-respond-cyberattacks-2549768 |archive-date=June 8, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Microsoft agrees to buy U.S.-Israeli cyber firm Hexadite |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-microsoft-m-a-hexadite-idUSKBN18Z1XP |work=Reuters |date=June 8, 2017 |access-date=June 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609043207/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-microsoft-m-a-hexadite-idUSKBN18Z1XP |archive-date=June 9, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On January 21, 2015, Microsoft announced the release of their first [[Engineering:Interactive whiteboard|Interactive whiteboard]], Microsoft Surface Hub.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft at MWC 2015: Lumia 640 and 640 XL Announced, 4K 120Hz Surface Hub Demoed |url=http://anandtech.com/show/9030/microsoft-lumia-640-640-xl-4k-120hz-surface-hub |access-date=September 27, 2015 |first=Ian Cutress, Andrei |last=Frumusanu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927230334/http://anandtech.com/show/9030/microsoft-lumia-640-640-xl-4k-120hz-surface-hub |archive-date=September 27, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> On July 29, 2015, [[Software:Windows 10|Windows 10]] was released,<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Howse |first1=Brett |title=Windows 10 Launches Worldwide |url=http://www.anandtech.com/show/9471/windows-10-launches-worldwide |publisher=AnandTech |access-date=May 25, 2016 |date=July 29, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160624141118/http://www.anandtech.com/show/9471/windows-10-launches-worldwide |archive-date=June 24, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> with its server sibling, [[Software:Windows Server 2016|Windows Server 2016]], released in September 2016. In Q1 2015, Microsoft was the third largest maker of mobile phones, selling 33&nbsp;million units (7.2% of all). While a large majority (at least <!-- (8271/33002)= -->75%) of them do not run any version of [[Software:Windows Phone|Windows Phone]]— those other phones are not categorized as [[Engineering:Smartphone|smartphone]]s by Gartner{{Snd}} in the same time frame 8&nbsp;million Windows smartphones (2.5% of all smartphones) were made by all manufacturers (but mostly by Microsoft).<ref>{{Cite press release |url=http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3061917 |title=Gartner Says Emerging Markets Drove Worldwide Smartphone Sales to 19 Percent Growth in First Quarter of 2015 |publisher=Gartner |date=May 27, 2015 |access-date=July 28, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150614044340/http://www.gartner.com/newsroom/id/3061917 |archive-date=June 14, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Microsoft's share of the U.S. smartphone market in January 2016 was 2.7%.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.yahoo.com/tech/microsoft-windows-mobile-strategy-change-173738169.html |title=Microsoft needs to change its mobile strategy or get out |last=Howley |first=Daniel |date=May 25, 2016 |website=Yahoo! Tech |access-date=May 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527025910/https://www.yahoo.com/tech/microsoft-windows-mobile-strategy-change-173738169.html |archive-date=May 27, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> During the summer of 2015 the company lost $7.6&nbsp;billion related to its mobile-phone business, firing 7,800 employees.<ref name="WSJ: Microsoft to Streamline Smartphone Hardware Business">{{cite news |last1=Greene |first1=Jay |title=Microsoft to Streamline Smartphone Hardware Business |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/microsoft-to-streamline-smartphone-hardware-business-1464166803 |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=May 25, 2016 |date=May 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160525095132/http://www.wsj.com/articles/microsoft-to-streamline-smartphone-hardware-business-1464166803 |archive-date=May 25, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 1, 2016, Microsoft announced the merger of its PC and Xbox divisions, with Phil Spencer announcing that Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps would be the focus for Microsoft's gaming in the future.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/01/microsoft-to-unify-pc-and-xbox-one-platforms-ending-fixed-console-hardware |title=Microsoft to unify PC and Xbox One platforms, ending fixed console hardware |first=Keith |last=Stuart |work={{wipe|The Guardian}} |date=March 2016 |access-date=December 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161217085439/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/01/microsoft-to-unify-pc-and-xbox-one-platforms-ending-fixed-console-hardware |archive-date=December 17, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> On January 24, 2017, Microsoft showcased Intune for Education at the BETT 2017 education technology conference in {{wipe|London}}.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Mehdi |first1=Yusuf |title=Announcing Intune for Education & new Windows 10 PCs for school starting at $189 |url=https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/01/24/announcing-intune-education-new-windows-10-pcs-school-starting-189/#bdsoyDTQ4EQqK1Lg.97 |website=The Official Microsoft Blog |access-date=January 25, 2017 |date=January 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125192422/https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/01/24/announcing-intune-education-new-windows-10-pcs-school-starting-189/#bdsoyDTQ4EQqK1Lg.97 |archive-date=January 25, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Intune for Education is a new cloud-based application and device management service for the education sector.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/24/microsoft-launches-intune-for-education-to-counter-googles-chromebooks-in-schools/ |title=Microsoft launches Intune for Education to counter Google's Chromebooks in schools |work=TechCrunch |author=Frederic Lardinois |date=January 24, 2017 |access-date=January 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125065925/https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/24/microsoft-launches-intune-for-education-to-counter-googles-chromebooks-in-schools/ |archive-date=January 25, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2016, the company announced it was laying off 1,850 workers, and taking an impairment and restructuring charge of $950&nbsp;million.<ref name="WSJ: Microsoft to Streamline Smartphone Hardware Business" /> In June 2016, Microsoft announced a project named Microsoft Azure Information Protection. It aims to help enterprises protect their data as it moves between servers and devices.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/22/microsoft-announces-new-data-protection-tool-to-help-enterprises-secure-their-data/ |title=Microsoft announces new data protection tool to help enterprises secure their data |work=Tech Crunch |date=June 22, 2016 |access-date=June 23, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160622190324/https://techcrunch.com/2016/06/22/microsoft-announces-new-data-protection-tool-to-help-enterprises-secure-their-data/ |archive-date=June 22, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2016, Microsoft joined the [[Organization:Linux Foundation|Linux Foundation]] as a Platinum member during Microsoft's Connect(); developer event in New York.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft has joined the Linux Foundation |url=https://www.linuxfoundation.org/announcements/microsoft-fortifies-commitment-to-open-source-becomes-linux-foundation-platinum |access-date=November 24, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125174704/https://www.linuxfoundation.org/announcements/microsoft-fortifies-commitment-to-open-source-becomes-linux-foundation-platinum |archive-date=November 25, 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The cost of each Platinum membership is US$500,000 per year.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft joined linux foundation with yearly platinum membership |url=https://www.lockssl.com/microsoft-joins-linux-foundation/ |publisher=Lock SSL |access-date=November 24, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202005415/https://www.lockssl.com/microsoft-joins-linux-foundation/ |archive-date=February 2, 2017}}</ref> Some analysts deemed this unthinkable ten years prior, however, as in 2001 then-CEO Steve Ballmer called Linux "cancer".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theverge.com/2016/11/16/13651940/microsoft-linux-foundation-membership |title=Microsoft joins the Linux Foundation, 15 years after Ballmer called it 'cancer' |last=Warren |first=Tom |date=November 11, 2016 |work=[[The Verge]] |publisher=[[Company:Vox Media|Vox Media]] |access-date=August 18, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816110931/https://www.theverge.com/2016/11/16/13651940/microsoft-linux-foundation-membership |archive-date=August 16, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> Microsoft planned to launch a preview of Intune for Education "in the coming weeks", with general availability scheduled for spring 2017, priced at $30 per device, or through volume licensing agreements.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-introduces-intune-for-education-promising-simple-setup-and-management-of-devices |title=Microsoft introduces Intune for Education, promising simple setup and management of devices |publisher=Neowin |author=Andy Weir |date=January 24, 2017 |access-date=January 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170127080810/https://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft-introduces-intune-for-education-promising-simple-setup-and-management-of-devices |archive-date=January 27, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Nokia & Microsoft Lumia devices.png|thumb|left|The [[Engineering:Nokia Lumia 1320|Nokia Lumia 1320]], the Microsoft Lumia 535 and the Nokia Lumia 530, which all run on one of the now-discontinued Windows Phone operating systems]]
In January 2018, Microsoft patched [[Software:Windows 10|Windows 10]] to account for CPU problems related to [[Meltdown (security vulnerability)|Intel's Meltdown security breach]]. The patch led to issues with the [[Software:Microsoft Azure|Microsoft Azure]] virtual machines reliant on Intel's CPU architecture. On January 12, Microsoft released [[PowerShell|PowerShell Core 6.0]] for the [[Software:MacOS|macOS]] and [[Software:Linux|Linux]] operating systems.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/12/25/microsoft_year_in_review_2018/ |title=Microsoft's 2018, part 1: Open source, wobbly Windows and everyone's going to the cloud |website=The Register |access-date=January 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190103060059/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/12/25/microsoft_year_in_review_2018/ |archive-date=January 3, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2018, Microsoft killed notification support for their [[Software:Windows Phone|Windows Phone]] devices which effectively ended firmware updates for the discontinued devices.<ref name="auto" /> In March 2018, Microsoft recalled Windows 10 S to change it to a mode for the Windows operating system rather than a separate and unique operating system. In March the company also established guidelines that censor users of [[Software:Office 365|Office 365]] from using profanity in private documents.<ref name="auto" /> In April 2018, Microsoft released the source code for Windows [[Software:File Manager (Windows)|File Manager]] under the [[Software:MIT License|MIT License]] to celebrate the program's 20th anniversary. In April the company further expressed willingness to embrace open source initiatives by announcing [[Software:Azure Sphere|Azure Sphere]] as its own derivative of the [[Software:Linux|Linux]] operating system.<ref name="auto" /> In May 2018, Microsoft partnered with 17 American intelligence agencies to develop [[Cloud computing|cloud computing]] products. The project is dubbed "Azure Government" and has ties to the [[Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure]] (JEDI) surveillance program.<ref name="auto" /> On June 4, 2018, Microsoft officially announced the acquisition of [[GitHub]] for $7.5&nbsp;billion, a deal that closed on October 26, 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.microsoft.com/2018/06/04/microsoft-to-acquire-github-for-7-5-billion/ |title=Microsoft to acquire GitHub for $7.5 billion |date=June 4, 2018 |website=Microsoft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180604142244/https://news.microsoft.com/2018/06/04/microsoft-to-acquire-github-for-7-5-billion/ |archive-date=June 4, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/microsoft-completes-github-acquisition/ar-BBOVVOT |title=Microsoft completes GitHub acquisition |website=www.msn.com |access-date=April 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190112212059/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/microsoft-completes-github-acquisition/ar-BBOVVOT |archive-date=January 12, 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On July 10, 2018, Microsoft revealed the Surface Go platform to the public. Later in the month it converted [[Software:Microsoft Teams|Microsoft Teams]] to [[Gratis versus libre|gratis]].<ref name="auto" /> In August 2018, Microsoft released two projects called Microsoft AccountGuard and Defending Democracy. It also unveiled [[Company:Qualcomm Snapdragon|Snapdragon 850]] compatibility for [[Software:Windows 10|Windows 10]] on the [[ARM architecture]].<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Hackett |first1=Robert |title=Microsoft Offers Free Cybersecurity Tools to Political Candidates—But You've Got to Be a Microsoft Customer |url=http://fortune.com/2018/08/21/microsoft-free-cybersecurity-tools-midterm-election-facebook-google/ |access-date=August 24, 2018 |date=August 21, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180822112819/http://fortune.com/2018/08/21/microsoft-free-cybersecurity-tools-midterm-election-facebook-google/ |archive-date=August 22, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Lerman |first1=Rachel |title=Microsoft releases new security tools for political campaigns to combat hacking attempts |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/microsoft/microsoft-releases-new-security-tools-for-political-campaigns-to-combat-hacking-attempts/ |access-date=August 24, 2018 |newspaper=The Seattle Times |date=August 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824102040/https://www.seattletimes.com/business/microsoft/microsoft-releases-new-security-tools-for-political-campaigns-to-combat-hacking-attempts/ |archive-date=August 24, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="auto" />

[[File:Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin tries out Microsoft HoloLens (29794543715).jpg|thumb|upright|[[Engineering:Apollo 11|Apollo 11]] astronaut Buzz Aldrin using a Microsoft HoloLens mixed reality headset in September 2016]]
In August 2018, Toyota Tsusho began a partnership with Microsoft to create fish farming tools using the Microsoft Azure application suite for [[Engineering:Internet of things|Internet of things]] (IoT) technologies related to water management. Developed in part by researchers from Kindai University, the water pump mechanisms use [[Engineering:Artificial intelligence|artificial intelligence]] to count the number of fish on a [[Engineering:Conveyor belt|conveyor belt]], analyze the number of fish, and deduce the effectiveness of water flow from the data the fish provide. The specific [[Computer program|computer program]]s used in the process fall under the Azure Machine Learning and the Azure IoT Hub platforms.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/09/01/ai_roundup_310818/ |title=Google goes bilingual, Facebook fleshes out translation and TensorFlow is dope—And, Microsoft is assisting fish farmers in Japan |website=The Register |access-date=September 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902114415/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/09/01/ai_roundup_310818/ |archive-date=September 2, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2018, Microsoft discontinued [[Software:Skype|Skype Classic]].<ref name="auto" /> On October 10, 2018, Microsoft joined the [[Company:Open Invention Network|Open Invention Network]] community despite holding more than 60,000 patents.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/10/10/microsoft_open_invention_network/ |title=Microsoft has signed up to the Open Invention Network. We repeat. Microsoft has signed up to the OIN |website=The Register |access-date=October 14, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011123124/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/10/10/microsoft_open_invention_network/ |archive-date=October 11, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2018, Microsoft agreed to supply 100,000 [[Engineering:Microsoft HoloLens|Microsoft HoloLens]] headsets to the United States military in order to "increase lethality by enhancing the ability to detect, decide and engage before the enemy."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/11/29/microsoft_military_money/ |title=See this, Google? Microsoft happy to take a half-billion in sweet, sweet US military money to 'increase lethality' |website=The Register |access-date=November 30, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181130140427/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/11/29/microsoft_military_money/ |archive-date=November 30, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2018, Microsoft introduced Azure Multi-Factor Authentication for Microsoft Azure.<ref name="R1BDM">{{Cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/12/28/microsoft_2018_in_review_part_2/ |title=Microsoft's 2018, part 2: Azure data centres heat up and Windows 10? It burns! It burns! |website=The Register |access-date=January 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190104072728/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/12/28/microsoft_2018_in_review_part_2/ |archive-date=January 4, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2018, Microsoft announced [[Software:Project Mu|Project Mu]], an [[Open source|open source]] release of the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface (UEFI) core used in Microsoft Surface and [[Software:Hyper-V|Hyper-V]] products. The project promotes the idea of [[Software:Project Mu|Firmware as a Service]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://betanews.com/2018/12/20/microsoft-project-mu/ |title=Microsoft announces Project Mu, an open-source release of the UEFI core |date=December 20, 2018 |access-date=December 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221230714/https://betanews.com/2018/12/20/microsoft-project-mu/ |archive-date=December 21, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the same month, Microsoft announced the [[Open source|open source]] implementation of [[Software:Windows Forms|Windows Forms]] and the [[Organization:Windows Presentation Foundation|Windows Presentation Foundation]] (WPF) which will allow for further movement of the company toward the transparent release of key frameworks used in developing Windows desktop applications and software. December also saw the company discontinue the [[Software:Microsoft Edge|Microsoft Edge]] project in favor of [[Software:Chromium (web browser)|Chromium]] backends for their browsers.<ref name="R1BDM" />

February 20, 2019 Microsoft Corp said it will offer its cyber security service AccountGuard to 12 new markets in Europe including Germany, France and Spain, to close security gaps and protect customers in political space from hacking.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/us-microsoft-cyber-europe/microsoft-expands-political-security-service-to-12-european-countries-idUSKCN1Q90GF Microsoft expands political security service to 12 European countries] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190220093504/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-microsoft-cyber-europe/microsoft-expands-political-security-service-to-12-european-countries-idUSKCN1Q90GF |date=February 20, 2019}}, Reuters (February 20, 2019)</ref> In February 2019, hundreds of Microsoft employees protested the company's [[Social:War profiteering|war profiteering]] from a $480&nbsp;million contract to develop [[Engineering:Virtual reality headset|virtual reality headset]]s for the United States Army.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/feb/22/microsoft-protest-us-army-augmented-reality-headsets |title='We won't be war profiteers': Microsoft workers protest $480m army contract |newspaper=The Guardian |date=February 22, 2019 |last1=Wong |first1=Julia Carrie |access-date=February 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223133132/https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2019/feb/22/microsoft-protest-us-army-augmented-reality-headsets |archive-date=February 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2020–present: Acquisitions, Xbox Series X/S, Windows 11 ===

On March 26, 2020, Microsoft announced it was acquiring Affirmed Networks for about $1.35&nbsp;billion.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Investor's Business Daily|url=https://www.investors.com/news/technology/microsoft-stock-reacts-head-scratcher-acquisition/|title=Microsoft Stock Reacts To 'Head-Scratcher' Acquisition {{!}} Investor's Business Daily|date=March 27, 2020|work=Investor's Business Daily|access-date=March 30, 2020|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2020/03/26/microsoft-announces-agreement-to-acquire-affirmed-networks-to-deliver-new-opportunities-for-a-global-5g-ecosystem/|title=Microsoft announces agreement to acquire Affirmed Networks to deliver new opportunities for a global 5G ecosystem|date=March 26, 2020|website=The Official Microsoft Blog|language=en-US|access-date=March 30, 2020}}</ref> Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Microsoft closed all of its retail stores indefinitely due to health concerns.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/microsoft-closing-retail-locations-novel-coronavirus-covid-2020-3|title=Microsoft is closing its retail stores around the world indefinitely because of the coronavirus crisis|publisher=Business Insider|access-date=March 17, 2020}}</ref> On July 22, 2020, Microsoft announced plans to close its [[Company:Mixer (service)|Mixer]] service, planning to move existing partners to Facebook Gaming.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2020/06/22/bringing-more-players-into-our-gaming-vision|title=Bringing More Players Into Our Gaming Vision|date=June 22, 2020|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=August 17, 2020}}</ref> On July 31, 2020, it was reported that Microsoft was in talks to acquire [[Software:TikTok|TikTok]] after the Trump administration ordered ByteDance to [[Finance:Divestment|divest]] ownership of the application to the U.S.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Jacobs|first1=Jennifer|last2=Mohsin|first2=Saleha|last3=Leonard|first3=Jenny|date=July 31, 2020|title=Trump to Order China's ByteDance to Sell TikTok in U.S.|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-07-31/trump-to-order-china-s-bytedance-to-sell-tiktok-u-s-operations|access-date=August 3, 2020|newspaper=Bloomberg.com}}</ref> On August 3, 2020, after speculation on the deal, Donald Trump stated that Microsoft could buy the application, however it should be completed by September 15, 2020 and that the United States Department of the Treasury should receive a portion if it were to go through.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Davidson|first=Helen|date=August 3, 2020|title=TikTok sale: Trump approves Microsoft's plan but says US should get a cut of any deal|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/aug/03/tiktok-row-trump-to-take-action-soon-says-pompeo-as-microsoft-pursues-deal|access-date=August 3, 2020|website=The Guardian|language=en}}</ref> On August 5, 2020, Microsoft stopped its [[Software:XCloud|xCloud]] game streaming test for [[Engineering:List of iOS devices|iOS devices]]. According to Microsoft, the future of xCloud on iOS remains unclear and potentially out of Microsoft's hands. [[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple]] has imposed a strict limit on [[Software:Remote Desktop Services|"remote desktop clients"]] that means applications are only allowed to connect to a user-owned host device or gaming console owned by the user.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2020/8/5/21356274/microsoft-xcloud-ios-apple-iphone-ipad-testing-ends-apple-app-store-policies|title=Microsoft cuts xCloud iOS testing early as its future on Apple devices remains unclear|access-date=August 5, 2020|website=The Verge|date=August 5, 2020}}</ref> On September 21, 2020, Microsoft announced its intent to acquire [[Company:ZeniMax Media|ZeniMax Media]] for about $7.5&nbsp;billion, with the deal expected to be occurred in the second half of 2021 fiscal year.<ref>{{cite magazine|first=Liana|last=Ruppert|url=https://www.gameinformer.com/2020/09/21/microsoft-acquires-bethesda-the-studio-behind-fallout-the-elder-scrolls-doom-and-more|title=Microsoft Acquires Bethesda, The Studio Behind Fallout, The Elder Scrolls, Doom, And More|magazine=Game Informer|date=September 21, 2020|access-date=September 22, 2020}}</ref> On March 9, 2021, the acquisition was finalized and ZeniMax Media became part of Microsoft's Xbox Game Studios division.<ref>{{cite web|first=Matt T.M.|last=Kim|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/microsofts-zenimax-acquisition-officially-complete-bethesda-now-a-part-of-xbox|title=Microsoft's ZeniMax Acquisition Officially Complete, Bethesda Now a Part of Xbox|website=IGN|date=March 10, 2021|access-date=March 10, 2021}}</ref>The total price of the deal was $8.1 billion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://microsoft.gcs-web.com/static-files/0a2b8528-fb8b-4d11-8da2-fd9fa988a155|title=Form 10-K|page=39|website=SEC|date=June 30, 2021|accessdate=August 7, 2021}}</ref> On September 22, 2020, Microsoft announced that it had an exclusive license to use [[Company:OpenAI|OpenAI]]’s GPT-3 artificial intelligence language generator.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=OpenAI is giving Microsoft exclusive access to its GPT-3 language model |url=https://www.technologyreview.com/2020/09/23/1008729/openai-is-giving-microsoft-exclusive-access-to-its-gpt-3-language-model/ |date=September 23, 2020 |last=Hao |first=Karen |access-date=September 26, 2020 |magazine=MIT Technology Review |language=en |quote="On September 22, Microsoft announced that it would begin exclusively licensing GPT-3, the world’s largest language model, built by San Francisco–based OpenAI."}}</ref> The previous version of [[Software:GPT-3|GPT-3]], called [[Software:GPT-2|GPT-2]], made headlines for being “too dangerous to release” and had numerous capabilities, including designing websites, prescribing medication, answering questions and penning articles.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/microsoft-openai-gpt-3-exclusive-b550673.html|title=MICROSOFT GETS EXCLUSIVE ACCESS TO AI DEEMED 'TOO DANGEROUS TO RELEASE'|access-date=September 24, 2020|website=Independent|date=September 23, 2020}}</ref> On November 10, 2020, Microsoft released the [[Engineering:Xbox Series X and Series S|Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S]] video game consoles.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The all-new Xbox Series X {{!}} Xbox|url=https://www.xbox.com/en-US/consoles/xbox-series-x|access-date=2020-12-02|website=Xbox.com|language=en}}</ref>

In April 2021, Microsoft said that it will buy [[Company:Nuance Communications|Nuance Communications]] for about $16 billion in cash.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Reuters Staff|date=2021-04-12|title=Microsoft to buy AI firm Nuance Communications for about $16 billion in healthcare push|language=en|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-nuance-commns-m-a-microsoft-idUSKBN2BZ1FS|access-date=2021-04-12}}</ref> In 2021, in part due to the strong quarterly earnings spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, Microsoft's valuation came to near $2 trillion. The increased necessity for remote work and [[Social:Distance education|distance education]] drove up the demand for [[Cloud computing|cloud-computing services]] and grew the company's gaming sales.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Tilley|first=Aaron|date=2021-04-27|title=Microsoft Sales Show Strong Growth in Gaming, Cloud|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/microsoft-msft-3q-earnings-report-2021-11619475788|access-date=2021-04-29|issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Tilley|first=Aaron|date=2020-03-27|title=One Business Winner Amid Coronavirus Lockdowns: the Cloud|language=en-US|work=Wall Street Journal|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/one-business-winner-amid-coronavirus-lockdowns-the-cloud-11585327905|access-date=2021-04-29|issn=0099-9660}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=FY21 Q2 - Press Releases - Investor Relations - Microsoft|url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Investor/earnings/FY-2021-Q2/press-release-webcast|access-date=2021-04-29|website=www.microsoft.com}}</ref>

On June 24, 2021, Microsoft announced [[Software:Windows 11|Windows 11]] during a livestream. The announcement came with confusion after Microsoft announced Windows 10 would be the last version of the operating system; set to be released in Fall 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-06-24|title=Microsoft has officially announced Windows 11!|url=https://www.windowscentral.com/windows-11-announcement|access-date=2021-06-24|website=Windows Central}}</ref> It was released to the general public on October 5 2021.<ref name="Windows11ReleaseDate">{{cite web |title=Windows 11 available on October 5 |url=https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2021/08/31/windows-11-available-on-october-5/ |website=Windows Experience Blog |access-date=20 October 2021 |date=31 August 2021}}</ref>

In October 2021, Microsoft announced that it began rolling out end-to-end encryption (E2EE) support for Microsoft Teams calls in order to secure business communication while using video conferencing software. Users can ensure that their calls are encrypted and can utilize a security code which both parties on a call must verify on respective ends.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.techradar.com/news/microsoft-teams-calls-are-getting-a-major-security-upgrade|title=Microsoft Teams calls are getting a major security upgrade|website=Tech Radar|date=October 22, 2021|author=Anthony Spadafora|access-date=October 22, 2021}}</ref>

== Corporate affairs ==

=== Board of directors ===
The company is run by a [[Organization:Board of directors|board of directors]] made up of mostly company outsiders, as is customary for publicly traded companies. Members of the board of directors as of July 2020 are  Satya Nadella, Reid Hoffman, Hugh Johnston, Teri List-Stoll, Sandi Peterson, Penny Pritzker, Charles Scharf, Arne Sorenson, John W. Stanton, John W. Thompson, Emma Walmsley and Padmasree Warrior.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.microsoft.com/leadership/?section=board-members |title=Microsoft Leadership |date=March 20, 2017 |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref> Board members are elected every year at the annual shareholders' meeting using a majority vote system. There are four committees within the board that oversee more specific matters. These committees include the Audit Committee, which handles accounting issues with the company including auditing and reporting; the Compensation Committee, which approves compensation for the CEO and other employees of the company; the Governance and Nominating Committee, which handles various corporate matters including the nomination of the board; and the Regulatory and Public Policy Committee, which includes legal/antitrust matters, along with privacy, trade, digital safety, artificial intelligence, and environmental sustainability.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Corporation Corporate Governance |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Investor/corporate-governance/board-of-directors.aspx |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=July 31, 2020}}</ref>

On March 13, 2020, Gates announced that he is leaving the board of directors of Microsoft and [[Company:Berkshire Hathaway|Berkshire Hathaway]] in order to focus more on his philanthropic efforts. According to Aaron Tilley of ''{{wipe|The Wall Street Journal}}'' this is "marking the biggest boardroom departure in the tech industry since the death of longtime rival and Apple Inc. co-founder [[Biography:Steve Jobs|Steve Jobs]]."<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/bill-gates-to-leave-boards-of-microsoft-and-berkshire-hathaway-11584135172|title=Bill Gates to Leave Boards of Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway|first=Aaron|last=Tilley|newspaper=Wall Street Journal|date=March 13, 2020|via=www.wsj.com}}</ref>

=== Chief executives ===

# [[Biography:Bill Gates|Bill Gates]] (1975–2000)
# Steve Ballmer (2000–2014)
# Satya Nadella (2014–present)

=== Financial ===
[[File:Microsoft 5-Year Stock History.svg|upright=1.6|thumb|Five year history graph of {{NASDAQ|MSFT}} stock on July 17, 2013<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://zenobank.com/index.php?symbol=MSFT&page=quotesearch |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081030114740/http://zenobank.com/index.php?symbol=MSFT&page=quotesearch |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 30, 2008 |title=Five year history graph of (NASDAQ:MSFT) stock |work=ZenoBank |publisher=AlphaTrade |date=September 29, 2009 |access-date=September 29, 2009}}</ref>]]
When Microsoft went public and launched its [[Finance:Initial public offering|initial public offering]] (IPO) in 1986, the opening [[Finance:Stock|stock]] price was $21; after the [[Finance:Trading day|trading day]], the price closed at $27.75. As of July 2010, with the company's nine [[Finance:Stock split|stock split]]s, any IPO [[Finance:Share|shares]] would be multiplied by 288; if one were to buy the IPO today, given the splits and other factors, it would cost about 9&nbsp;cents.<ref name="Allan 2001" />{{Rp|235–236|date=November 2012}}<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/102018.asp |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |publisher=Hearst Seattle Media, LLC |date=March 14, 1986 |title=Microsoft stock is red hot on first trading day |last=Monkman |first=Carol Smith |page=B9 |access-date=July 18, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100221224106/http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/102018.asp |archive-date=February 21, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://performance.morningstar.com/stock/performance-return.action?p=dividend_split_page&t=MSFT&region=USA&culture=en-US&s=SPYZ |title=MSFT stock performance and split info |publisher=Morningstar, Inc. |access-date=July 17, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510012046/http://performance.morningstar.com/stock/performance-return.action?p=dividend_split_page&t=MSFT&region=USA&culture=en-US&s=SPYZ |archive-date=May 10, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> The stock price peaked in 1999 at around $119 ($60.928, adjusting for splits).<ref name="stocksheet">{{Cite web |title=Microsoft stock price spreadsheet from Microsoft investor relations |url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/d/a/7/da7e8eca-4410-4475-a211-03327408b655/msftpricehist.xls |format=xls |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=August 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091010091835/http://download.microsoft.com/download/d/a/7/da7e8eca-4410-4475-a211-03327408b655/msftpricehist.xls |archive-date=October 10, 2009 }}</ref> The company began to offer a [[Finance:Dividend|dividend]] on January 16, 2003, starting at eight cents per share for the fiscal year followed by a dividend of sixteen cents per share the subsequent year, switching from yearly to quarterly dividends in 2005 with eight cents a share per quarter and a [[Finance:Special dividend|special one-time payout]] of three dollars per share for the second quarter of the fiscal year.<ref name="stocksheet" /><ref name="dividendfaq">{{Cite web |title=Dividend Frequently Asked Questions |url=https://www.microsoft.com/msft/FAQ/dividend.mspx |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=August 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720122305/http://www.microsoft.com/msft/FAQ/dividend.mspx |archive-date=July 20, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Though the company had subsequent increases in dividend payouts, the price of Microsoft's stock remained steady for years.<ref name="dividendfaq" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Yahoo MSFT stock chart |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=MSFT&t=my |publisher=Yahoo Finance |access-date=December 13, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080123064835/https://finance.yahoo.com/q/bc?s=MSFT&t=my |archive-date=January 23, 2008}}</ref>

Standard & Poor's and Moody's Investors Service have both given a AAA rating to Microsoft, whose assets were valued at $41&nbsp;billion as compared to only $8.5&nbsp;billion in unsecured debt. Consequently, in February 2011 Microsoft released a corporate bond amounting to $2.25&nbsp;billion with relatively low borrowing rates compared to government bonds.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-microsoft-bonds-idUSTRE7128EZ20110204 |title=Microsoft sells $2.25&nbsp;billion of debt at low rates |work=Reuters |date=February 4, 2011 |access-date=July 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107042216/http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/04/us-microsoft-bonds-idUSTRE7128EZ20110204 |archive-date=November 7, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> For the first time in 20 years [[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple Inc.]] surpassed Microsoft in Q1 2011 quarterly profits and revenues due to a slowdown in PC sales and continuing huge losses in Microsoft's Online Services Division (which contains its search engine [[Software:Bing (search engine)|Bing]]). Microsoft profits were $5.2&nbsp;billion, while Apple Inc. profits were $6&nbsp;billion, on revenues of $14.5&nbsp;billion and $24.7&nbsp;billion respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Charles |last=Arthur |url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/apr/28/microsoft-falls-behind-apple |title=Microsoft falls behind Apple for first time in 20 years |website={{wipe|The Guardian}} |date=April 28, 2011 |access-date=May 11, 2011 |location=London |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019115501/http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2011/apr/28/microsoft-falls-behind-apple |archive-date=October 19, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Microsoft's Online Services Division has been continuously loss-making since 2006 and in Q1 2011 it lost $726&nbsp;million. This follows a loss of $2.5&nbsp;billion for the year 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |last=MG Siegler Apr 29 |first=2011 |url=https://techcrunch.com/2011/04/29/microsoft-internet-bloodbath |title=When Will Microsoft's Internet Bloodbath End? |publisher=Techcrunch.com |date=April 29, 2011 |access-date=May 11, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510073301/http://techcrunch.com/2011/04/29/microsoft-internet-bloodbath/ |archive-date=May 10, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On July 20, 2012, Microsoft posted its first quarterly loss ever, despite earning record revenues for the quarter and fiscal year, with a net loss of $492&nbsp;million due to a writedown related to the advertising company aQuantive, which had been acquired for $6.2&nbsp;billion back in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |last=White |first=Martha |title=Microsoft reports first quarterly loss ever |url=http://marketday.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/19/12837611-microsoft-reports-first-quarterly-loss-ever?lite |access-date=July 20, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120720121702/http://marketday.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/07/19/12837611-microsoft-reports-first-quarterly-loss-ever?lite |archive-date=July 20, 2012}}</ref> As of January 2014, Microsoft's market capitalization stood at $314B,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Overview |url=http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/msft/ |publisher=Marketwatch |access-date=February 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202080137/http://www.marketwatch.com/investing/stock/msft |archive-date=February 2, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> making it the 8th largest company in the world by market capitalization.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Global Top 100 Companies |url=http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/audit-services/capital-market/publications/top100-market-capitalisation.jhtml |publisher=PWC |access-date=February 2, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212041605/http://www.pwc.com/gx/en/audit-services/capital-market/publications/top100-market-capitalisation.jhtml |archive-date=February 12, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> On November 14, 2014, Microsoft overtook [[Company:ExxonMobil|ExxonMobil]] to become the second most-valuable company by market capitalization, behind only [[Company:Apple Inc.|Apple Inc.]] Its total market value was over $410B—with the stock price hitting $50.04 a share, the highest since early 2000.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Surpasses Exxon as 2nd Most Valuable Co. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2014/11/14/business/ap-us-microsoft-no-2.html |publisher=AssociatedPress |access-date=November 14, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502160225/http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2014/11/14/business/ap-us-microsoft-no-2.html |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, {{wipe|Reuters}} reported that Microsoft Corp had earnings abroad of $76.4&nbsp;billion which were untaxed by the [[Finance:Internal Revenue Service|Internal Revenue Service]]. Under U.S. law, corporations don't pay income tax on overseas profits until the profits are brought into the United States.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-tax-offshore-idUSBREA3729V20140409 |title=Untaxed U.S. corporate profits held overseas top $2.1 trillion: study |newspaper=Reuters |date=April 9, 2014 |access-date=July 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151114065547/http://www.reuters.com/article/2014/04/09/us-usa-tax-offshore-idUSBREA3729V20140409 |archive-date=November 14, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable float-left" style="text-align: right;"
!Year
!Revenue<br />in mil. US$<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Investor/annual-reports.aspx |title=Microsoft Investor Relations—Annual Reports |website=www.microsoft.com |language=en |access-date=November 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107145159/https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Investor/annual-reports.aspx |archive-date=November 7, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>
!Net income<br />in mil. US$<ref name=":2" />
!Total Assets<br />in mil. US$<ref name=":2" />
!Employees<ref name=":2" />
|-
| 2005
| 39,788
| 12,254
| 70,815
| 61,000
|-
| 2006
| 44,282
| 12,599
| 69,597
| 71,000
|-
| 2007
| 51,122
| 14,065
| 63,171
| 79,000
|-
| 2008
| 60,420
| 17,681
| 72,793
| 91,000
|-
| 2009
| 58,437
| 14,569
| 77,888
| 93,000
|-
| 2010
| 62,484
| 18,760
| 86,113
| 89,000
|-
| 2011
| 69,943
| 23,150
| 108,704
| 90,000
|-
| 2012
| 73,723
| 16,978
| 121,271
| 94,000
|-
| 2013
| 77,849
| 21,863
| 142,431
| 99,000
|-
| 2014
| 86,833
| 22,074
| 172,384
| 128,000
|-
| 2015
| 93,580
| 12,193
| 174,472
| 118,000
|-
| 2016
| 91,154
| 20,539
| 193,468
| 114,000
|-
| 2017
| 96,571
| 25,489
| 250,312
| 124,000
|-
| 2018
| 110,360
| 16,571
| 258,848
| 131,000
|-
| 2019
| 125,843
| 39,240
| 286,556
| 144,106
|-
|2020
|143,015
|44,281
|301,311
|163,000
|}
In November 2018, the company won a $480&nbsp;million military contract with the U.S. government to bring [[Augmented reality|augmented reality]] (AR) headset technology into the weapon repertoires of American soldiers. The two-year contract may result in follow-on orders of more than 100,000 headsets, according to documentation describing the bidding process. One of the contract's tag lines for the augmented reality technology seems to be its ability to enable "25 bloodless battles before the 1st battle", suggesting that actual combat training is going to be an essential aspect of the augmented reality headset capabilities.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/11/28/microsoft-wins-480m-military-contract-to-outfit-soldiers-with-hololens-ar-tech/ |title=Microsoft wins $480M military contract to outfit soldiers with HoloLens AR tech |work=TechCrunch |access-date=November 29, 2018 |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181129072828/https://techcrunch.com/2018/11/28/microsoft-wins-480m-military-contract-to-outfit-soldiers-with-hololens-ar-tech/ |archive-date=November 29, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Subsidiaries ===
Microsoft is an international business. As such, it needs subsidiaries present in whatever national markets it chooses to harvest. An example is Microsoft Canada, which it established in 1985.<ref name="mcan">{{cite web |title=Welcome to Microsoft Canada |url=https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/about/ |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=September 9, 2020}}</ref> Other countries have similar installations, to funnel profits back up to Redmond and to distribute the dividends to the holders of MSFT stock.

=== Marketing ===
[[File:Windows 8 Launch Event in Akihabara, Tokyo.jpg|thumb|Windows 8 Launch Event in Akihabara, Tokyo on October 25, 2012]]
In 2004, Microsoft commissioned research firms to do independent studies comparing the [[Total cost of ownership|total cost of ownership]] (TCO) of [[Software:Windows Server 2003|Windows Server 2003]] to [[Software:Linux|Linux]]; the firms concluded that companies found Windows easier to administrate than Linux, thus those using Windows would administrate faster resulting in lower costs for their company (i.e. lower TCO).<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.seattlepi.com/business/158237_msftresearch27.html |title=Studies on Linux help their patron: Microsoft |last=Bishop |first=Todd |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |publisher=Hearst Seattle Media, LLC |date=January 27, 2004 |access-date=July 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205010533/http://www.seattlepi.com/business/158237_msftresearch27.html |archive-date=December 5, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> This spurred a wave of related studies; a study by the [[Company:Yankee Group|Yankee Group]] concluded that upgrading from one version of Windows Server to another costs a fraction of the [[Social:Switching barriers|switching costs]] from Windows Server to Linux, although companies surveyed noted the increased security and reliability of Linux servers and concern about being locked into using Microsoft products.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/operating_systems/yankee_independently_pits_windows_tco_vs_linux_tco.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104134612/http://www.microsoft-watch.com/content/operating_systems/yankee_independently_pits_windows_tco_vs_linux_tco.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 4, 2013 |title=Yankee Independently Pits Windows TCO vs. Linux TCO |last=Foley |first=Mary Jo |work=eWeek |date=March 24, 2004 |access-date=July 14, 2010}}</ref> Another study, released by the [[Organization:Open Source Development Labs|Open Source Development Labs]], claimed that the Microsoft studies were "simply outdated and one-sided" and their survey concluded that the TCO of Linux was lower due to Linux administrators managing more servers on average and other reasons.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2150210/linux-fans-hit-back-microsoft |title=Linux fans hit back at Microsoft TCO claims |last=Jaques |first=Robert |work=vnunet.com |date=February 13, 2006 |access-date=August 18, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724013740/http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/news/2150210/linux-fans-hit-back-microsoft |archive-date=July 24, 2008 }}</ref>

As part of the "Get the Facts" campaign, Microsoft highlighted the .NET Framework trading platform that it had developed in partnership with [[Company:Accenture|Accenture]] for the London Stock Exchange, claiming that it provided "[[High availability|five nines]]" reliability. After suffering extended downtime and unreliability<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/4676369/Seven-hour-LSE-blackout-caused-by-double-glitch.html |newspaper=The Telegraph |title=Seven-hour LSE blackout caused by double glitch |first=Rowena |last=Mason |date=September 10, 2008 |location=London |access-date=April 3, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171225225348/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/4676369/Seven-hour-LSE-blackout-caused-by-double-glitch.html |archive-date=December 25, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |work=BBC News Online |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8380607.stm |title=London Stock Exchange trading hit by technical glitch |date=November 26, 2009 |access-date=September 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726144134/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8380607.stm |archive-date=July 26, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> the London Stock Exchange announced in 2009 that it was planning to drop its Microsoft solution and switch to a Linux-based one in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=ITWire |url=http://www.itwire.com/opinion-and-analysis/the-linux-distillery/28359-london-stock-exchange-gets-the-facts-and-dumps-windows-for-linux |title=London Stock Exchange gets the facts and dumps Windows for Linux |first=David M. |last=Williams |date=October 8, 2009 |access-date=September 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716005714/http://www.itwire.com/opinion-and-analysis/the-linux-distillery/28359-london-stock-exchange-gets-the-facts-and-dumps-windows-for-linux |archive-date=July 16, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |publisher=[[Social:Slashdot|Slashdot]] |url=http://linux.slashdot.org/story/09/10/06/1742203/London-Stock-Exchange-Rejects-NET-For-Open-Source |title=London Stock Exchange Rejects .NET For Open Source |date=October 6, 2009 |access-date=September 30, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811012038/http://linux.slashdot.org/story/09/10/06/1742203/London-Stock-Exchange-Rejects-NET-For-Open-Source |archive-date=August 11, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2012, Microsoft hired a political pollster named Mark Penn, whom ''The New York Times'' called "famous for bulldozing" his political opponents<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/technology/microsoft-battles-google-by-hiring-political-brawler-mark-penn.html?_r=0 |work=The New York Times |first1=Nick |last1=Wingfield |title=Microsoft Battles Google by Hiring Political Brawler Mark Penn |date=December 14, 2012 |access-date=February 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170312135416/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/15/technology/microsoft-battles-google-by-hiring-political-brawler-mark-penn.html?_r=0 |archive-date=March 12, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> as Executive Vice-President, Advertising and Strategy. Penn created a series of negative advertisements targeting one of Microsoft's chief competitors, [[Company:Google|Google]]. The advertisements, called "Scroogled", attempt to make the case that Google is "screwing" consumers with search results rigged to favor Google's paid advertisers, that [[Software:Gmail|Gmail]] violates the privacy of its users to place ad results related to the content of their emails and shopping results, which favor Google products. Tech publications like TechCrunch have been highly critical of the advertising campaign,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://techcrunch.com/2013/02/10/scroogled-why-so-negative-microsoft/ |title=Scroogled: Why So Negative, Microsoft? |work=TechCrunch |date=February 10, 2013 |access-date=April 18, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317120624/http://techcrunch.com/2013/02/10/scroogled-why-so-negative-microsoft/ |archive-date=March 17, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> while Google employees have embraced it.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2013/11/21/googlers-love-microsofts-scroogled-gear-mug-and-shirts-sell-out/ |title=Googlers Love Microsoft's 'Scroogled' Gear. Mug and Shirts Sell Out. |first=Kashmir |last=Hill |date=November 21, 2013 |work=Forbes |access-date=September 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170729205754/https://www.forbes.com/sites/kashmirhill/2013/11/21/googlers-love-microsofts-scroogled-gear-mug-and-shirts-sell-out/ |archive-date=July 29, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Layoffs ===
In July 2014, Microsoft announced plans to lay off 18,000 employees. Microsoft employed 127,104 people as of June 5, 2014, making this about a 14 percent reduction of its workforce as the biggest Microsoft lay off ever. This included 12,500 professional and factory personnel. Previously, Microsoft had eliminated 5,800 jobs in 2009 in line with the Great Recession of 2008–2017.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/07/17/microsoft-cut-18000-jobs-over-next-year.html |title=Microsoft to cut up to 18,000 jobs over next year |date=July 17, 2014 |access-date=July 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727205526/http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2014/07/17/microsoft-cut-18000-jobs-over-next-year.html |archive-date=July 27, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Layoffs Greater Than Expected: Up to 18,000 Jobs Being Cut |url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-layoffs-greater-than-expected-up-to-18-0/1100-6421171/ |publisher=Gamespot |access-date=August 10, 2014 |date=July 17, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140722064908/http://www.gamespot.com/articles/microsoft-layoffs-greater-than-expected-up-to-18-0/1100-6421171/ |archive-date=July 22, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2014, Microsoft laid off 2,100 people, including 747 people in the Seattle–Redmond area, where the company is headquartered. The firings came as a second wave of the layoffs that were previously announced. This brought the total number to over 15,000 out of the 18,000 expected cuts.<ref>By Alex Wilhelm, TechCrunch. "[https://techcrunch.com/2014/09/18/microsoft-pulls-the-trigger-on-2100-more-layoffs/Microsoft Lays Off 2,100 More Employees]." September 18, 2014. September 18, 2014.</ref> In October 2014, Microsoft revealed that it was almost done with the elimination of 18,000 employees, which was its largest-ever layoff sweep.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Perez |first1=Juan Carlos |title=Microsoft is 'almost' done with its largest-ever layoff sweep |url=http://www.computerworld.com/article/2840872/microsoft-is-almost-done-with-its-largest-ever-layoff-sweep.html |website=Computerworld |publisher=International Data Group |date=October 29, 2014 |access-date=November 10, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141104135846/http://www.computerworld.com/article/2840872/microsoft-is-almost-done-with-its-largest-ever-layoff-sweep.html |archive-date=November 4, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2015, Microsoft announced another 7,800 job cuts in the next several months.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2015/07/08/microsoft-job-cuts-2015/ |title=Microsoft plans 7,800 layoffs, $7.8 billion Nokia write-down |first=Aaron |last=Souppouris |access-date=July 8, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711025745/http://www.engadget.com/2015/07/08/microsoft-job-cuts-2015/ |archive-date=July 11, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> In May 2016, Microsoft announced another 1,850 job cuts mostly in its Nokia mobile phone division. As a result, the company will record an impairment and restructuring charge of approximately $950&nbsp;million, of which approximately $200&nbsp;million will relate to severance payments.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/microsoft-announces-streamlining-of-smartphone-hardware-business-300274560.html |title=Microsoft announces streamlining of smartphone hardware business |first=Microsoft |last=Corp. |access-date=November 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161202052847/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/microsoft-announces-streamlining-of-smartphone-hardware-business-300274560.html |archive-date=December 2, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== United States government ===
Microsoft provides information about reported bugs in their software to intelligence agencies of the United States government, prior to the public release of the fix. A Microsoft spokesperson has stated that the corporation runs several programs that facilitate the sharing of such information with the U.S. government.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-14/u-s-agencies-said-to-swap-data-with-thousands-of-firms.html |title=U.S. Agencies Said to Swap Data With Thousands of Firms |work=Bloomberg |date=June 15, 2013 |access-date=March 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150112075940/http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-06-14/u-s-agencies-said-to-swap-data-with-thousands-of-firms.html |archive-date=January 12, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Following media reports about PRISM, NSA's massive electronic surveillance program, in May 2013, several technology companies were identified as participants, including Microsoft.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Ryan W. |last=Neal |title=Snowden Reveals Microsoft PRISM Cooperation: Helped NSA Decrypt Emails, Chats, Skype Conversations |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/snowden-reveals-microsoft-prism-cooperation-helped-nsa-decrypt-emails-chats-skype-conversations |work=International Business Times |date=July 11, 2013 |access-date=November 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203124001/http://www.ibtimes.com/snowden-reveals-microsoft-prism-cooperation-helped-nsa-decrypt-emails-chats-skype-conversations |archive-date=December 3, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> According to leaks of said program, Microsoft joined the PRISM program in 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Greenwald |first1=Glenn |last2=MacAskill |first2=Ewen |title=NSA Prism program taps in to user data of Apple, Google and others |date=June 7, 2013 |work={{wipe|The Guardian}} |publisher=Guardian News and Media Limited |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/06/us-tech-giants-nsa-data |access-date=April 26, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818114650/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/06/us-tech-giants-nsa-data |archive-date=August 18, 2006 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, in June 2013, an official statement from Microsoft flatly denied their participation in the program: {{Quote | style=font-size:100% | text="We provide customer data only when we receive a legally binding order or subpoena to do so, and never on a voluntary basis. In addition we only ever comply with orders for requests about specific accounts or identifiers. If the government has a broader voluntary national security program to gather customer data, we don't participate in it."<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Kevin |last2=Martin |first2=Scott |last3=O'Donnell |first3=Jayne |last4=Winter |first4=Michael |title=Reports: NSA Siphons Data from 9 Major Net Firms |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/06/06/nsa-surveillance-internet-companies/2398345/ |access-date=June 6, 2013 |work=[[Software:USA Today|USA Today]] |date=June 15, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607113440/http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2013/06/06/nsa-surveillance-internet-companies/2398345/ |archive-date=June 7, 2013 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all}}</ref>}}

During the first six months in 2013, Microsoft had received requests that affected between 15,000 and 15,999 accounts.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft, Facebook, Google and Yahoo release US surveillance requests |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/03/microsoft-facebook-google-yahoo-fisa-surveillance-requests |work={{wipe|The Guardian}} |date=February 3, 2014 |access-date=December 12, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106175615/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/03/microsoft-facebook-google-yahoo-fisa-surveillance-requests |archive-date=January 6, 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref> In December 2013, the company made statement to further emphasize the fact that they take their customers' privacy and [[Information privacy|data protection]] very seriously, even saying that "government snooping potentially now constitutes an '[[Advanced persistent threat|advanced persistent threat]],' alongside sophisticated malware and cyber attacks".<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Smith |first1=Brad |title=Protecting customer data from government snooping |url=http://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2013/12/04/protecting-customer-data-from-government-snooping/ |website=The Official Microsoft Blog |access-date=January 1, 2015 |date=December 4, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141224072247/http://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2013/12/04/protecting-customer-data-from-government-snooping/ |archive-date=December 24, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The statement also marked the beginning of three-part program to enhance Microsoft's encryption and transparency efforts. On July 1, 2014, as part of this program they opened the first (of many) Microsoft Transparency Center, that provides "participating governments with the ability to review [[Source code|source code]] for our key products, assure themselves of their software integrity, and confirm there are no "[[Backdoor (computing)|back doors]]."<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Thomlinson |first1=Matt |title=Advancing our encryption and transparency efforts |url=http://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2014/07/01/advancing-our-encryption-and-transparency-efforts/ |website=Microsoft on the Issues |access-date=January 1, 2015 |date=July 1, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101183639/http://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2014/07/01/advancing-our-encryption-and-transparency-efforts/ |archive-date=January 1, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Microsoft has also argued that the United States Congress should enact strong privacy regulations to protect consumer data.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Heiner |first1=David |title=Request for Comment: Big Data and Consumer Privacy in the Internet Economy |url=http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/microsoft.pdf |website=National Telecommunications and Information Administration |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=August 12, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140814113914/http://www.ntia.doc.gov/files/ntia/microsoft.pdf |archive-date=August 14, 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In April 2016, the company sued the U.S. government, arguing that secrecy orders were preventing the company from disclosing warrants to customers in violation of the company's and customers' rights. Microsoft argued that it was unconstitutional for the government to indefinitely ban Microsoft from informing its users that the government was requesting their emails and other documents, and that the Fourth Amendment made it so people or businesses had the right to know if the government searches or seizes their property. On October 23, 2017, Microsoft said it would drop the lawsuit as a result of a policy change by the United States Department of Justice (DoJ). The DoJ had "changed data request rules on alerting the Internet users about agencies accessing their information."

== Corporate identity ==
=== Corporate culture ===
Technical reference for developers and articles for various Microsoft magazines such as ''Microsoft Systems Journal'' (MSJ) are available through the Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN). MSDN also offers subscriptions for companies and individuals, and the more expensive subscriptions usually offer access to pre-release beta versions of Microsoft software.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/ms123402.aspx?missingurl=%2fsubscriptions%2ffaq%2fdefault.aspx |publisher=Microsoft |title=MSDN Subscription FAQ |access-date=July 3, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112083150/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/ms123402.aspx?missingurl=%2Fsubscriptions%2Ffaq%2Fdefault.aspx |archive-date=January 12, 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/msj/ |title=Microsoft Systems Journal Homepage |publisher=Microsoft |date=April 15, 2004 |access-date=August 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725152056/http://www.microsoft.com/msj/ |archive-date=July 25, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref> In April 2004, Microsoft launched a community site for developers and users, titled [[Channel 9 (Microsoft)|Channel 9]], that provides a [[Wiki|wiki]] and an [[Internet forum]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hobson |first=Neville |url=http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2005/04/11/microsofts-channel-and-cultural-rules |title=Microsoft's Channel 9 And Cultural Rules |work=WebProNews |publisher=iEntry Inc |date=April 11, 2005 |access-date=July 3, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080420185313/http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2005/04/11/microsofts-channel-and-cultural-rules |archive-date=April 20, 2008}}</ref> Another community site that provides daily [[Podcast#Video podcasts|videocasts]] and other services, On10.net, launched on March 3, 2006.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.On10.net |title=On10.net homepage |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=May 4, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060428070407/http://www.on10.net/ |archive-date=April 28, 2006}}</ref> Free technical support is traditionally provided through online [[Usenet]] newsgroups, and [[Company:CompuServe|CompuServe]] in the past, monitored by Microsoft employees; there can be several newsgroups for a single product. Helpful people can be elected by peers or Microsoft employees for Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) status, which entitles them to a sort of special social status and possibilities for awards and other benefits.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2005/06/13/somehow_usenet_lumbers_on/ |title=Somehow, Usenet lumbers on |last=Bray |first=Hiawatha |date=June 13, 2005 |access-date=July 3, 2006 |work=The Boston Globe |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322135139/http://www.boston.com/business/globe/articles/2005/06/13/somehow_usenet_lumbers_on |archive-date=March 22, 2009}}</ref>

Noted for its internal [[Social:Lexicon|lexicon]], the expression "[[Eating your own dog food|eating your own dog food]]" is used to describe the policy of using pre-release and beta versions of products inside Microsoft in an effort to test them in "real-world" situations.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft tests its own dog food |url=http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5047467.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108214545/http://news.zdnet.com/2100-3513_22-5047467.html |archive-date=January 8, 2007 |work=[[ZDNet]] |publisher=CBS Interactive |date=July 21, 2003 |access-date=October 9, 2005}}</ref> This is usually shortened to just "dog food" and is used as noun, verb, and adjective. Another bit of [[Social:Jargon|jargon]], FYIFV or FYIV ("Fuck You, I'm [Fully] Vested"), is used by an employee to indicate they are [[Finance:Financial independence|financially independent]] and can avoid work anytime they wish.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Heilemann |first=John |title=The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But The Truth |url=https://www.wired.com/2000/11/microsoft-7/ |magazine=Wired |publisher=Condé Nast |date=November 2000 |access-date=September 30, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724133013/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/8.11/microsoft_pr.html |archive-date=July 24, 2008}}</ref>

Microsoft is an outspoken opponent of the cap on H-1B visas, which allow companies in the U.S. to employ certain foreign workers. Bill Gates claims the cap on H1B visas makes it difficult to hire employees for the company, stating "I'd certainly get rid of the H1B cap" in 2005.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3500986 |title=Gates Rakes Congress on H1B Visa Cap |last=Mark |first=Roy |work=internetnews.com |date=April 27, 2005 |access-date=August 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610153421/http://www.internetnews.com/bus-news/article.php/3500986 |archive-date=June 10, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Critics of H1B visas argue that relaxing the limits would result in increased unemployment for U.S. citizens due to H1B workers working for lower salaries.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88154016 |title=Bill Gates Targets Visa Rules for Tech Workers |work=NPR |date=March 12, 2008 |access-date=July 6, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100424010916/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88154016 |archive-date=April 24, 2010 |url-status=live}}</ref> The Human Rights Campaign Corporate Equality Index, a report of how progressive the organization deems company policies towards LGBT employees, rated Microsoft as 87% from 2002 to 2004 and as 100% from 2005 to 2010 after they allowed gender expression.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Corporate Equality Index Archive |url=http://www.hrc.org/about_us/7115.htm |publisher=Human Rights Campaign Foundation |access-date=July 17, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703003315/http://www.hrc.org/about_us/7115.htm |archive-date=July 3, 2010}}</ref>

In August 2018, Microsoft implemented a policy for all companies providing subcontractors to require 12 weeks of paid parental leave to each employee. This expands on the former requirement from 2015 requiring 15 days of paid vacation and sick leave each year.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Dreyfuss |first1=Emily |title=Will Others Follow Microsoft's Lead on Paid Parental Leave? |url=https://www.wired.com/story/will-others-follow-microsoft-on-paid-parental-leave/ |access-date=September 1, 2018 |publisher=WIRED |date=August 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901114448/https://www.wired.com/story/will-others-follow-microsoft-on-paid-parental-leave/ |archive-date=September 1, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2015, Microsoft established its own parental leave policy to allow 12 weeks off for parental leave with an additional 8 weeks for the parent who gave birth.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kastrenakes |first1=Jacob |title=Microsoft says its US contractors must offer paid parental leave |url=https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/31/17806726/microsoft-supplier-paid-parental-leave-requirement |access-date=September 1, 2018 |website=The Verge |date=August 31, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901155850/https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/31/17806726/microsoft-supplier-paid-parental-leave-requirement |archive-date=September 1, 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Environment ===
In 2011, Greenpeace released a report rating the top ten big brands in [[Cloud computing|cloud computing]] on their sources of electricity for their [[Data center|data center]]s. At the time, data centers consumed up to 2% of all global electricity and this amount was projected to increase. Phil Radford of Greenpeace said "we are concerned that this new explosion in electricity use could lock us into old, polluting energy sources instead of the clean energy available today,"<ref>{{Cite web |publisher=Greenpeace |url=http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/climate/2011/Cool%20IT/dirty-data-report-greenpeace.pdf |title=Dirty Data Report Card |access-date=August 22, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130910205409/http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/climate/2011/Cool%20IT/dirty-data-report-greenpeace.pdf |archive-date=September 10, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> and called on "Amazon, Microsoft and other leaders of the information-technology industry must embrace clean energy to power their cloud-based data centers."<ref>[http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2018176038_guest10radford.html "Amazon, Microsoft: Let's keep 'the cloud' clean"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204074032/http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2018176038_guest10radford.html |date=December 4, 2013}}, Phil Radford</ref> In 2013, Microsoft agreed to buy power generated by a Texas wind project to power one of its data centers.<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/04/microsoft-wind-powered-data-centre "Microsoft looks to boost eco credentials with wind-powered data centre"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170106175010/https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/nov/04/microsoft-wind-powered-data-centre |date=January 6, 2017}}, Suzanne Goldenberg</ref> Microsoft is ranked on the 17th place in Greenpeace's ''Guide to Greener Electronics'' (16th Edition) that ranks 18 electronics manufacturers according to their policies on toxic chemicals, recycling and climate change.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/climate-change/cool-it/Guide-to-Greener-Electronics/Previous-Edition-October-2010/ |title=Guide to Greener Electronics&nbsp;– Greenpeace International (16th Edition) |publisher=Greenpeace International |access-date=April 3, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120331130430/http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/climate-change/cool-it/Guide-to-Greener-Electronics/Previous-Edition-October-2010/ |archive-date=March 31, 2012}}</ref> Microsoft's timeline for phasing out [[Chemistry:Brominated flame retardant|brominated flame retardant]] (BFRs) and [[Chemistry:Phthalate|phthalate]]s in all products is 2012 but its commitment to phasing out [[Chemistry:Polyvinyl chloride|PVC]] is not clear. As of January 2011, it has no products that are completely free from PVC and BFRs.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/toxics/2010/version16/Ranking%20tables%20Oct%202010-Microsoft.pdf |title=Ranking tables October 2010&nbsp;– Greenpeace International |publisher=Greenpeace International |access-date=January 24, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128162332/http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/international/publications/toxics/2010/version16/Ranking%20tables%20Oct%202010-Microsoft.pdf |archive-date=January 28, 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Microsoft's main U.S. campus received a silver certification from the [[Engineering:Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design|Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design]] (LEED) program in 2008, and it installed over 2,000 [[Physics:Solar panel|solar panel]]s on top of its buildings at its Silicon Valley campus, generating approximately 15 percent of the total energy needed by the facilities in April 2005.<ref name="news1">{{Cite web |url=http://news.cnet.com/Microsoft-vs.-Google-Whos-greener/2100-1022_3-6080297.html?tag=mncol;txt |title=Microsoft vs. Google: Who's greener? |work=CNET |publisher=CBS Interactive |last=Mills |first=Elinor |date=June 6, 2008 |access-date=July 3, 2010}}</ref> Microsoft makes use of alternative forms of transit. It created one of the world's largest private bus systems, the "Connector", to transport people from outside the company; for on-campus transportation, the "Shuttle Connect" uses a large fleet of hybrid cars to save fuel. The company also subsidizes regional [[Engineering:Public transport|public transport]], provided by Sound Transit and King County Metro, as an incentive.<ref name="news1" /><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.microsoft.com/environment/our_commitment/articles/alternative_commuting.aspx |title=Fostering Alternative Ways to Commute at Microsoft |publisher=Microsoft |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080501154211/http://www.microsoft.com/environment/our_commitment/articles/alternative_commuting.aspx |archive-date=May 1, 2008}}</ref> In February 2010, however, Microsoft took a stance against adding additional public transport and [[Engineering:High-occupancy vehicle lane|high-occupancy vehicle]] (HOV) lanes to the State Route 520 and its floating bridge connecting Redmond to Seattle; the company did not want to delay the construction any further.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.king5.com/news/Microsofts-big-520-advertisement-85031317.html |work=King5 Television News |title=Seattle hires consultant to look at 520 bridge plan |date=February 23, 2010 |access-date=July 3, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100226123840/http://www.king5.com/news/Microsofts-big-520-advertisement-85031317.html |archive-date=February 26, 2010 }}</ref> Microsoft was ranked number 1 in the list of the World's Best Multinational Workplaces by the Great Place to Work Institute in 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoftpri0/2016631709_microsoft_named_best_multinational_workplace_by_gr.html |title=Microsoft Pri0 &#124; Microsoft named best multinational workplace |publisher=Seattle Times Newspaper |date=October 28, 2011 |access-date=November 3, 2011 |first=Janet I. |last=Tu |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120711115601/http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoftpri0/2016631709_microsoft_named_best_multinational_workplace_by_gr.html |archive-date=July 11, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> In January 2020, the company promised to remove from the environment all of the carbon that it has emitted since its foundation in 1975.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2020/01/16/microsoft-will-be-carbon-negative-by-2030/|title=Microsoft will be carbon negative by 2030|date=January 16, 2020|website=Official Microsoft Blog}}</ref> On October 9, 2020, Microsoft made their work from home policy permanent.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ciaccia|first=Chris|date=October 9, 2020|title=Microsoft's work-from-home policy to become permanent|url=https://www.foxbusiness.com/technology/microsofts-work-from-home-to-become-permanent|access-date=October 9, 2020|website=FOXBusiness|language=en-US}}</ref>
In January 2021, the company announced on [[Company:Twitter|Twitter]] to join the Climate Neutral Data Centre Pact, which engages the cloud infrastructure and data centers industries to reach [[Chemistry:Carbon neutrality|climate neutrality]] in Europe by 2030.

=== Headquarters ===
[[File:Aerial Microsoft West Campus August 2009.jpg|thumb|The west campus of the Microsoft Redmond campus]]
The corporate headquarters, informally known as the Microsoft Redmond campus, is located at One Microsoft Way in Redmond, Washington. Microsoft initially moved onto the grounds of the campus on February 26, 1986, weeks before the company went public on March 13. The headquarters has since experienced multiple expansions since its establishment. It is estimated to encompass over 8&nbsp;million ft<sup>2</sup> (750,000&nbsp;m<sup>2</sup>) of office space and 30,000–40,000 employees.<ref>[https://www.microsoft.com/presspass/inside_ms.mspx Fast Facts About Microsoft] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070809015659/http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/inside_ms.mspx |date=August 9, 2007}}. Microsoft.com. Retrieved on August 25, 2013.</ref> Additional offices are located in Bellevue and Issaquah, Washington (90,000 employees worldwide). The company is planning to upgrade its Mountain View, California, campus on a grand scale. The company has occupied this campus since 1981. In 2016, the company bought the {{convert|32|acre|adj=on}} campus, with plans to renovate and expand it by 25%.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Microsoft To Buy, Expand Mountain View Campus |url=https://www.bisnow.com/silicon-valley/news/office/microsoft-to-buy-expand-mountain-view-campus-54959 |first=Allison |last=Nagel |work=Bisnow Media |date=January 25, 2016 |access-date=February 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190204074800/https://www.bisnow.com/silicon-valley/news/office/microsoft-to-buy-expand-mountain-view-campus-54959 |archive-date=February 4, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Microsoft operates an East Coast headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://safway.com/Projects/Commercial/microsoft.asp?timeline=renovation |title=Microsoft East Coast Headquarters—Safway Services |website=safway.com |access-date=March 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170329050044/http://safway.com/Projects/Commercial/microsoft.asp?timeline=renovation |archive-date=March 29, 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Flagship stores ===
[[File:TorontoMicrosoftStore8.JPG|thumb|Microsoft's Toronto flagship store]]

On October 26, 2015, the company opened its retail location on Fifth Avenue in New York City. The location features a five-story glass storefront and is 22,270 square feet.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=Your First Look at Microsoft's Massive New Flagship Store |url=https://www.wired.com/2015/10/microsofts-hands-on-flagship-store-opens-on-fifth-avenue/ |magazine=Wired |publisher=Condé Nast |access-date=October 27, 2015 |date=October 26, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151027110340/http://www.wired.com/2015/10/microsofts-hands-on-flagship-store-opens-on-fifth-avenue/ |archive-date=October 27, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> As per company executives, Microsoft had been on the lookout for a flagship location since 2009.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=Keiko |title=Microsoft Opens Flagship Store on Fifth Avenue |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/microsoft-opens-flagship-store-on-fifth-avenue-1445823629 |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date=October 26, 2015 |access-date=October 27, 2015 |issn=0099-9660 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026172634/http://www.wsj.com/articles/microsoft-opens-flagship-store-on-fifth-avenue-1445823629 |archive-date=October 26, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The company's retail locations are part of a greater
strategy to help build a connection with its consumers. The
opening of the store coincided with the launch of the Surface Book and Surface
Pro 4.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Microsoft opens the doors to its New York City flagship store |url=https://www.theverge.com/2015/10/26/9617520/microsoft-store-nyc-opening-fifth-avenue-flagship |website=The Verge |date=October 26, 2015 |access-date=October 27, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151026221011/http://www.theverge.com/2015/10/26/9617520/microsoft-store-nyc-opening-fifth-avenue-flagship |archive-date=October 26, 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> On November 12, 2015, Microsoft opened a second flagship store, located in Sydney's Pitt Street Mall.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-to-open-flagship-store-in-sydney/ |title=Microsoft to open flagship store in Sydney |date=April 21, 2015 |last=Chanthadavong |first=Aimee |website=[[ZDNet]] |access-date=December 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101064431/http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-to-open-flagship-store-in-sydney/ |archive-date=January 1, 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Logo ===
Microsoft adopted the so-called "''[[Software:Pac-Man|Pac-Man]]'' Logo," designed by Scott Baker, in 1987. Baker stated "The new logo, in Helvetica italic typeface, has a slash between the ''o'' and ''s'' to emphasize the "soft" part of the name and convey motion and speed."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jha |first=Lakshman |date=2008 |title=Customer Relationship Management: A Strategic Approach |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NbnZwhUjlF0C |publisher=Global India Publications |page=218 |isbn=978-81-907211-2-7 |access-date=May 1, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323120123/https://books.google.com/books?id=NbnZwhUjlF0C |archive-date=March 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref> Dave Norris ran an internal joke campaign to save the old logo, which was green, in all uppercase, and featured a fanciful letter ''O'', nicknamed the ''blibbet'', but it was discarded.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/blogs/larryosterman/remember-the-blibbet |title=Remember the blibbet |work=Larry Osterman's WebLog |publisher=Microsoft |last=Osterman |first=Larry |date=July 14, 2005 |access-date=October 17, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803222257/http://blogs.msdn.com/larryosterman/archive/2005/07/14/438777.aspx |archive-date=August 3, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> Microsoft's logo with the tagline "Your potential. Our passion."—below the main corporate name—is based on a slogan Microsoft used in 2008. In 2002, the company started using the logo in the United States and eventually started a television campaign with the slogan, changed from the previous tagline of ''"Where do you want to go today?"''<ref name="wherego1">{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/6.12/redmond.html |title=The Rise and Rise of the Redmond Empire |magazine=Wired |publisher=Condé Nast |date=December 1998 |access-date=August 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121106035359/http://www.wired.com/wired/archive/6.12/redmond.html |archive-date=November 6, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="potentialpassion1">{{Cite web |url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising/mccann-thinks-local-global-microsoft-83426 |title=McCann Thinks Local for Global Microsoft |last=Schmelzer |first=Randi |work=Adweek |date=January 9, 2006 |access-date=August 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828202545/http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising/mccann-thinks-local-global-microsoft-83426 |archive-date=August 28, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060123-6031.html |title=Microsoft set to launch new marketing campaign |work=Ars Technica |publisher=Condé Nast Digital |last=Reimer |first=Jeremy |date=January 23, 2006 |access-date=August 18, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080918080347/http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20060123-6031.html |archive-date=September 18, 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> During the private MGX (Microsoft Global Exchange) conference in 2010, Microsoft unveiled the company's next tagline, ''"Be What's Next."''<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.engadget.com/2010/07/22/new-microsoft-brand-logos-company-tagline-revealed-at-mgx-event/ |title=New Microsoft brand logos, company tagline revealed at MGX event? (update: no new logos, tagline is a go) |first=Joshua |last=Topolsky |work=[[Software:Engadget|Engadget]] |publisher=AOL |date=July 22, 2010 |access-date=August 2, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816001625/http://www.engadget.com/2010/07/22/new-microsoft-brand-logos-company-tagline-revealed-at-mgx-event |archive-date=August 16, 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> They also had a slogan/tagline "Making it all make sense."<ref>{{Cite book |author=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. |title=InfoWorld |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4FAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT26 |year=1991 |publisher=InfoWorld Media Group, Inc. |page=26 |access-date=September 5, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190323120125/https://books.google.com/books?id=4FAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT26 |archive-date=March 23, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

On August 23, 2012, Microsoft unveiled a new corporate logo at the opening of its 23rd Microsoft store in Boston, indicating the company's shift of focus from the classic style to the tile-centric modern interface, which it uses/will use on the Windows Phone platform, Xbox 360, Windows 8 and the upcoming Office Suites.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meisner |first=Jeffrey |url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_blog/archive/2012/08/23/microsoft-unveils-a-new-look.aspx |title=Microsoft Unveils a New Look |publisher=The Official Microsoft Blog |date=August 23, 2012 |access-date=August 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825012157/http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_blog/archive/2012/08/23/microsoft-unveils-a-new-look.aspx |archive-date=August 25, 2012}}</ref> The new logo also includes four squares with the colors of the then-current Windows logo which have been used to represent Microsoft's four major products: Windows (blue), Office (red), Xbox (green) and Bing (yellow).<ref>{{Cite web |last=Eric |first=Steven H. |url=http://flapship.com/new-microsoft-logo-revealed/ |title=NEW MICROSOFT LOGO REVEALED |publisher=Flapship.com |date=August 23, 2012 |access-date=August 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825174050/http://flapship.com/new-microsoft-logo-revealed/ |archive-date=August 25, 2012}}</ref> The logo resembles the opening of one of the commercials for [[Software:Windows 95|Windows 95]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.wpcentral.com/microsofts-new-logo-has-ties-past |title=Microsoft's new logo has ties to the past |date=August 23, 2012 |access-date=September 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921053328/http://www.wpcentral.com/microsofts-new-logo-has-ties-past |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft039s-logo-is-not-new-it039s-from-1995 |title=Microsoft's logo is not new, it's from 1995 |access-date=September 13, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728155634/http://www.neowin.net/news/microsoft039s-logo-is-not-new-it039s-from-1995 |archive-date=July 28, 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

<gallery caption="Microsoft logo history" class="center" widths="200">
File:Microsoft logo (1975).svg|1975–1980: First Microsoft logo, in 1975
File:Microsoft logo (1980).png|1980–1982: Second Microsoft logo, in 1980
File:Microsoft Logo Historical.svg|1982–1987: Third Microsoft logo, in 1982
File:Microsoft logo (1987).svg|1987–2012: Microsoft "[[Software:Pac-Man|Pac-Man]]" logo, designed by Scott Baker and used from 1987 to 2012<ref name="wherego1" /><ref name="potentialpassion1" />
File:Microsoft logo and wordmark.svg|2012–present: Fifth Microsoft logo, introduced on August 23, 2012<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_blog/archive/2012/08/23/microsoft-unveils-a-new-look.aspx |title=Microsoft Unveils a New Look |work=Microsoft |date=August 2012 |access-date=August 23, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120825012157/http://blogs.technet.com/b/microsoft_blog/archive/2012/08/23/microsoft-unveils-a-new-look.aspx |archive-date=August 25, 2012}}</ref>
</gallery>

=== Sponsorship ===
The company was the official jersey sponsor of Finland's national basketball team at EuroBasket 2015.<ref>[http://www.eurobasket2015.org/en/compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2015.roundID_9322.teamID_281.html Finland | EuroBasket 2015] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928112312/http://www.eurobasket2015.org/en/compID_qMRZdYCZI6EoANOrUf9le2.season_2015.roundID_9322.teamID_281.html |date=September 28, 2015}}, FIBA.com, Retrieved September 27, 2015.</ref>

=== Philanthropy ===
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Microsoft's president, Brad Smith, announced that an initial batch of supplies, including 15,000 protection goggles, [[Engineering:Infrared thermometer|infrared thermometer]]s, medical caps, and protective suits, were donated to Seattle, with further aid to come soon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/tech-billionaires-promise-to-donate-18-million-masks-2020-3#apple-minimum-2-million-masks-1|title=Tech billionaires including Tim Cook, Elon Musk, and Mark Zuckerberg promised 18 million masks to fight COVID-19|publisher=Business Insider|access-date=March 23, 2020}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Software:List of Microsoft software|List of Microsoft software]]
* List of Microsoft hardware
* List of investments by Microsoft Corporation
* List of mergers and acquisitions by Microsoft
* Microsoft engineering groups
* Microsoft Enterprise Agreement

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Finance links
| name = Microsoft Corporation
| symbol = MSFT
| bloomberg = MSFT:US
| sec_cik = 789019
| yahoo = MSFT
| google = MSFT
}}
* {{OpenCorp|Microsoft}}

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