Microsoft Corporation OverviewMicrosoft Corporation is an American public multi national corporation. Microsoft headquarters are located in Redmond, Washington, USA. The corporation develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services, predominantly related to computing. Microsoft’s annual revenues total to more than $32 billion. Microsoft CorporationMicrosoft Corporation, a software company, was originally started by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in 1975 with the development of the first widely available personal computer in kit, called the Altair 8800. Later, Gates and Allen wrote a version of ‘Beginners All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code,’ commonly know as BASIC. This was the first computer language for personal computers. This later became the foundation for most personal computers at the time. Microsoft Word (introduced in 1983), Excel (1987), and PowerPoint are other successful Microsoft applications. In addition, the company manufactures and sells computer hardware such as keyboards and mice, and owns several content-distribution channels such as MSNBC, for example.

Bill GatesBill Gates is cofounder of Microsoft. Gates was named the richest man in the world by Forbes Magazine. He was born and grew up in Seattle, Washington USA. He started studying computer sciences at Harvard University in 1973 where he spent time with Paul Allen. Gates and Allen worked on a version of the programming language BASIC, that was the basis for the first microcomputer. He did not go on to graduate from Harvard University. He left in his junior year to start what was to become the largest computer software company in the world; Microsoft Corporation. Gates believed there should be a computer on every office desk and in every home. Bill Gates retired as Microsoft CEO in 2008. We can conclude that Microsoft did indeed succeeded in placing at least one of its products on virtually every personal computer in the (developed) world.

Bill Gates PhilanthropyBeing the richest man in the world has enabled Gates to create one of the world's largest charitable foundations. It is called, ‘The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.’ It has $28 billion in funding and receives $1 billion in donations every year. The foundation was formed in 2000. Their aim is to, quote,“bring innovations in health and learning to the global community.”

Microsoft Mission Statement

"To enable people and businesses throughout the world to realize their full potential."