Introduction

Microsoft is a multi national computer technology corporation that develops, manufactures, and licenses a large range of computer software. They are best known for their Microsoft Windows operating system and the Microsoft Office software. Although known mostly for their software Microsoft has ventured into hardware and different range of products. They are currently working on entertainment consumer products such as Xbox, Xbox 360, and the Zune. They have also made a presence on the internet with the MSN internet portal and Microsoft Live search, but have not made huge success on these fields quite yet.

Microsoft was started as a small partnership between two friends; Bill Gates and Paul Allen. Microsoft’s first year’s revenue equaled $16,000. Today Microsoft makes an average annual revenue of $32 billion and has grown to be the largest software company in the world; placing at least one of its products on virtually every personal computer in the world. Microsoft is no longer considered a corporation but an empire. It has even been criticized for running a monopoly, having grown so big, it wiped out basically all competition.

In 1975 Bill Gates was introduced to the Altair Microcomputer Kit. Already having a passion and a love for computers, programs, and software Gates was inspired to work with this new and upcoming technology. Gates and friend Paul Allen ended up writing a program called BASIC for the Altair Microcomputer Kit and ended up being hired by the company who made the machine MITS Computer. Gates and Allen realized their talent and potential with computers and started the partnership Micro-soft. Years later they finally were able to get the name registered and they put their full attention into Microsoft. As time went by they were able to write programs for very small deals and companies until their big break came in 1980. At this time IBM was working on the personal computer or PC and contracted Microsoft to develop the software for the PC. Microsoft accepted IBM’s deal and developed the software that became known as MS-DOS. As personal computing became a multi-billion dollar business Microsoft’s revenues sky rocketed. Microsoft then continued to aggressively attack the personal computing world and grew to be what it is today, making Bill Gates the most famous and wealthiest business man in the world.

Bill Gates was one of the two founders of Microsoft and was the leading software architect for the company. When Microsoft became big time, he took the position as CEO where he looked over all of the company’s projects, and departments. In 2000 how ever Gates decided to step down and named Steve Ballmer the company’s CEO. Ballmer joined Microsoft in 1980 as a business manager. He has headed several divisions with Microsoft including Operating Systems Development, Operations, and Sales and Support.

Prior to Microsoft, Ballmer attended Harvard University where he received a degree in mathematics and economics. He worked for two years as an assistant product manager at Procter & Gamble and then moved on to work for Microsoft.