Technology: Microsoft

Ticker Symbol: MSFT

Microsoft Website

About the company

Headquartered in Redmond, Washington, Microsoft Corporation (MSFT) is computer technology conglomerate founded by Bill Gates and Paul Allen.

Microsoft specializes in development of operating systems for servers, PCs, and other computing applications. Microsoft Office debuted in 1989, featuring Microsoft Word and Excel. In 1990, Microsoft debuted Windows 3.0. Subsequent Windows versions would follow ? Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Windows XP, and the most recent installment, Windows Vista.

Microsoft entered the video game console market with its Xbox platform. The most recent version of the console, the Xbox 360, competes with Nintendo's Wii and Sony's Playstation 3 for market share. Microsoft also develops, markets, and produces game titles for consoles. Microsoft also sells its Zune digital music and entertainment devices.

Microsoft's Competitors:

• Tier 1 competitors: Google (GOOG), Yahoo (YHOO), Hewlett-Packard (HPQ), International Business Machines (IBM), Sun Microsystems (JAVA), Apple (AAPL), Oracle Corp (ORCL)
• Tier 2 competitors: ? Sony Corp (SNE), Nintendo (NTDOY), Activision Blizzard (ATVI), Konami (KNM), Novell (NOVL)

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