JMARK is proud to have Microsoft as a partner not only because of the outstanding products they offer but also because of their commitment to innovation and contributions to the world.
Microsoft is the proverbial household name. In fact, DMR reports that as of 2015, Microsoft Office had 1.2 billion users. Of course, Microsoft has a vast array of products besides Office, and more users jump on board year after year.
In his October 2018 letter to shareholders, and well, just about everyone, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella reiterated the Microsoft mission: to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. At the current rate, that mission could see fulfillment very soon.
How It All Started
The History Channel marks April 4, 1975 as the day Microsoft was founded. According to their story, Bill Gates was a student at Harvard University and Paul Allen was a computer programmer in Boston. In 1975, they abandoned those pursuits with the intention of developing and selling software for a personal computer called the Altair 8800. They named their company Micro-Soft, a name that combined their two primary concerns – microprocessors and software.
Microsoft’s Phenomenal Growth
From the beginning, Microsoft grew rapidly. Three years after it began, its sales had already topped $1 million. Gates and Allen moved Microsoft to Washington state the next year. Allen left the company due to illness in 1983, but Gates never let up. Two years later, with Gates now at the helm alone, the company went public. In 1986, Gates became the youngest billionaire in the world. Fast-forward to June 2018, and the annual report shows Microsoft’s revenue as $110,360 million for that year.
Microsoft Products
If there’s one thing you can be sure of, it’s that Microsoft is not a one-trick pony. The company has continually added new and innovative products from early in its history. Now, the company has multiple products in several categories.
Operating Systems
An early collaboration with IBM yielded MS-DOS, Microsoft’s first operating system. In 1985, the company brought out its Windows operating system. Windows was unique for its time in that it provided the user with a virtual desktop that they could control with the click of a mouse. Over the years, Microsoft has developed Windows through several versions, including Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and in 2015, Windows 10.
Microsoft Office
In 1990, Microsoft came out with MS Office, based in part on separate programs they had developed for MS-DOS. MS Office was designed for use with Windows 2.0. The software package included Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Over time, Microsoft Office just keeps improving. In 2011, the company introduced Office 365, which includes web versions of Office tools. Now, in addition to those three early components, Office includes OneNote, OneDrive, and Outlook. With Office 2016, the software received optimization for mobile and touchscreens. The new Office 2019 is Microsoft’s latest version.
Business Solutions
Microsoft Sway offers businesses the ability to create visually stunning reports, presentations, and newsletters. Microsoft Teams, Yammer, Skype for Business, and Microsoft Exchange give businesses even more options and features for collaborative work. Microsoft Dynamics 365 is an integrated solution that combines CRM and ERP functions to help businesses use data to discover and pursue new opportunities.
Along with apps already mentioned here, Microsoft has developed several others. They include Microsoft Edge, an internet browser; Cortana, a voice assistant; and Delve, a great app for collaboration.
Microsoft I.T. Solutions
Besides software and apps, Microsoft has several I.T. solutions. They include Azure, a public cloud platform, Hyper-V, which is Microsoft’s Windows Server Virtualization, SharePoint Server, Exchange Server, the Skype for Business Server, and Microsoft’s SQL Server.
Devices
Besides being used on such a wide range of other people’s devices, Microsoft boasts several devices of their own. For gaming, Xbox has been incredibly popular. Businesses use Surface laptops, tablets, and accessories. They may also choose Surface Hub, which consists of a series of touchscreen PCs and interactive whiteboards. Their mixed-reality workspace, called HoloLens, is a headset device that allows users to interact with holograms.
Support
Microsoft support has been an outstanding source of help in business, educational, and home settings. Support answers questions, helps you get through setup and install, works you through upgrades, and teaches you the details of how to get things done using Microsoft products.Microsoft in the World
To say that Microsoft has had a global impact is putting it mildly. As of September 2018, Microsoft had subsidiaries in 121 countries around the world. The company assists individuals, businesses, and nonprofits with the products and services they offer, but they don’t stop there. In 2018, Microsoft contributed technology and skills for nonprofits to the tune of $1.4 billion, with Microsoft employees putting in 700,000 volunteer hours.
Microsoft in 2019 and Beyond
In 2019, Microsoft comes out with new versions of current software, including Office 2019. For the future, the company is focused on several important goals. They are working on improved collaboration products, assistive technologies, enhanced accessibility, and solutions to help increase productivity. Artificial intelligence and quantum devices will be important interests for Microsoft in the years ahead.
JMARK is proud to have Microsoft as a partner not only because of the outstanding products they offer but also because of their commitment to innovation and contributions to the world. It’s almost incredible to think that all of Microsoft’s products, including their software, devices, and business solutions, have developed from its small beginning in 1975. Yet, it’s both true and obvious that Microsoft is a tech leader beyond compare.
JMARK helps businesses put Microsoft’s products to work in nearly any part of their business. Contact us for a consultation on these and other I.T. solutions and support for your business. To get started, call us at 844-44-JMARK, email us at [email protected], or drop by the Contact Us page of this website. JMARK is a managed services provider dedicated to helping your business use technology safely, efficiently, and effectively.
