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Headquarters:
One Microsoft Way
Redmond, WA 98052-6399
Employees: 78,565
CEO: Steve Ballmer
Stock Symbol: MSFT
Website: http://www.microsoft.com
Microsoft is the world's largest software company. It is the developer of the Windows operating system that powers over 90% of the world's personal computers. It also makes business software including Microsoft Office which includes very popular programs Word, Excel and Powerpoint.
Microsoft also operates the MSN network of websites which include free e-mail service Hotmail. Microsoft has also entered the videogame business making gaming systems under the XBox platform and introduced the popular XBox 360 in 2005. It also entered the portable music and video market with the Zune player in 2006.
The sheer dominance of the Windows operating system for computers has meant huge profits for the company. Every PC sold with Windows installed means a licensing fee that is paid to Microsoft.
Microsoft introduced a new version of the company's operating system called Vista with widespread introduction for consumer users on January 30, 2007.
The success of Microsoft software has made Chairman Bill Gates one of the world's richest men with an estimated net worth of $59 billion. Gates has set up a charitable foundation with his wife Melinda where he plans to give away a significant portion of his wealth. The foundation is focused on causes relating to education and health. Gates plans to leave Microsoft and devote his time to his charitable foundation in 2008.
Paul Allen, the other co-founder of Microsoft, is worth $16.8 billion according to Forbes magazine. Allen is no longer involved with Microsoft but has investments in numerous businesses and owns the Seattle Seahawks NFL team and Portland Trailblazers NBA team. CEO Steven Ballmer has a net worth estimated at $15.2 billion.
For fiscal 2007, Microsoft reported a record $51.1 billion in total revenues and $14.0 billion in net income.
Microsoft is planning to spend $1 billion to expand its corporate campus in Redmond with new buildings. The number of employees at the company increased 11% this year.
Of the company's 78,565 employees worldwide, 47,645 are in the U.S.A. and 35,510 work in the Puget Sound area of Washington state. 75% of company employees are male. Employment has inceased by about 7,000 during the past year.
Microsoft's real estate portfolio includes 83 sites that it owns and 482 sites that are leased for a total of 24.1 million square feet.
In 2008, Microsoft offered $44 billion to buy Internet company Yahoo.
History
Microsoft was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates -- a Harvard dropout -- and friend Paul Allen. In 1979, the founders moved to Bellevue, WA from Albuquerque, NM. In 1981, the young company struck a major licensing deal with IBM to run its operating system MS-DOS 1.0 on IBM personal computers. Microsoft managed to maintain control over the operating system without ceding ownership to IBM.
As the growth in personal computers continued, Microsoft licensed its operating system to other manufacturers and evenutally created a standard for computers worldwide.
Microsoft went public in 1986 and introduced its first Office suite of applications in 1989. In 1990, Microsoft launched Windows 3.0 and Windows 95 in 1995.
The company's current operating system, Windows XP, was introduced in 2001.
Benefits
Microsoft has 38,336 employees in the U.S. and 28,900 are located in Washington State. The workforce is overwhelmingly male at 75%. The average worker age according to the company is 36 years old.
Microsoft offers excellent benefits to workers and is known for paying employees well. Medical, dental, vision coverage is included as well as life insurance. Paid health club membership is provided. Free soft drinks are offered to all employees.
The company recently announced added benefits to retain workers including a 15% increase in spending on employee stock awards, on-site laundry and dry cleaning, discounts on pet and auto care and free towel service.
401(k)
Lets employees defer up to 50 percent of pretax salary dollars.
Microsoft matches 50 cents on every dollar up to 6 percent of
employee contribution.
Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
Employees can purchase stock in Microsoft at a 10% discount.
Paid Vacation
Employees accrue three weeks annually
to start, then four weeks after six years of completed service
and five weeks after 12 years of completed service.
Matching Charitable Donations
Charitable donations are matched by Microsoft, up to $12,000
per year.
Credit Unions
Includes checking accounts, bank cards, and competitive interest
rates.
Company Store
Offers substantial discounts on Microsoft products.
Tuition Assistance Program
Reimburses tuition fees and textbooks for approved work-related
courses. We also provide in-house training programs for technical
and nontechnical skills.
Updated February 20, 2008