Microsoft Investor Relations Material

Microsoft Corporation is a global technology company that specializes in the development, licensing, and support of a wide range of software products, services, and devices. Its portfolio includes operating systems for computing devices, servers, cloud-based services, business solution applications, software development tools, video games, personal computers, and much more. Microsoft is headquartered in Redmond, Washington, and its shares are listed on the NASDAQ.

The story of Microsoft begins in 1975, when the two friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen started a company that would develop and sell software for microcomputers. They had a vision of putting a personal computer in every home, and they believed that software would be the key to making that vision a reality. Their first product was a BASIC interpreter for the Altair 8800, a microcomputer that was popular at the time. The success of this product led to the founding of Microsoft and the development of other programming languages and software.

One of Microsoft's most significant contributions to the tech industry is the development of the Windows operating system. Windows was first released in 1985 and quickly became the dominant operating system for personal computers. This success was due in part to the user-friendly graphical user interface that Windows offered, which made it easier for people to use computers. Windows is still the most widely used operating system for computers, with Apple's MacOS being in second place.

Microsoft offers a broad spectrum of software products and services catering to individuals, businesses, and developers. These offerings span from productivity and communication tools to cloud computing platforms and development tools. Some of the company's most important software offerings besides its operating systems are as follows:

• Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365): A subscription service that includes access to various Microsoft applications like Word (word processing), Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, and more. It also offers cloud storage through OneDrive.

• Microsoft Teams: A communication and collaboration platform that integrates chat, video meetings, file storage (including collaboration on files), and application integration. It's designed for businesses, schools, and other organizations.

• Azure: A cloud computing platform offering over 200 products and cloud services. It supports various programming languages, tools, and frameworks, including both Microsoft-specific and third-party software and systems.

Microsoft has diversified its product line extensively over the years, moving beyond exclusively a software focus to design and manufacture a variety of hardware devices. The company produces and sells various forms of computers and laptops, tablets, and accessories, as well as the Xbox gaming system which directly competes with the Sony PlayStation and Nintendo's various devices.