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Here are key dates in the history of Microsoft, whose chief executive Steve Ballmer announced he was retiring within the next 12 months:
1975: Childhood friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen launch Microsoft along with the computer language Altair Basic, the first aimed at personal computers.
1980: IBM awards a historic contract to Microsoft which leads to the creation of the MS-DOS operating system which will become the dominant PC platform. Ballmer joins as the 30th employee.
1983: Paul Allen quits Microsoft.
1985: Launch of Windows, a graphically based system of MS-DOS.
1986: Microsoft's initial public offering makes Gates one of the world's richest individuals.
1990: Launch of Microsoft Office. US antitrust officials begin an investigation of Microsoft as a monopoly which leads to a decade of legal battles.
1995: Microsoft moves to adapt to the Internet, launches Windows 95.
1999: Market value for Microsoft hits a record $620 billion.
2000: Ballmer becomes CEO. The European Commission launches its own antitrust case against Microsoft.
2001: Microsoft settles its US antitrust case, averting a breakup. The Xbox game console is launched.
2008: Gates exits the day-to-day operations of Microsoft to concentrate on his Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
2009: Bing search is launched.
2010: Microsoft launches its first smartphone operating system, Windows Phone
2011: Microsoft completes its acquisition of the popular messaging service Skype for $8.5 billion.
2012: Windows 8, aimed at both PCs and tablets, is released, along with Surface, the new Microsoft-branded tablet. Microsoft buys the Yammer social network for $1.2 billion.
2013: Ballmer announces he will retire by mid-2014
Key dates in Microsoft history - The Economic Times
1975: Childhood friends Bill Gates and Paul Allen launch Microsoft along with the computer language Altair Basic, the first aimed at personal computers.
1980: IBM awards a historic contract to Microsoft which leads to the creation of the MS-DOS operating system which will become the dominant PC platform. Ballmer joins as the 30th employee.
1983: Paul Allen quits Microsoft.
1985: Launch of Windows, a graphically based system of MS-DOS.
1986: Microsoft's initial public offering makes Gates one of the world's richest individuals.
1990: Launch of Microsoft Office. US antitrust officials begin an investigation of Microsoft as a monopoly which leads to a decade of legal battles.
1995: Microsoft moves to adapt to the Internet, launches Windows 95.
1999: Market value for Microsoft hits a record $620 billion.
2000: Ballmer becomes CEO. The European Commission launches its own antitrust case against Microsoft.
2001: Microsoft settles its US antitrust case, averting a breakup. The Xbox game console is launched.
2008: Gates exits the day-to-day operations of Microsoft to concentrate on his Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
2009: Bing search is launched.
2010: Microsoft launches its first smartphone operating system, Windows Phone
2011: Microsoft completes its acquisition of the popular messaging service Skype for $8.5 billion.
2012: Windows 8, aimed at both PCs and tablets, is released, along with Surface, the new Microsoft-branded tablet. Microsoft buys the Yammer social network for $1.2 billion.
2013: Ballmer announces he will retire by mid-2014
Key dates in Microsoft history - The Economic Times
