Microsoft at 50: A Legacy of Innovation
As Microsoft prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025, Technology Record reflects on the company’s remarkable journey. Since its founding on April 4, 1975, by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft has evolved from a fledgling software company into a global technology leader. Its impact spans personal computing, cloud services, AI, cybersecurity, and enterprise solutions, leaving an indelible mark on the digital landscape.
“We were founded in 1975 with a belief in creating technology that would enable others to create their own,” wrote Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s current CEO and chairman, in the company’s 2024 Annual Report. This core belief remains central to Microsoft’s mission: to empower every person and every organization to achieve more.
In its initial years, Microsoft entered a technology market dominated by large mainframe computers and nascent personal computing concepts. The company quickly made its mark by developing software for early PCs. The MS-DOS operating system, introduced in 1981, became a critical component of IBM’s first PC. This pivotal moment paved the way for the 1985 release of the first version of the Windows operating system, which cemented Microsoft’s position as a leader in the rapidly evolving computing world.
Over the years, Microsoft expanded its product and services portfolio. Key launches included Microsoft Office in 1989, Encarta in 1993, the Xbox gaming console in 2001, and Microsoft Bing in 2009. Under Satya Nadella’s leadership, which began in 2014, Microsoft has undergone a significant transformation. Nadella realigned Microsoft’s focus towards cloud computing and AI.
This strategic shift was evident in the rebranding of Windows Azure to Microsoft Azure in 2014, demonstrating the company’s commitment to cloud services. Moreover, acquisitions like LinkedIn in 2016 for $26 billion and GitHub in 2018 for $7.5 billion further strengthened Microsoft’s influence in professional networking and software development.
Microsoft’s journey of innovation continues, and the company is poised to play a critical role in shaping the future of technology for decades to come.
