Facts About Microsoft - Stories (2024)

1975Microsoft foundedJan. 1, 1979Microsoft moves from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Bellevue, WashingtonJune 25, 1981Microsoft incorporatesAug. 12, 1981IBM introduces its personal computer with Microsoft’s 16-bit operating system, MS-DOS 1.0Feb. 26, 1986Microsoft moves to corporate campus in Redmond, WashingtonMarch 13, 1986Microsoft stock goes publicAug. 1, 1989Microsoft introduces earliest version of Office suite of productivity applicationsMay 22, 1990Microsoft launches Windows 3.0Aug. 24, 1995Microsoft launches Windows 95Dec. 7, 1995Bill Gates outlines Microsoft’s commitment to supporting and enhancing the InternetJune 25, 1998Microsoft launches Windows 98Jan. 13, 2000Steve Ballmer named president and chief executive officer for MicrosoftFeb. 17, 2000Microsoft launches Windows 2000June 22, 2000Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer outline Microsoft’s .NET strategy for Web servicesMay 31, 2001Microsoft launches Office XPOct. 25, 2001Microsoft launches Windows XPNov. 15, 2001Microsoft launches XboxJan. 15, 2002Bill Gates outlines Microsoft’s commitment to Trustworthy ComputingApril 24, 2003Microsoft launches Windows Server 2003Oct. 21, 2003Microsoft launches Microsoft Office SystemJuly 20, 2004Microsoft announces plans to return up to $75 billion to shareholders in dividends and stock buybacksNov. 22, 2005Microsoft launches Xbox 360July 20, 2006Microsoft announces a new US$20 billion tender offer and authorizes an additional share-repurchase program of up to $20 billion over five yearsJan. 30, 2007Microsoft launches Windows Vista and the 2007 Microsoft Office System to consumers worldwideFeb. 27, 2008Microsoft launches Windows Server 2008, SQL Server 2008 and Visual Studio 2008June 27, 2008Bill Gates transitions from his day-to-day role at Microsoft to spend more time on his work at The Bill & Melinda Gates FoundationJune 3, 2009Microsoft launches Bing decision engineOct. 22, 2009Microsoft launches Windows 7; opens first physical store in Scottsdale, ArizonaJune 15, 2010Microsoft launches general availability of Office 2010Nov. 10, 2010Microsoft launches Windows Phone 7Nov. 17, 2010Microsoft announces availability of Microsoft LyncJune 28, 2011Microsoft launches Office 365Oct.13, 2011Microsoft closes its acquisition of SkypeJune25, 2012Microsoft acquires YammerSept. 4, 2012Microsoft launches Windows Server 2012Sept. 12, 2012Microsoft launches Visual Studio 2012Oct. 18, 2012Microsoft employee giving tops US$1 billionOct. 23, 2012Microsoft introduces new entertainment experience from XboxOct. 26, 2012Microsoft launches Windows 8 and Microsoft SurfaceJan. 29, 2013Microsoft launches Office 2013, expands Office 365Feb. 18, 2013Microsoft launches Outlook.comMay21, 2013Microsoft unveils Xbox OneJuly11, 2013“Microsoft One” reorganization realigns company to enable innovation at great speed, efficiencySept.3, 2013Microsoft announces decision to acquire Nokia’s devices and services business, license Nokia’s patents and mapping servicesOct.17, 2013Microsoft launches Windows 8.1Oct.22, 2013Microsoft launches Surface 2 and Surface Pro 2Nov.22, 2013Microsoft launches Xbox OneFeb.4, 2014Satya Nadella named chief executive officer for MicrosoftMarch27, 2014Microsoft launches Office for iPadApril25, 2014Microsoft completes acquisition of Nokia Devices and Services businessJune20, 2014Microsoft launches Surface Pro 3Sept.15, 2014Minecraft to join Microsoft announcementNov.6, 2014Microsoft announces Office apps for Android tabletsMay 5, 2015Microsoft releases Surface 3July 29, 2015Microsoft launches Windows 10Sept. 22, 2015Microsoft launches Office 2016Oct. 6, 2015Microsoft announces Surface Book, Surface Pro 4, Microsoft Band 2, Lumia 950 and Lumia 95 XLOct. 26, 2015Microsoft opens flagship store in New York CityNov. 12, 2015Microsoft opens flagship store in Sydney, AustraliaJan. 19, 2016Microsoft Philanthropies announces $1B in donations putting Microsoft Cloud to work for the public goodJune 1, 2016Microsoft launches SQL Server 2016July 6, 2016Microsoft introduces Microsoft Dynamics 365Sept. 29, 2016Microsoft forms what is now the Technology + Research GroupOct. 18, 2016Microsoft researchers achieve human parity in conversational speech recognitionOct. 26, 2016Microsoft introduces Surface Studio, Surface Dial, new Surface Book and Windows 10 Creators UpdateDec. 8, 2016Microsoft completes acquisition of LinkedInMarch 7, 2017Microsoft releases Visual Studio 2017March 17, 2017Microsoft Teams rolls out to Office 365 customers worldwideMay 2, 2017Microsoft introduces new technology for education, including Windows 10 S, new Surface Laptop and Microsoft Teams for classroomsMay 23, 2017Microsoft announces Windows 10 China Government Edition and the new Surface ProJune 14, 2017Surface Laptop and new Surface Pro available in 25 markets worldwideSept. 21, 2017Microsoft, Facebook and Telxius complete “Marea,” the highest-capacity subsea cable to cross the Atlantic OceanOct. 17, 2017Windows 10 Fall Creators Update and Mixed Reality Headsets become available; Surface Book 2 announcedNov. 6, 2017Microsoft launches Xbox One XNov. 28, 2017Microsoft announces major Redmond campus renovationDec. 5, 2017Microsoft breaks ground on new sustainable Silicon Valley campusFeb. 22, 2018Microsoft opens new campus in Dublin, IrelandMay 15, 2018Microsoft announces Surface Hub 2May 16, 2018Microsoft unveils Xbox Adaptive ControllerAug. 2, 2018Surface Go becomes availableOct. 26, 2018Microsoft completes GitHub acquisitionJan. 16, 2019Microsoft announces $500 million commitment to advance affordable housing in Puget Sound regionFeb. 24, 2019Microsoft introduces HoloLens 2July 11, 2019Microsoft opens flagship store in LondonOct. 2, 2019Microsoft announces five Surface products for late 2019, plus two new dual-screen devices, Surface Neo and Surface Duo, coming in late 2020Dec. 12, 2019Microsoft announces Xbox Series X, coming in late 2020Jan. 16, 2020Microsoft announces plan to become carbon negative by 2030March 30, 2020Microsoft introduces new Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptionsApril 15, 2020Microsoft announces plan to help protect biodiversity of the world’s ecosystemsMay 6, 2020Microsoft introduces Surface Go 2, Surface Book 3, Surface Headphones 2 and Surface EarbudsJune 30, 2020Microsoft commits to helping 25 million people acquire new digital skillsSept. 21, 2020Microsoft announces it will replenish more water than it consumes by 2030Sept. 21, 2020Microsoft announces plans to acquire ZeniMax Media and its game publisher, Bethesda SoftworksOct. 1, 2020Microsoft introduces Surface Laptop GoOct. 20, 2020Microsoft introduces Azure SpaceJan. 11, 2021Microsoft introduces Surface Pro 7+ for BusinessFeb. 4, 2021Microsoft introduces Microsoft Viva employee experience platformFeb. 11, 2021Microsoft announces plans to expand its presence in AtlantaMarch 2, 2021Microsoft introduces Microsoft Mesh mixed-reality platformJune 24, 2021Microsoft introduces Windows 11July 14, 2021Microsoft unveils Windows 365Nov. 9, 2021Microsoft introduces Windows 11 SE to support the K-8 classroomMarch 4, 2022Microsoft completes acquisition of NuanceOct. 12, 2022Microsoft introduces Surface Pro 9, Surface Laptop 5, Surface Studio 2+, Microsoft Designer and Image CreatorJan. 18, 2023Microsoft and OpenAI extend partnershipFeb. 7, 2023Microsoft reinvents search with new AI-powered Bing and EdgeMarch 16, 2023Microsoft introduces Microsoft 365 Copilot with next-generation AIMay 23, 2023Microsoft introduces Windows CopilotSept. 21, 2023Microsoft announces Microsoft Copilot, your everyday AI companionOct. 13, 2023Microsoft completes acquisition of Activision BlizzardJan. 15, 2024Microsoft Copilot Pro introducedFeb. 29, 2024Microsoft Copilot for Finance introducedMarch 21, 2024Microsoft introduces Surface Pro 10 for Business and Surface Laptop 6 for BusinessMay 20, 2024Microsoft introduces Copilot+ PCs