The company acquired the ownership of Skype Technologies in 2011 for around US$8.5 billion. Gradually they expanded their business and developed computer operating system MS-Dos, followed by Microsoft Windows. Initially they focused on developing and selling Basic computer languages. The company was founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen. The Big Five information technology company of the world includes Microsoft apart from Apple, Google, Amazon and Facebook. Microsoft operates globally, and they have a wide range of customers starting from individuals, small and medium businesses to world’s largest companies and government bodies.

The company also provide its gaming console Xbox, which is also used by millions of people and comes second next to Sony's playstation. Their business-oriented social network, LinkedIn (acquired in 2016 for more than US$26 billion), is used by millions of their customers where people can make their connections. Products and services included under this segment are SQL server, Windows server Visual studio etc.

Intelligent Cloud: It consists of public, private, and hybrid server product titles by Azure cloud computing service.

Productivity and Business processes: It covers products and services that are usually communication and information products such as Office 365, Share point, Skype, etc.

Some of the products which form a part of this are Windows operating systems phones tablets PC accessories etc.

Personal Computing: It sells products and services, usually to end-users, IT managers, and developers.

The company mainly operated under 3 segments. Their key products include Windows operating system, Office productivity applications, web browser (Internet Explorer and Edge Web Browser) and cloud services. The company mainly develops and manufactures software’s, consumer electronics, and personal computers. The company has its operations globally, and it is listed in the Nasdaq stock market, Dow Jones Industrial Average, and in S&P 500 and S&P 100.

Headquartered in Redmond, Washington, US, the company has an employee count of more than 170,000. Microsoft Corporation is one of the leading technology companies in the world.

Skype technologies subsidiaries