An in-depth guide to all of Microsoft’s products. Learn what’s available, how they can help you, and get detailed product comparison charts
Microsoft is a technology company that has been at the forefront of the software industry for more than four decades. The company continues to release innovative products and services that revolutionize the way we use technology in our daily lives. Here’s a comprehensive list of some of the most notable Microsoft products, their descriptions, and their history:
| Product Name | Description | History |
|---|---|---|
| Windows | Windows is a widely-used operating system for personal computers and servers. It provides users with a graphical user interface, a desktop environment, and a range of tools and applications. | The first version of Windows was released in 1985. It was designed to compete with Apple’s Macintosh operating system. Since then, Microsoft has released many versions of Windows, including Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. |
| Office | Office is a suite of productivity applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. It is used by individuals, businesses, and organizations around the world. | The first version of Office was released in 1989. It included Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Mail. Since then, Microsoft has released many versions of Office, including Office 97, Office 2000, Office XP, Office 2003, Office 2007, Office 2010, Office 2013, Office 2016, Office 2019, and Office 365. |
| Edge | Edge is a web browser developed by Microsoft. It provides users with features such as tabbed browsing, integrated PDF reader, and Cortana integration. | Edge was first introduced in 2015 with the release of Windows 10. It replaced Internet Explorer as the default browser on Windows devices. |
| Surface | Surface is a series of touchscreen-based personal computers and interactive whiteboards. It is designed and developed by Microsoft. | The first Surface device was released in 2012. It was a tablet designed to compete with the iPad. Since then, Microsoft has released many versions of Surface, including Surface Pro, Surface Laptop, Surface Studio, and Surface Hub. |
| Xbox | Xbox is a series of video game consoles developed by Microsoft. It provides users with a range of gaming experiences and services, including online gaming, digital downloads, and streaming services. | The first Xbox console was released in 2001. Since then, Microsoft has released many versions of Xbox, including Xbox 360, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X. |
| Azure | Azure is a cloud computing platform developed by Microsoft. It provides users with a range of services, including virtual machines, storage, databases, and analytics. | Azure was first introduced in 2010. Since then, Microsoft has been continuously adding new services and features to the platform. |
| Teams | Teams is a collaboration platform developed by Microsoft. It provides users with features such as chat, video conferencing, and file sharing. It is used by businesses and organizations around the world. | Teams was first introduced in 2016 as a competitor to Slack. Since then, it has become one of the most widely-used collaboration platforms. |
| Visual Studio | Visual Studio is an integrated development environment (IDE) developed by Microsoft. It provides developers with a range of tools and features for building software applications. | The first version of Visual Studio was released in 1997. Since then, Microsoft has released many versions of Visual Studio, including Visual Studio .NET, Visual Studio 2005, Visual Studio 2010, Visual Studio 2013, Visual Studio 2015, and Visual Studio 2019. |
| Dynamics 365 | Dynamics 365 is a set of enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management applications developed by Microsoft. It provides businesses with tools for managing finances, operations, sales, and customer service. | Dynamics 365 was first introduced in 2016 as a successor to Microsoft’s Dynamics CRM and ERP products. It combines Dynamics CRM and ERP capabilities with new artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) features. |
| Power BI | Power BI is a business analytics service developed by Microsoft. It provides users with tools for analyzing data and creating reports and visualizations. | Power BI was first introduced in 2013 as a part of Microsoft’s Power Platform. It has since become one of the leading business intelligence tools, with millions of users worldwide. |
| OneDrive | OneDrive is a cloud-based storage service developed by Microsoft. It provides users with tools for storing and sharing files and folders. | OneDrive was first introduced in 2007 as Windows Live Folders. It was later renamed to SkyDrive in 2008 and then to OneDrive in 2014. |
| Skype | Skype is a communication platform developed by Microsoft. It provides users with tools for making voice and video calls, sending instant messages, and sharing files. | Skype was first introduced in 2003. It was later acquired by Microsoft in 2011. Since then, Microsoft has been continuously adding new features and capabilities to the platform. |
| Bing | Bing is a web search engine developed by Microsoft. It provides users with search results for web pages, images, videos, and news. | Bing was first introduced in 2009 as a successor to Microsoft’s Live Search. Since then, Microsoft has been continuously adding new features and improvements to the platform. |
| Visual Studio Code | Visual Studio Code is a lightweight code editor developed by Microsoft. It provides developers with a range of tools and features for building software applications. | Visual Studio Code was first introduced in 2015. Since then, it has become one of the most popular code editors, with millions of users worldwide. |
| Windows Server | Windows Server is a server operating system developed by Microsoft. It provides users with tools for managing and controlling network resources and services. | The first version of Windows Server was released in 1993. Since then, Microsoft has released many versions of Windows Server, including Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2012, Windows Server 2016, and Windows Server 2019. |
| SQL Server | SQL Server is a relational database management system developed by Microsoft. It provides users with tools for managing and storing data. | The first version of SQL Server was released in 1989. Since then, Microsoft has released many versions of SQL Server, including SQL Server 2000, SQL Server 2005, SQL Server 2008, SQL Server 2012, SQL Server 2014, SQL Server 2016, SQL Server 2017, and SQL Server 2019. |
In summary, Microsoft has a broad product portfolio that serves a wide range of users and industries. The company has consistently released innovative products and services and continues to drive innovation in the technology industry. With its commitment to providing the best possible user experience, Microsoft is well positioned to continue to lead the technology industry for years to come.