PLAN

INTRODUCTION

1-The history of MS Corporation

2-What does the Company do ?

3-MS corporation “Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

CONCLUSION
Introduction

Introduction
Founded in 1975, Microsoft Corporation is the leading provider of
Software, Services and Solutions to businesses and consumers worldwide. When
people hear the Microsoft name they may first think of Windows, Word, Excel,
or Outlook. Others might recall their latest Xbox Live session, a recent Skype
Interaction, or the Bing application on their Smartphone.
It is fair to say that Microsoft technology is pervasive within our
business and personal lives, so it is not surprising to learn that Microsoft’s user
base has been estimated to exceed one billion peoples.

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The History of Microsoft Corporation

1)- The History of Microsoft Corporation :

Bill Gates founded Microsoft (originally named Micro-Soft) in 1975

after dropping out of Harvard at the age of 19 and teaming up with High
School friend Paul Allen to sell a version of the programming language BASIC.
Gates moved Microsoft to Seattle in 1979 and began developing software that let
other write programs, thus the modern personal computer was born in 1980
when IBM choose Microsoft to write the operating system for its new machines.
The company went public in 1986, and Gates became the industry’s
first billionaire a year later. In 1995 antitrust concerns cost Gates a $1.5 Billion-
dollar acquisition of his personal finance. Later that year, Gates introduced the
Microsoft Network that licensed the Java Web Programming Language from Sun
and introduced its Internet Explorer Web browser, as well as
launchingExpedia.com, its online travel site. After settling a lengthy lawsuit from
Sun in 2001 for $20 Million dollars for allegations that Microsoft was creating an
incompatible version of Java in 1997, the company in 1999 agreed to invest $5
Billion for a minority stake in AT&T as part of a move to acquire cable operator
Media One. In addition, the company also bought Windows technical drawing
software Visio for $1.3 Billion, and sold a stake in Expedia to the public. IN
2000 Gates named Ballmer the new CEO of the company and Gates remained
chairman and added the title of chief software architect to himself. Later that
year, a judge ruled that Microsoft used its monopoly powers to violate antitrust
laws. Microsoft agree to uniformly license its Windows operating system, cease
to offer exclusive contracts with manufactures, and allow competing software to
be included with its operating systems. Throughout the next couple of years
Microsoft still faced some bumpy roads, with a lawsuit from Netscape in 2002
and announcing in 2005 a reorganization designed to streamline its decision
making and speed up execution across its divisions. Microsoft put many of its
legal woes behind them after 2008 and partnered with mobile device makers
such as Hewlett Packard and Motorola to develop handheld computers and
mobile devices that utilize Microsoft’s Windows Mobile and Windows Media
software. In 2009, Microsoft overhauled and rebranded its own search business
Bing after failure of acquiring Yahoo! in 2008.

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What does the company do?

2)- What does the company do?

Microsoft Corporation is best known for its operating system,
Windows, but Microsoft does much more. It develops, manufactures, licenses,
supports and sells computer software, consumer electronics and personal
computers and services. Microsoft is highly respected in the consumer market
for making high quality solutions such as operating systems and applications. It
has a long list of products and services.
Windows

Microsoft was founded on the development of operating systems, and

today Windows is the most used operating system in the world. Microsoft
developed its first Windows system in the early 80s (MS DOS) and has 8 People
who will use technology for their work or school and also deeply use it in their
personal digital life continued the development until today. Microsoft’s newest
operating system, Windows 8.1, was followed by Windows 10 in 2015. Even
though Windows is the most used operating system, it is not the only one.
Microsoft’s biggest competitor, Apple, has its own operating system for all of its
products. Google, too, has developed its own system, Google Chrome OS.
Other competitors are Linux from Linux Foundation and Ubuntu
from Rackspace. However, Microsoft’s most serious competitor may be the
Android system, which covers both smartphones, tablets and smart TVs. 85%
of smartphones are using Android. Windows Phone was launched in 2010 but
has yet to break the 5% market share mark.10
Office

Microsoft developed the Office Application, which probably is the

most used software tool for both home and work. Office is an application
package, which includes Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, OneNote, Publisher
and Access. The Office applications are so widely used that it is difficult to say
whether there exists any competition in this product category.

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What does the company do?

Xbox

Microsoft introduced their first gaming console, Xbox, in 2001 and

released its successor, Xbox 360, in 2005. In 2013, the Xbox One was
introduced. Xbox is a gaming console, which connects to the users’ TV. The
console was not a new form of gaming, as SEGA already made their first
console during the 80s, and Nintendo released their Nintendo 64 in 1996.
However, the Xbox Live was the first online console. This made it possible for
Xbox players to play online with and against each other. Today the Xbox is
competing with Sony’s PlayStation and Nintendo’s Nintendo Wii.
Hotmail (outlook.com)

In 1997, Microsoft acquired the first web-based email service, Hotmail.

It was re-launched as MSN Hotmail, and later on, rebranded as Windows Live
Hotmail. Microsoft re-branded it as Outlook.com in 2013, and refurbished the
interface to mimic the interface of Outlook (Office application). Furthermore,
the web-mail has integrated Calendar, OneDrive, People and Skype. The design
of Outlook.com is now close to the designs of Windows 8 and Office 2013, and
makes the integration through OneDrive more complete.
OneDrive

SkyDrive is a service for computers, tablets, mobile phones, etc. The

service is an online folder, where the user can store pictures or files. The files are
stored online, which means they are accessible anywhere. This is a flexible
solution that eliminates the risk of hard disk failures. SkyDrive was originally
known as Windows Live Folders. By 2007 the service expanded, and is well
known today. SkyDrive competes with other online storage services such as
Dropbox. The service comes with a limited amount of storage, but additional
storage is added when buying other Microsoft products or services.

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What does the company do?

Surface

Microsoft launched Surface at the tablet market with in 2012. Surface is

a combination of a computer and a tablet. It relies on the processing power of a
PC and the flexibility of a tablet. Surface comes in two versions: the regular
Surface and the Surface Pro. The Surface Pro is considered a high-end tablet,
whereas the regular tablet is designed to compete in the tablet market. In 2013,
Microsoft revealed Surface 2, and the third generation Surface 3 was announced
in 2014.
Windows Phone

Microsoft entered the smartphone competition with Windows Phone

7. The launch was in 2010, but the success was modest. Microsoft launched the
latest version, Windows Phone 8.1, in early 2014. In April 2014, Microsoft
bought Nokia's phone and tablet business. The acquired business was run as a
Microsoft division called the Devices Group. Stephen Elop, the former Nokia
CEO, heads up the division as its executive vice president.
Bing

In 2009, Microsoft unveiled Bing, previously known as Live Search,

Windows Live Search, and MSN Search. Bing is a search engine, much like
google.com and is a service that enable users to search the Internet. In 2009,
Yahoo! and Microsoft announced the replacement of Yahoo! Search Engine by
Bing. Eventually, the Microsoft’s search engine will power Yahoo! permanently.
MSN

MSN, originally known as The Microsoft Network, was launched in

1995. MSN is a collection of Internet websites and services. Today, MSN is a
popular web portal, which features varied content such as news, entertainment,
sports, lifestyle, etc.

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What does the company do?

Microsoft Store

Microsoft Store is both a physical and an online store. The majority of

the physical stores are located in the US. The stores sell products from Microsoft
such as Windows, Office, PC’s, etc. The stores also sell products from third
parties such as HP and Lenovo. The physical stores provide experts, who service
customers with technical expertise and know-how. The online shopping sites sell
the majority of Microsoft’s products. In addition, the online store sells games for
Xbox and accessories for both PC, tablet and Xbox. For PC, Xbox, and Mobile,
there exist online stores, too. These are separated from the online store, and sell
games for each platform. In addition, the Xbox store provides deals for Xbox
Live Gold members. The PC store provides apps for Windows 8 and 8.1 (many
of them are free of charge). The mobile version serves as an open store, where
third party developers can sell their apps.
Skype

Skype was acquired in May 2013. In a press release Microsoft stated11:

The acquisition will increase the accessibility of real-time video and voice
communications, bringing benefits to both consumers and enterprise users and
generating significant new business and revenue opportunities. The combination
will extend Skype’s world-class brand and the reach of its networked platform,
while enhancing Microsoft’s existing portfolio of real-time communications
products and services. With 170 million connected users and over 207 billion
minutes of voice and video conversations in 2010, Skype has been a pioneer in
creating rich, meaningful connections among friends, families and business
colleagues globally. Microsoft has a long-standing focus and investment in real-
time communications across its various platforms, including Lync (which saw 30
percent revenue growth in Q3), Outlook, Messenger, Hotmail and Xbox LIVE.
Skype will support Microsoft devices like Xbox and Kinect, Windows
Phone and a wide array of Windows devices, and Microsoft will connect Skype
users with Lync, Outlook, Xbox Live and other communities. Microsoft will
continue to invest in and support Skype clients on non-Microsoft platforms.

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MS Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and threats

03)- MS Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and threats :

A- Strengths of MS :
Reputed Brand:
Microsoft is one of the fortune 100 MNC operating through regional
subsidiaries to minimize cultural differences in more than 100 countries.
Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft) is one of the leading providers of software,
and hardware products and services. The company focuses on developing,
manufacturing, licensing, marketing and supporting software products
worldwide.
Technologically advanced company:
Microsoft is always known as a catalyst in the tech-world. Prioritizing
innovation and optimization through strong research and development activity.
It operates Microsoft Research, one of the world’s largest computer science
research organizations which work in close collaboration with top universities
around the world to advance the state-of-the-art in computer science sector.
Product Portfolio:
Microsoft offers a comprehensive range of software, services, and
hardware solutions across different customer classes, which enable it to enjoy a
leading market position. Microsoft generates revenue by developing,
manufacturing, licensing, and supporting software and services across a wide
variety of computing devices. Microsoft also provides consulting and product
and solution support service, and trains and certifies computer system
integrators and developers.
Extensive distribution system:
Company maintains a strong distribution and marketing network
which leverages operational performance. Microsoft markets and distributes its
products through three major channels namely OEMs (Original Equipment
Manufacturers); distributors and resellers; and online (through own virtual store
& E-commerce sites).
World leading OS – One of the major advantages of Microsoft is its
Operating system. Although it is counted in the Product portfolio, and although
people love to point out the glitches in Microsoft OS, it is still one of the best
Computer operating system since the last several decades.

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MS Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and threats

B-Weaknesses of Microsoft
Legal proceedings:
Microsoft is defendant in various unresolved cases against it. It is
entangled in various legal proceedings relating to product design, manufacture
and performance liability and other litigations relating to contracts, employment
issues or intellectual property rights.
Not able to control counterfeit of their software business in developing
nations:
It is not able to curb the illegal use of their software business specially
operating system in the developing nations like china, India etc.
Lagging in innovation – Because of its vast usage, customers of
Microsoft have a common complaint that Microsoft keeps upgrading its
products but there is nothing new from the bottoms up from the brand. In terms
of Operating system capabilities, Apple is farther ahead then Microsoft. Because
of which Apple is slowly coming up as the chosen OS.
C- Opportunities of Microsoft
Shifting to Razor & blade model:
Rather than offering expensive software Microsoft can work on Blade
& razor model in order to counter illegal use of their software specially
Operating system, through which they can generate more revenue.
Strategic Alliances:
Company can focus on entering into new partnerships for the
development of innovative and technologically advanced products. Such
partnerships provide Microsoft a competitive edge and allow it to garner high
market share. Like in 2014, the company announced nine new hardware partners
for its Windows Phone. The partners provide a direct access to its tools,
widening its scope for consumers and launch new price points across several key
growth markets. The key partners include Foxconn, Gionee, Lava (Xolo),
Lenovo, LG, Longcheer, JSR, Karbonn and ZTE Corporation.

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MS Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and threats

Demand of smartphones:
Microsoft can capitalize over the growing demand of smartphones
which is emerging as a major growth opportunity in both developed &
developing nations.
D- Threats of Microsoft
Competition:
The software market is highly competitive, which may impact the
company’s performance. The company faces stiff competition in all its
segments. Its key competitors in Windows Live software and services include
Apple, Google and Yahoo!. Its Internet Explorer product faces stiff competition
from the browsers developed by Google (Chrome), Apple (Safari), Mozilla, and
Opera Software Company. The company’s server and tools products compete
against the related offering of IBM and Oracle.
Rapid technological changes:
The tech-world is continuously changing. Companies are ending up
killing their own offering much before competition kills it.
Pirated Market:
It is the major threat company is facing from its software front. Every
year company loses billions of dollars due to the circulation of pirated versions
across the world. Microsoft loses significant amounts of revenue owing to the
piracy rate of 30% or more in several countries. Also developing nations like
China, India etc. accounts for major market which are involved in illegal use of
Microsoft’s software

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Conclusion

Conclusion :
in conclusion, Microsoft will go down in history as one of the most
innovative companies that have changed the way people go about their daily
lives. Microsoft has come a long way from the days of settling lawsuits with
numerous companies to being the powerful software giant in the world today.
With technology comes innovation, and Microsoft has proven that it can be
technologically innovative with all of the great products that we have seen from
them over the years. Given the company’s strategies, core competencies,
dynamics, and innovative breakthroughs, it is no wonder why Microsoft has
lasted this long, and will be around for many more years to come.

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 Bibliography

Https://WWW.marketing91.com/Swot-Analysis-of-microsoft/ : 13/01/2019 at
03:00 .

Https://WWW.andlil.com/analyse-swot-de-microsoft-142873.html/ :
12/01/2019 at 22:18

Roy Allen, A History of the Personal Computer: the people and the technology.
Allan Publishing, 2001 “PDF’’

https://partner.microsoft.com/UK/program/competencies/

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