Microsoft TNC Timeline

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Paul Allen and Bill Gates Receive Inspiration for First Program

01/01/1975

The MTS Altair 8800 appears on the cover of popular electronics and serves as inspiration to Paul Allen and Bill Gates in creating a BASIC language program for the Altair.

BASIC is Sold to Microsoft's First Customer

02/01/1975

BASIC, the first computer language program for a PC is sold to MITS of Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Paul Allen Joins MITS as Director of Software

03/1/1975

Altair BASIC Up and Running

7/4/1975

Paul Allen joins Microsoft full time and resigns from MITS

11/1/1976

Trade Name 'Microsoft' is Registered

11/26/1976

Microsoft Establishes First International Sales Office in Japan

11/1/1978

Microsoft's End Year Sales Exceed $1 Million USD

12/31/1978

Microsoft Registers as Private Held Corporation

6/25/1981

Microsoft becomes Microsoft Inc., with Bill Gates as President and Chairman of the Board and Paul Allen as Vice President.

Microsoft U.K Ltd. is incorporated

3/24/1982

New Logo, New Packaging and Comprehensive Retail Dealer Support Material

6/28/1982

Microsoft Introduces Microsoft Mouse

5/2/1983

Microsoft Windows Unveilled

11/10/1983

Microsoft 10th Anniversary with Sale Figures of $140million

8/12/1985

Microsoft and IBM Broaden Development Scope through Developing Joint Software

11/13/1988

15th Anniversary Marked by Annual Sale Revenues of Over 1 Billion

7/25/1990

Microsoft becomes first computer software company to exceed sales of 1 billion. Annual sale revenues of 1.8 billion.

Develops Computer-Science Research Organisation (Microsoft Research; MSR)

1/1/1991

Microsoft is the first computer software company to create its own Computer-Science Research Organisation.

First Television Advertising Campaign

3/1/1992

Microsoft Ships Microsoft Windows 3.1

4/6/1992

Microsoft ships Microsoft Windows 3.1 which incorporates more than 1000 software enhancements. Caused unprecedented user demand, with more than 1 million advanced orders worldwide.

Microsoft Encarta is Avaliable

3/22/1993

The first multimedia encyclopedia designed for computers is available.

Windows NT Launched

5/24/1993

Microsoft Acquires SoftImage

6/28/1994

Microsoft acquires leading developer in 2-D and 3-D computer animation and visualization software.

Microsoft and DreamWorks Sign Joint Agreement

5/22/1995

Microsoft and Dreamworks decide to work together to develop a new software specializing in interactive and multimedia entertainment purposes.

Microsoft Windows 95 Avaliable

8/24/1995

MSN* enrolls 525000 members in first three months of service

11/20/1995

*The Microsoft Network Online Service
This makes MSN one of the largest internet service providers.

Microsoft Acquires Vermeer Technologies

1/16/1996

Microsoft Flight Simulator for Windows 95 Released

11/7/1996

Microsoft Acquires WebTV Networks for $425 million in stock and cash

4/6/1997

Windows 98 Available in More than 40 Countries Worldwide

6/25/1998

Microsoft Opens First Online Store

2/24/1999

Windows Explorer 5.0 Launched

3/18/1999

Acquires Visio Corporation, the Largest Acquisition in Microsoft History

1/7/2000

Microsoft Announces Windows Millennium Edition

9/14/2000

Microsoft XP is Released Worldwide

8/25/2001

Microsoft XBOX Launches

11/15/2001

Microsoft XBOX launches, offering the only system on the market designed for gaming.

Microsoft Corp. Releases MSN 8

8/23/2002

Windows Server 2003 Launches

4/24/2003

Microsoft Corp. Acquires Skype Communication

5/10/2011

Windows 8 Released

8/26/2012

Microsoft Sells IPTV Business

4/8/2013

Microsoft Releases Windows 8.1

8/17/2013

Microsoft Acquires Nokia Smartphone and Celluar Business for $7.2 billion

9/2/2013