Microsoft (Microsoft, NASDAQ: MSFT, HKEx: 4338) is a pioneer in PC software development worldwide. It was founded by Bill Gates and paul allen in 1975, and its headquarters is in Redmond, Washington (near Seattle). At present, it is the largest computer software provider in the world. Microsoft currently has 64,000 employees and its turnover in 2005 was $36.8 billion. Its main products are Windows operating system, Internet Explorer web browser and Microsoft Office software suite. /kloc-0 launched MSN Messenger in 1999, and launched Xbox in 20001year to compete for the game terminal market.
Microsoft set up its first representative office in China on 1992. Since then, Microsoft has successively set up research, product development and technical support service institutions in China, such as Microsoft China R&D Center, Microsoft Global Technical Support Center and Microsoft Research Asia. Today, Microsoft has more than 900 employees in China, forming a structure with Beijing as its headquarters and branches in Shanghai and Guangzhou. Microsoft China has become the most complete subsidiary of Microsoft outside the US headquarters. Microsoft Building is the "Top 500 World Brands" in 2009 (the 6th) compiled exclusively by World Brand Lab. Microsoft beat Harvard University from the seventh place last year, ranking first, and ranked 22nd in the "Top 500 World Brands" compiled by World Brand Lab in 2006. This company ranked 35th in the ranking of Fortune 500 companies in the world in 2008. America's most admired company ranking 10. Baidu Search Billboard ranks 14 in the IT brand list today.