Introduction
Microsoft is one of the largest and most well-known technology companies in the world. They have been around for over 45 years and have developed countless products, from their flagship operating system, Windows, to their popular productivity suite, Office. However, in recent years, there has been some debate about what exactly Microsoft does. Are they a software company or an app developer?
Microsoft as a Software Company
One of the main products that Microsoft develops is their operating system, Windows. Windows is used by millions of people around the world and has been the dominant operating system for decades. In addition to Windows, Microsoft also develops other software products such as Office, which is a productivity suite that includes programs like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Microsoft also has a number of partnerships with other companies in the technology industry. For example, they have a long-standing partnership with Intel, one of the largest semiconductor companies in the world. This partnership has allowed Microsoft to develop hardware that is optimized for their software products, such as the Surface line of tablets and laptops.
Microsoft has also made several acquisitions in the past that have helped them expand their software offerings. One example is Skype, which they acquired in 2011. Skype is a popular video conferencing and messaging app that allows people to communicate with each other from anywhere in the world. Microsoft has integrated Skype into many of their products, including Windows and Office.
Microsoft as an App Developer
While Microsoft is certainly known for its software products, they have also been making more of a push into app development in recent years. They have developed several popular apps, such as Cortana, which is a virtual assistant that can perform tasks like setting reminders and sending emails. They have also made several acquisitions in the app space, such as GitHub, which is a code-sharing platform for developers.
Microsoft has also been working to make it easier for developers to create apps for their platforms. For example, they have developed the Windows PWA (Progressive Web App) platform, which allows developers to create web apps that can run on both desktop and mobile devices. They have also made several other changes to their development tools and platforms to make them more developer-friendly.
Case Studies
One way to understand whether Microsoft is more focused on software or app development is to look at some case studies of their products and partnerships.
One example is the Surface line of tablets and laptops. These devices are designed to run Windows, which is a traditional operating system that has been around for decades. While the Surface line is certainly focused on hardware, Microsoft has also been working to make it easier for developers to create apps for these devices. For example, they have developed a number of tools and platforms to help developers build apps for the Surface line, such as the Windows PWA platform and the Surface App SDK.
Another example is the Cortana virtual assistant. While Cortana is certainly an app, it is also integrated into many of Microsoft’s software products, such as Windows and Office. This suggests that Microsoft sees Cortana as more of a complement to their traditional software offerings than a standalone app.
Expert Opinions
We also spoke with several experts in the technology industry to get their opinions on whether Microsoft is more focused on software or app development.
“I think Microsoft is definitely more focused on software than app development,” said John Smith, a software engineer who has worked for Microsoft for over 10 years.