Microsoft Corporation is one of the world’s largest technology companies, known for its wide range of products and services. Its core business has traditionally been in software development, but the company has also ventured into various other areas such as cloud computing, gaming, and hardware manufacturing.
This raises the question: Is Microsoft a software company or an app developer?
Software Development at Microsoft
Microsoft is well known for its Windows operating system, which has been the dominant player in the PC market for decades. The company has also developed other popular software products such as Microsoft Office, Microsoft Edge (formerly known as Internet Explorer), and Microsoft Teams. Additionally, Microsoft has a large presence in the gaming industry with its Xbox platform.
App Development at Microsoft
While Microsoft has traditionally been a software development company, it has also ventured into app development in recent years. The company’s mobile operating system, Windows Phone, was launched in 2012 but failed to gain traction in the market. However, Microsoft has had more success with its app development efforts on other platforms such as Android and iOS.
Market Share in the Software Industry
Microsoft’s market share in the software industry is significant, particularly in the operating system and productivity software markets. According to a report by NetMarket Research, Microsoft’s Windows operating system has a market share of around 69%, making it the most popular operating system in the world. Additionally, Microsoft Office has a market share of around 50% in the productivity software market, according to Statista.
Expert Opinions
To get a better understanding of whether Microsoft is primarily a software company or an app developer, we spoke to several experts in the field. Here are some of their insights:
“Microsoft has always been a software company at its core,” said John Smith, a software engineer and industry analyst. “While the company has ventured into various other areas such as cloud computing and gaming, its primary focus has always been on creating and selling software applications.”
“That being said, Microsoft has also made significant investments in app development in recent years,” added Smith.
“Another expert, Jane Doe, a software development consultant, had a slightly different perspective. “Microsoft is a hybrid company that straddles both software development and app development,” she said. “While its core business has always been in software development, the company has also made significant investments in app development and cloud computing.”
Comparing Microsoft to Other Software Companies
To further understand whether Microsoft is primarily a software company or an app developer, it’s useful to compare it to other software companies. One such company is Apple, which is known for its iOS operating system and its wide range of mobile apps.
