Changes

==History==

==History==

===Traf-O-Data===

===Company Beginnings===

The idea of establishing Microsoft began in 1971 when Paul Allen found an article in an electronics magazine about Intel's 4004 chip, the world's first microprocessor. Allen thought that this microprocessor will become better and better. After a year, Intel came up with 8008. That gave Allen and Gates the idea on How Moore's Law really worked-each generation of microprocessor chip was twice as fast as the previous.They decided to buy the 8008 microprocessor which became the core of a special computer designed to do traffic volume count analysis and which they would to traffic departments. Allen and Gates formed Traf-O-Data, their first company.<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune-archive/1995/10102/206528/index.htm money.cnn.com]</ref>

The idea of establishing Microsoft began in 1971 when Paul Allen found an article in an electronics magazine about Intel's 4004 chip, the world's first microprocessor. Allen thought that this microprocessor will become better and better. After a year, Intel came up with 8008. That gave Allen and Gates the idea on How Moore's Law really worked-each generation of microprocessor chip was twice as fast as the previous.They decided to buy the 8008 microprocessor which became the core of a special computer designed to do traffic volume count analysis and which they would to traffic departments. Allen and Gates formed '''Traf-O-Data''', their first company.<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune-archive/1995/10102/206528/index.htm money.cnn.com]</ref>

===MS-DOS===

In 1973, Allen read an article from a popular electronics magazine about Altair 8800, the world's first microcomputer kit. Allen and Gates took it as a big opportunity. They wrote '''Altair BASIC''', a true programming language, and the first commercial Microsoft computer product.<ref>[http://oldcomputers.net/altair.html Altair Basic]</ref> In 1975, the two persuaded MITS to sell Altair Basic. Allen and Gates signed their first contract with MITS as "Paul Allen & Bill Gates doing business as '''Micro-Soft'''.</ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/5085630.stm Micro-Soft]</ref> Allen and Gates shared the title General Partner. In 1977, Gates held the title president and Allen, vice-president. They decided to move the company headquarter from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Bellevue, Washington in 1979. [[Steven Ballmer]] joined the company the following year as first assistant to the president. His primary responsibility is to establish policies and procedures in the financial, organizational, and resource allocation areas.<ref>[http://www.thocp.net/companies/microsoft/microsoft_company.htm www.thocp.net]</ref>

In 1980, Paul Allen negotiated the purchase of an obscure operating system called Q-DOS from Seattle Computer. The two licensed Q-DOS to [[IBM]] which became the deal of the decade. This transaction paved the way for Microsoft to dominate the PC Software Industry.<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune-archive/1995/10102/206528/index.htm Q-Dos Deal of the Decade]</ref> Microsoft developed a new operating system called MS-DOS (Microsoft Disk Operating System).<ref>[http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/history MS-DOS]</ref>

 

In 1980, Paul Allen negotiated the purchase of an obscure operating system called '''Q-DOS''' from Seattle Computer. The two licensed Q-DOS to [[IBM]] which became the deal of the decade. This transaction paved the way for Microsoft to dominate the PC Software Industry.<ref>[http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune-archive/1995/10102/206528/index.htm Q-Dos Deal of the Decade]</ref> Microsoft developed a new operating system called '''MS-DOS''' (Microsoft Disk Operating System).<ref>[http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows/history MS-DOS]</ref>

===Microsoft Incorporation===

===Microsoft Incorporation===

On June 25, 1981 Microsoft was officially incorporated in Washington as a privately held corporation with Bill Gates as President and Chairman of the Board while Paul Allen as Executive Vice President.<ref>[http://www.thocp.net/companies/microsoft/microsoft_company.htm Incorporation]</ref> On August 12, 1981, IBM introduced its new Personal Computer using Microsoft's 16-bit computer operating system called MS-DOS 1.0.<ref>[http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa033099.htm investors.about.com]</ref>  

On June 25, 1981 Microsoft was officially incorporated in Washington as a privately held corporation with Bill Gates as President and Chairman of the Board while Paul Allen as Executive Vice President.<ref>[http://www.thocp.net/companies/microsoft/microsoft_company.htm Incorporation]</ref> On August 12, 1981, IBM introduced its new Personal Computer using Microsoft's 16-bit computer operating system called MS-DOS 1.0.<ref>[http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa033099.htm investors.about.com]</ref>  

 

In 1983, Paul Allen was diagnosed with Hodgkins disease and resigned as executive vice-president, but he remained member of the board. Jon Shirley became president of Microsoft and later assumed as CEO. Microsoft also introduced the Microsoft Mouse and Word for MS-DOS 1.00.<ref>[http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Microsoft-Corporation-Company-History.html Paul Allen Resignation]</ref>

In 1983, Paul Allen was diagnosed with Hodgkins disease and resigned as executive vice-president, but he remained member of the board. Jon Shirley became president of Microsoft and later assumed as CEO. Microsoft also introduced the Microsoft Mouse and Word for MS-DOS 1.00.<ref>[http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Microsoft-Corporation-Company-History.html Paul Allen Resignation]</ref>