Microsoft

[Name of the institute]

Microsoft

Introduction

Microsoft has become one of the most used software companies in the personal computers throughout the world. Founded by Bill gates and Paul Allen in the year 1975, the company has been able to pioneer in the software development industry, and has been able to establish a global hegemony in the field. Although over the years in the exponential success experienced by the company, it has also experienced several difficulties; however overall the company still remains one of the greatest and most widely used software brands. Microsoft recently was involved in the law suit regarding its monopoly over the industry and its attempt to suppress the internet browsers from other companies. Microsoft was involved in taking certain actions which would enable the computers powered by its software to incorporate automatically the Microsoft sponsored web browser, which is the Internet Explorer; hence the other companies could not adequately compete (Fisher, 2000). These measures however may represent certain unethical and monopolistic actions taken by Microsoft, but they also display the authority and the power of influence that the company maintains on the entire industry.

In the contemporary society the brand of Microsoft has truly become universal in nature, where it is present in majority of the personal computers being used in the global market. Although competition has been provided by the companies such as Apple, on the volume basis Microsoft still has a considerable hegemony. It is due to this power of the company that a cottage industry has been formed which deals with the products offered by the company. These small internet based companies seek to help the users with the various technical issues they experience with their computers, and provides them with certain easy to use and helpful tips. The basic source of income for these companies is the ...