Brand: Microsoft
Country of Origin: United States 🇺🇸
Founded: 1975
Industry: Technology, Software, Cloud Computing & Artificial Intelligence
Official Website: https://www.microsoft.com/
Headquarters: Redmond, Washington, United States
Featured By: ASIA Best Brands — Global Brands
About Microsoft
Microsoft is one of the world’s most recognised technology companies, with a history spanning more than five decades of personal computing, enterprise software, cloud technology and digital innovation.
Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen, Microsoft began after the two developed software for the Altair 8800, an early personal computer. The company later became a major force in personal computing through products including MS-DOS and Microsoft Windows.
In 2025, Microsoft marked its 50th anniversary, celebrating a journey that has taken the company from its early software beginnings to a global technology business serving consumers, organisations, developers and enterprises.
Microsoft describes its mission as empowering “every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.”
Products & Services
Microsoft has developed an extensive portfolio spanning productivity, operating systems, cloud infrastructure, artificial intelligence, gaming and business applications.
Some of its best-known products, platforms and brands include:
Microsoft Windows — One of the world’s most widely recognised personal computer operating-system families.
Microsoft 365 — Productivity and collaboration applications and services including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Teams.
Microsoft Azure — Microsoft’s cloud computing platform supporting businesses, developers and organisations.
Microsoft Copilot — Microsoft’s family of AI-powered experiences designed to assist users across personal and professional tasks.
Xbox — Microsoft’s gaming brand and ecosystem, which originated with the launch of the first Xbox in 2001.
Surface — Microsoft’s family of computers and devices.
Dynamics 365 — Business applications covering areas such as customer relationship management and enterprise resource planning.
Microsoft also operates major technology and digital businesses including LinkedIn and GitHub, extending its presence across professional networking and software development.
Global Presence
Microsoft has developed a substantial international footprint since opening its first international sales office in Japan in 1978.
Today, Microsoft maintains subsidiaries across markets throughout Asia, Europe, the Americas, Africa, the Middle East and Oceania, including Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, South Korea, India and China. Its major operations centres include locations in the United States, Ireland and Singapore.
This international presence enables Microsoft technologies to support individuals, businesses, governments, educational institutions and organisations across diverse markets.
Microsoft’s evolution has increasingly focused on cloud computing and artificial intelligence. The company describes itself as creating AI-powered platforms and tools while working to make AI broadly available and responsibly developed.
Why Microsoft Is Featured on ASIA Best Brands
Microsoft’s transformation over more than 50 years demonstrates the ability of a technology brand to continually evolve alongside major changes in the digital economy.
From early personal-computer software and Windows to Microsoft 365, Azure, Xbox and today’s AI-powered Copilot ecosystem, Microsoft has built products and platforms that have become widely used across consumer and enterprise technology.
Its longstanding international presence, extensive technology portfolio and continued investment in cloud computing, artificial intelligence and digital infrastructure make Microsoft an important global technology brand to feature on ASIA Best Brands.
Official Website: https://www.microsoft.com/
