Last update on 2024-03-05

Microsoft (MSFT) Explained

An Overview of MSFT: Its Business Strategy, Core Products, Major Competitors, and Essential Insights into its Role in the Software - Infrastructure Industry

Microsoft develops and licenses consumer and enterprise software. It is known for its Windows operating systems and Office productivity suite. The company is organized into three equally sized broad segments: productivity and business processes (legacy Microsoft Office, cloud-based Office 365, Exchange, SharePoint, Skype, LinkedIn, Dynamics), intelligence cloud (infrastructure- and platform-as-a-service offerings Azure, Windows Server OS, SQL Server), and more personal computing (Windows Client, Xbox, Bing search, display advertising, and Surface laptops, tablets, and desktops).

Current Business Strategy

Microsoft's current strategy focuses on three core pillars: cloud computing, with a major emphasis on expanding its Azure infrastructure and services; integrating artificial intelligence across its products and services to enhance productivity and capabilities; and fostering a more open and collaborative approach across various platforms and ecosystems to ensure seamless user experiences and interoperability.

Most known Products

Here is the list of the 5 most well-known products of Microsoft (MSFT):

• Windows: A series of operating systems designed to provide a user-friendly interface for personal computing. It is widely used on personal computers, laptops, and business computers worldwide.
• Office 365: A suite of productivity tools that includes Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other applications, available through a subscription model. It promotes collaboration and can be accessed from anywhere.
• Azure: A cloud computing service designed for building, testing, deploying, and managing applications and services through Microsoft-managed data centers. It provides SaaS, PaaS, and IaaS services.
• LinkedIn: A social networking platform for professionals to connect, share, and learn. Acquired by Microsoft, it is used for career development, professional networking, and job searching.
• Xbox: A brand of gaming consoles developed and owned by Microsoft. It encompasses various services and products, including consoles, games, and the Xbox Live online service.

Competitors

Here is the list of the main 5 competitors of Microsoft (MSFT):

• AAPL: Apple Inc. competes with Microsoft in various areas, including personal computing (Mac vs. PC), productivity software (iWork vs. Office), and mobile devices (iPhone/iPad vs. Surface).
• GOOGL: Alphabet Inc. (Google) is a major competitor in areas such as cloud computing (Google Cloud vs. Azure), mobile operating systems (Android vs. Windows), and productivity tools (Google Workspace vs. Office 365).
• AMZN: Amazon.com, Inc., through its AWS (Amazon Web Services) division, is a leading competitor in the cloud computing space, challenging Microsoft's Azure with a wide range of cloud services and solutions.
• ADBE: Adobe Inc. competes with Microsoft in the software segment, particularly in creativity and productivity tools. Adobe's Creative Cloud suite is often seen as a competitor to Microsoft's productivity and design tools.
• ORCL: Oracle Corporation is a competitor in the enterprise and cloud computing markets. It offers comprehensive cloud applications and platform services, competing with Microsoft's Azure and enterprise solutions.