Microsoft (US)

No business polarizes public opinion quite like Microsoft. But whether you love the company or loathe it, you can't deny its influence. It is impossible to conceive of modern computer communications without Microsoft. Bill Gates and his colleagues didn't invent computers, the graphical interface or the Internet. But they have come to dominate most users' experience of all three. For several years, Microsoft was the world's most valuable corporation, with a market capitalisation bigger than other businesses five times its size. It was also the industry's most hated entity, juggling a string a lawsuits from smaller rivals it had elbowed into oblivion. More recently, peace has broken out at Microsoft, and the company now appears intent on rebuilding bridges, using its huge cash stockpile to settle legal rows with rivals and forge strategic alliances. Microsoft's role as the big bad giant of the industry has to some extent been inherited by new rival Google. In the wake of that development, the company has used its own substantial cash resources to ensure it keeps pace with its new arch-rival. Transactions have included the acquisition of internet advertising giant aQuantive, a strategic investment in Facebook, and most recently a substantial but unsuccessful bid to acquire Yahoo. Advertising Age estimated global measured advertising expenditure of $769m in 2006, making Microsoft the world's #39 advertiser. Click here for the Adbrands.net profile (subscribers only); or subscribe to Adbrands.net here. Adbrands Company Profiles provide a detailed analysis of the history and current operations of leading advertisers, agencies and brands worldwide, and include a critical summary which identifies key strengths and weaknesses. Adbrands Account Assignments tracks account management for the world's leading brands and companies, including details of which advertising agency handles which accounts in which countries for major markets.

Advertising: Which agencies handle advertising for Microsoft? The searchable account assignments database is available to full subscribers to Adbrands.net premium services. Click here for subscription information.

Competitors: see IT Sector index for other companies

Subscribers may access the following website links:

Microsoft website

Microsoft Windows	Microsoft.NET
Microsoft Office	MSN.com
Xbox	Zone.com
Microsoft Enterprise Servers	Microsoft Press
MSNBC	Great Plains
SQL Server	Avanade
Microsoft Developer Network	Advertiser & Publisher Solutions (aQuantive)

Microsoft Worldwide

Adbrands.net. All rights reserved © Mind Advertising Ltd 1998-2008