The History of Microsoft (1987)
For Microsoft, 1987 brings the announcement of Excel for Windows, we ship our first CD-ROM application and Microsoft announces the "New Mouse" which is nicknamed the "Dove Soap Bar".
1987-12-30 19:00:00 - Microsoft
February 26, 1987
A total redesign of corporate materials is introduced. Spearheading the new corporate identity is a new logo, "Pacman Logo," earmarked by its simplicity, and a clean, uncluttered design. Says designer Scott Baker, "The former logo ( the 'Blibbet' ( was more in keeping with how we saw our company five years ago." The new logo, in Helvetica italic typeface, has a slash between the "o" and "s" to emphasize the "soft" part of the name and convey motion and speed.
April 2, 1987
Microsoft and IBM announce OS/2. This is the first product to be announced as a result of the Joint Development Agreement between Microsoft and IBM in August 1985.
May 1, 1987
Bill Gates throws the first pitch to start the Seattle Mariners baseball game.
June 26, 1987
In honor of the birthday of Buck Ferguson, Director of Investor Relations, a 300-lb., 16-foot duck appears in "Lake Bill." This is part of a running gag about Buck's concern over too many ducks in the pond.
July 30, 1987
Microsoft acquires Forethought, the developer of PowerPoint, a leading desktop presentation application.
August 31, 1987
Microsoft announces the "New Mouse", 1.0, a plug-compatible mouse. The design of the mouse is nicknamed the "Dove Soap Bar".
September 8, 1987
Microsoft ships its first CD-ROM application, Microsoft Bookshelf, a collection of 10 of the most popular and useful reference works on a single CD-ROM disk.
September 14, 1987
Microsoft unveils Works for DOS, a breakthrough productivity software package for Home/Small Business workers.
October 6, 1987
Microsoft announces Excel for Windows offering unprecedented functionality, presentation capabilities, and customizability to spreadsheet users. It ships November 19.
October 13, 1987
Microsoft acquires InterMail, an electronic mail program for Apple Macintosh systems developed by Interactive Network Technologies Inc. It will ship one month later as Microsoft Mail 1.0 for the Mac.
December 9, 1987
Windows 2.0 and Windows/386 ships to dealers and distributors.
1987 Revenue/Headcount
The 1987 fiscal year-end sales total $345,890,000. The 1987 fiscal Year employee headcount totals 1,816 people.
Official Subsidiary Launched:
Microsoft MS Iberica S.R.L. (Spain)
Other Products Shipped in 1987
PageView
Quick C 1.0
Microsoft C Optimizing Compiler
Quick Basic 4.0
XENIX System V/286 2.23
Word 4.0 for DOS
Word 3.0 for XENIX
Macro Assembler 5.0
Chart 3.0
Project 4.0
Word 3.01 for the Mac
OS/2 Software Development Kit
MS-DOS Manager 1.0
BASIC and PASCAL compilers for XENIX System V/286
MS-DOS v 3.3
Quick Basic 3.0
MS-DOS CD-ROM Extensions 1.0
Fortran Optimizing Compiler 4.0
Windows Software Development Kit 1.03
Multiplan 3.0
Notable new hires:
Mike Appe
Melinda French (Gates)
Jonathan Lazarus
Peter Neupert