The History of Microsoft (1988)

January 13, 1988

Microsoft and Ashton-Tate announce Microsoft SQL Server, a relational database server software product for Local Area Networks (LANs) based on a relational database management system licensed from Sybase.

April 8, 1988

Manufacturing and Distribution move to the new Canyon Park industrial complex, a 245,000-square foot facility in Bothell, Washington.

June 14, 1988

Microsoft hires Mike Maples, previously with IBM, as vice president of the Applications Software Division.

June 15, 1988

Microsoft announces Microsoft OnLine, a two-way electronic support service, offering a complete package of technical support and service solutions. Users can send questions or requests for service directly to Microsoft support engineers, take part in discussions, and access a special Microsoft database that contains answers to previously solved problems.

June 20, 1988

Microsoft Mouse sales top the one million mark, less than one year after hitting the ½ million mark.

August 19, 1988

A new Out-Of-Office notification feature for XENIX e-mail is offered to Microsoft employees. Anyone who sends e-mail will receive an automatic message that the employee is out of the office, plus any instructions the employee may wish to include in the message.

September 1, 1988

Microsoft restructures the Applications Division into five business units, designed to streamline product development and prepare the Applications Division for its expected growth into the next five years. Each business unit will have an assigned product mission, with responsibility for its products from conception and development through introduction and on-going marketing.

October 11, 1988

Microsoft and five other major software companies announce the formation of the Business Software Association to combat international software piracy, promote strong intellectual property protection, and reduce international trade barriers.

October 25, 1988

An extensive new education program is announced to cover every level of the education market: K-12, colleges and universities, educators, and education software dealers. This major new partnership includes a cooperative hardware/software packaging promotion with IBM; special-priced, academic versions of selected Microsoft software and a new dealer program.

October 31, 1988

Microsoft and IBM release the jointly developed OS/2 1.1 with Presentation Manager.

November 1, 1988

The "Making It All Make Sense" advertising campaign is launched. It will stress: vision, technical brilliance, business practicality, and commitment to customers.

December 6, 1988

A new Microsoft Product Support Center opens in Bellevue, Washington. The 49,000-square-foot facility, located at Lincoln Plaza in Bellevue, incorporates the latest technology and design features. The new facility is completely dedicated to and houses 250 staff members of the Product Support Services Division of Microsoft.

December 6, 1988

Microsoft to Package Software Specially for Education.

Microsoft announces plans to release Academic Editions of Works, Word, Excel and PowerPoint for the Macintosh that will sell at a reduced rate through the Authorized Education Dealer Program.

December 9, 1988

Mike Maples and Steve Ballmer swim "Lake Bill" as a result of a challenge Mike issued to Steve during the 1988 United Way campaign to see whose group could raise the most money. The competition between the Applications and Systems divisions raised $152,506 for United Way.

Applications won the contest on the basis of the highest percentage of participation, but Systems was the big money winner of the two, so both were required to swim. Ballmer jumped into the lake wearing swim trunks, while Maples jumped into the lake in his suit and tie, which covered a wet suit.

1988 Revenue/Headcount:

The 1988 fiscal year-end sales total $590,827,000. The 1988 fiscal Year employee headcount totals 2,793people.

Official Subsidiaries Launched:

Microsoft CH (Korea, sales office was established in 1983)

Other Product Released in 1988:

Learning DOS 2.0

Microsoft Stat Pack on CD-ROM

MS-DOS 4.01

Small Business Consultant 1.0 on CD-ROM

SQL Server Network Developers Kit 1.0

Excel for OS/2, Word 5.0 for PC

Quick Basic 4.5

Excel for Windows 2.1

OS/2 Software Development kit 1.2

Microsoft Programmer's Library on CD-ROM

Quick Basic 1.0 for Mac

MS-DOS CD-ROM Extensions 2.0

COBOL Optimizing Compiler 3.0

Flight Simulator 3.0 for PC

PowerPoint 2.01 for Mac

Learning DOS 2.0

Stat Pack 1.0

Notable New Hires:

David Cutler