Macintosh Business Unit

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Macintosh Business Unit
Type Operating unit of Microsoft Corporation
Founded January 7, 1997
Headquarters Redmond, Washington, USA
Key people Craig Eisler, General Manager
(since June 8, 2007[1])
Roz Ho (previous General Manager)
(December 18, 2002[2] - June 8, 2007[1])
Industry Computer software
Products Microsoft Office
Microsoft Messenger
Remote Desktop Client
Employees 180 (2005)
Website www.microsoft.com/mac/

Macintosh Business Unit (informally known as Mac BU or MacBU) is an operating unit of Microsoft Corporation that produces software for the Apple Inc. Macintosh platform. Formed on January 7, 1997,[3] it is today situated within Microsoft's Specialized Devices and Applications Group inside the Entertainment and Devices Division. The Mac BU is one of the largest developers of Macintosh software outside of Apple Inc.,[4] currently employing more than 180 people and having an estimated yearly revenue of $350 million.[5]

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[edit] Software

Mac BU currently develops Macintosh versions of Microsoft Office, Microsoft Messenger, and Remote Desktop Client. Other software developed (but no longer maintained) by Mac BU include Internet Explorer (development ceased in 2003),[6] Virtual PC,[7] and the MSN for Mac OS X browser (cancelled May 31, 2005).

[edit] History

Prior to the Mac BU, Microsoft has developed Macintosh software – in fact, dating to 1984 when Microsoft released Word 1.0 for Macintosh. However, with the rise and dominance of Windows in the 1990s, there has been fears that Microsoft might stop developing Macintosh versions of key products, notably Microsoft Office. Thus, Mac BU was established in 1997 with a five-year commitment by Microsoft to continue developing and supporting Macintosh software – a pledge most recently renewed on January 10, 2006 at the Macworld Conference & Expo.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Craig Eisler (June 8, 2007). Hello from the new General Manager of the Macintosh Business Unit - Craig Eisler. Retrieved on 2007-06-10.
  2. ^ Microsoft (December 18, 2002). Microsoft Appoints Seasoned Leader as Macintosh Business Unit General Manager. Microsoft press release. Retrieved on 2007-02-09.
  3. ^ Microsoft (January 7, 1997). Microsoft Announces New Macintosh Product Unit. Microsoft press release. Retrieved on 2007-02-09.
  4. ^ Who We Are. Microsoft Macintosh Business Unit. Retrieved on 2007-01-12.
  5. ^ Jon Fortt (March 25, 2008). Microsoft looks to cash in on the iPhone. Fortune: Big Tech Blog. Retrieved on 2008-04-03.
  6. ^ Microsoft (October 2006). Internet Explorer for Mac no longer available for download. Microsoft.com. Retrieved on 2007-03-04.
  7. ^ Peter Cohen (August 7, 2006). WWDC: Microsoft kills Virtual PC for Mac. Macworld. Retrieved on 2007-03-04.

[edit] External links