Just pondering Microsoft products that they originally bought (or bought with) or licenced from other companies:
- Powerpoint (from Forethought, original name Presenter)
- DOS (from Seattle Computer Products, original name 86-DOS)
- Visio (from Visio aka Shapeware)
- Frontpage (from Vermeer Technologies)
- Navision (ERP) (from Navision)
- Visual Basic (from Alan Cooper, derived from Tripod)
- SQL Server (from Sybase, derived from Sybase SQL Server)
- AntiSpyware (from Giant)
- Terminal Services aka Remote Desktop (licensing deal from Citrix)
- Virtual PC (from
CitrixConnectix) - Lookout (from Lookout Software)
- Internet Explorer (originally based on Spyglass)
What others?
Didn’t VPC come from Connectix?
SourceSafe is another
I completely forgot one of their most prominent products: Hotmail
Didn’t they also buy Grissoft?
What about Axapta?
Also:
* Age of Empires
* Flight Simulator
* FoxPro (from Fox Software)
Don’t forget about Great Plains. Should you list Hyperterm?