The same pioneer spirit that steered Microsoft Corporation to become the world’s largest software manufacturer has made Microsoft Canada Inc. the premier supplier of PC systems and applications software in Canada.

More than ten years have elapsed since the intro-duction of the personal computer. Now, the power of personal computing reaches over 100 million people worldwide, and Microsoft has helped propel that growth.

Not surprising, when you consider that Microsoft is the “MS” in its MS-DOS operating system — the industry standard platform on which millions of personal com-puters are based. It is also the springboard for Microsoft’s Windows systems software and its powerful, yet easy-to-use application software products including Microsoft Word and Excel.

Microsoft Canada started with just 10 employees in 1985. By 1990, the company had grown to 83 employees, and each year since, increased by 50 percent to its present staff size of over 300.

Microsoft Canada maintains a strong presence across the country, from its 75,000 square foot head office in Mississauga, to regional offices in Quebec City, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Winnipeg, Calgary, and Vancouver.

Microsoft Canada operates from a truly Canadian perspective marketing English and French products in all major software categories, including desktop applications, PC systems and networking products.

Recently, Microsoft entered the home software category and introduced Microsoft Home. Microsoft Home products are comprised of four distinct categories: Personal Productivity products offer users tools for managing finances, like Microsoft Money, and managing tasks at home and for family, such as writing letters, with Microsoft Works. Multimedia Library products, like Cinemania, give users reference works with not only text, but also multi-media elements such as rich graphics, full motion video, sound and animation. Games products, like Microsoft Golf, are engaging and fun to use, providing users with a challenging way to test their skills. Kid’s Creativity products, like Creative Writer, let kids explore an inspiring new world.

Training is also a key focus for the company. The Solution Providers program, established in 1992, provides training and information to key partners such as value-added resellers, consultants, developers, and training companies. Members of the Microsoft Solutions Provider program design, develop, deploy, and support business solutions using the latest information technology. Through this program, Microsoft has established partnerships with a range of third party solution providers who provide customized applications, inte-gration, technical support, training, and other services for Microsoft products.

Microsoft has a vision for the future of personal computing: a goal to evolve the existing PC standards to include new capabilities such as compound documents, object-oriented file systems, distributed file systems, handwriting recognition, and multimedia. That is, to unify all of the sources of information in our lives toward truly achieving a point where we have access to “Information at your fingertips.”

Canada is already well established as a world leader in software development. As Microsoft Canada continues to grow, it will introduce a worldwide mission to ensure Canada continues to set the pace, standards and innovation for many years to come.