Apple passes Microsoft to become biggest Tech Company

[marriott0.01]

Apple has pushed past arch-rival Microsoft to become the world's biggest technology company.

Changes in the share price values of the two in Wednesday's choppy trading left the total value of Apple at $222bn (£154bn).

Microsoft is now valued by investors at $219bn.

The worth, known as market capitalisation, is calculated by multiplying the number of shares in a company by the current share price.

Although Apple shares closed down 0.4%, Microsoft fell by 4%.

Apple, which makes computers, iPods, iPhones and now iPads, almost went out of business in the 1990s.

Its growth is partly owing to the launch of the stylish iPod in 2001.

Its compatability with existing - but not mass-selling - Apple computers lead customers to engage with them, just as Microsoft's products looked set for long-term dominance.

Hey-day
Apple has to look back to late 1989 to see the last time it was ahead of Microsoft.

Microsoft, whose operating system runs on more than 90% of the world's personal computers, has not been able to match growth rates from its hey-day of the 1990s, although its last sales figures were still higher than Apple's.

This week sees the launch in Britain and eight other countries of Apple's iPad tablet computer.

Next month will see the unveiling of the next generation of the iPhone, something that has brought internet access on the move to the mass market, and led to an explosion in downloadable mobile "apps" - applications that enable a huge range of activities, from map reading to booking restaurants.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/10168684.stm


Woah not bad for 10 years work :|

[Flisker]

Good Job Apple

[Recursion]

Tbh, doesn't surprise me... I mean, if Microsoft did more hardware I bet they'd still be top.

It's probably all the iPods it sells, they are the best MP3 Players EVERRR.

[LMS16]

yeah, as someone said above, if they did more hardware stuff, they would overtake apple by miles.
Windows is the best known OS and the most used, MS have made all that money just from their OS, whereas apple, software, hardware and crappy iPads...

All apple do is invent something, figure what it is an stick an "i" infront of it... talk about being creative... lol

Lew.

[xxMATTGxx]

Tbh, doesn't surprise me... I mean, if Microsoft did more hardware I bet they'd still be top.

It's probably all the iPods it sells, they are the best MP3 Players EVERRR.

This for sure. Shame Apple are so silly at times, ah well. Nice one!

[Jahova]

I don't really beleive it from a Sofware point of view, etc.

[Shawnstra]

Congrats! I love although Apple has grown so much over the last few years, it's still really focused. It's product line has no more than 20 products. That's amazing.

[HotelUser]

When they have more competition from HP, Android based and Windows based tablets these statistics might change.

[Recursion]

Congrats! I love although Apple has grown so much over the last few years, it's still really focused. It's product line has no more than 20 products. That's amazing.

You mean like it's amazing to be the richest man in the world by selling one product? (Oil).

[MrPinkPanther]

All apple do is invent something, figure what it is an stick an "i" infront of it... talk about being creative... lol

This makes me laugh. It's the way you say "All apple do is invent something" like thats a really easy task. Thats the reason that they are so popular, they are often ahead of the curve. Granted the iPhone isn't revolutionary anymore but it sure was when it came out, as was the Appstore when it debuted.