"We have accomplished a lot together during our first 40 years and empowered countless businesses and people to realize their full potential. But what matters most now is what we do next. Thank you for helping make Microsoft a fantastic company now and for decades to come," he said in his email.
Microsoft, which started in April 1975, is best known for its Windows operating system, which powers most of the world's personal computers.
The company also produces the popular Office productivity suite.
While Microsoft is not quite as dominant in mobile operating system arena, it is working on unifying mobile and desktop devices with its upcoming OS Windows 10.
"In the coming years, Microsoft has the opportunity to reach even more people and organizations around the world. Technology is still out of reach for many people, because it is complex or expensive, or they simply do not have access. So I hope you will think about what you can do to make the power of technology accessible to everyone, to connect people to each other, and make personal computing available everywhere even as the very notion of what a PC delivers makes its way into all devices," he added.
Gates, who stepped down as Microsoft chairman in 2014, is now technology adviser for new Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.
In his email, he said he and co-founder Paul Allen had set a goal of "a computer on every desk and in every home" – a bold idea not shared by many at the time.
Yet, he said computing has come so far, "and we can all be proud of the role Microsoft played in that revolution."
But now, he said Microsoft can still play a big role in a future where "computing will evolve faster in the next 10 years than it ever has before."
"We already live in a multi-platform world, and computing will become even more pervasive. We are nearing the point where computers and robots will be able to see, move, and interact naturally, unlocking many new applications and empowering people even more," he said.
Gates said that under Nadella, Microsoft is better positioned than ever to lead these advances.
"We have the resources to drive and solve tough problems. We are engaged in every facet of modern computing and have the deepest commitment to research in the industry," he said.
Gates said he is impressed by the vision and talent he sees, particularly in products like personal assistant Cortana, Skype Translator, and HoloLens. — Joel Locsin/LBG, GMA News
source: gmanetwork.com
