Apple Productivity Experience Group

{{short description|Operating unit of Microsoft}} {{Infobox company | name = Apple Productivity Experience Group | logo = | type = Operating unit of Microsoft | foundation = {{Start date|1997|01|07}}  | location = Redmond, Washington, United States | industry = Computer software | products = Microsoft Office<br />Microsoft Messenger<br />Remote Desktop Client | revenue = $350 million (2008)<ref name="fortune2008">{{cite web | url=http://bigtech.blogs.fortune.cnn.com/2008/03/25/microsoft-looks-to-cash-in-on-the-iphone/ | title=Microsoft looks to cash in on the iPhone | author=Jon Fortt | date=March 25, 2008 | work=Fortune: Big Tech Blog | accessdate=2008-04-03 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120327092648/http://tech.fortune.cnn.com/2008/03/25/microsoft-looks-to-cash-in-on-the-iphone/ | archive-date=March 27, 2012 | url-status=dead }}</ref> | num_employees = 180 (2008)<ref name="fortune2008"/> | homepage = {{URL|http://www.microsoft.com/mac/}} }}

'''Apple Productivity Experience Group''' (known as '''APEX''')<ref>{{cite web|url=https://careers.microsoft.com/office/teams |title=Explore our teams|website=Careers.microsoft.com|accessdate=19 December 2018}}</ref> is an operating unit of Microsoft that, as of 2009, is the largest software developer outside of Apple Inc. for the macOS and iOS operating systems.<ref name="insider2009">{{cite web|url=http://www.appleinsider.com/articles/09/04/02/microsoft_optimistic_about_office_making_its_way_to_iphone.html|title=Microsoft optimistic about Office making its way to iPhone|first=Sam|last=Oliver|work=AppleInsider|date=April 2, 2009|accessdate=2010-08-30}}</ref> Formed as Macintosh Business Unit on January 7, 1997,<ref name="founded2007">{{cite web|url=http://news.microsoft.com/1997/01/07/microsoft-announces-new-macintosh-product-unit/ |title=Microsoft Announces New Macintosh Product Unit |author=Microsoft |date=January 7, 1997 |work=Microsoft press release |accessdate=2007-02-09 |df= }}</ref> it was initially composed of over 100 individuals from the existing cross platform Word, Excel, and PowerPoint teams in Microsoft's Office Division, and grew to 180 people the next year, with the addition of the Internet Explorer for Mac and Outlook Express for Mac teams. In 2000, it moved from the Office Division to the Specialized Devices and Applications Group inside the Entertainment and Devices Division,<ref name="insider2009"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/789019/000119312510171791/d10k.htm|title=Microsoft 2010 form 10-K|date=2010-07-30|publisher=United States Securities and Exchange Commission|page=8|accessdate=2010-08-05}}</ref> and is now back inside the Microsoft Office division.

== History ==

Prior to the creation of the Mac BU, Microsoft had developed Macintosh software, starting in 1984 with Word 1.0 for Macintosh. During the early and mid 1990s, Microsoft's Word, Excel, and Powerpoint teams simultaneously developed Windows and Macintosh versions of these applications, but after releasing Office 97 for Windows, Microsoft decided, in January 1997, to form a separate Macintosh Business Unit to focus on creating applications optimized for the Macintosh platform. In August 1997, as part of a broader partnership agreement with Apple, Microsoft committed to continue developing and supporting Macintosh software for at least 5 more years, renewing this pledge on January 10, 2006, at the Macworld Conference & Expo.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Dalrymple|first=Jim|date=10 January 2006|title=MWSF: Microsoft, Apple ink new agreement|url=https://www.macworld.com/article/1048843/applemsoftdeal.html|url-status=live|website=Macworld.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141003183512/http://www.macworld.com/article/1048843/applemsoftdeal.html |archive-date=2014-10-03 }}</ref> Ben Waldman was the Mac BU's founder and first General Manager (GM),<ref name="founded2007"/> serving from its inception in January 1997 through January 2000, when he was succeeded by Kevin Browne, who served through December 18, 2002, and Roz Ho, who served from December 18, 2002, to June 8, 2007; after that, Craig Eisler became the GM.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2002/dec02/12-18MacBUNewGMPR.mspx | title=Microsoft Appoints Seasoned Leader as Macintosh Business Unit General Manager | author=Microsoft | date=December 18, 2002 | work=Microsoft press release | accessdate=2007-02-09}}</ref><ref name="Mojo">{{cite web | url=http://blogs.msdn.com/macmojo/archive/2007/06/08/hello-from-the-new-general-manager-of-the-macintosh-business-unit-craig-eisler.aspx | title=Hello from the new General Manager of the Macintosh Business Unit - Craig Eisler | author=Craig Eisler | date=June 8, 2007|website=Blogs.msdn.com | accessdate=2007-06-10}}</ref> In October 2008, Eisler was tapped by Robbie Bach to lead all Entertainment Client efforts,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/former-microsoft-macbu-chief-now-running-entertainment-client-software/|title=Former Microsoft MacBU chief now running entertainment client software|first=Mary Jo|last=Foley|website=ZDNet|accessdate=19 December 2018}}</ref> and Eric Wilfred became the GM of MacBU.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.macworld.com/article/1136496/macbu_microsoft.html|title=Microsoft replaces Mac GM with 12-year veteran|date=31 October 2008|website=Macworld|accessdate=19 December 2018}}</ref>

== Software == APEX develops macOS and iOS versions of Microsoft Office and OneNote. Previously developed software by the Mac BU include Internet Explorer (development ceased in 2003),<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/internetexplorer/internetexplorer.aspx?pid=internetexplorer | title=Internet Explorer for Mac no longer available for download | author=Microsoft |date=October 2006 | work=Microsoft.com | accessdate=2007-03-04 |archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20070303015336/http://www.microsoft.com/mac/products/internetexplorer/internetexplorer.aspx?pid=internetexplorer |archivedate = 2007-03-03}}</ref> Virtual PC,<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/08/07/vpc/index.php | title=WWDC: Microsoft kills Virtual PC for Mac | author=Peter Cohen | date=August 7, 2006 | work=Macworld | accessdate=2007-03-04 | archive-date=2007-10-14 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014063546/http://www.macworld.com/news/2006/08/07/vpc/index.php | url-status=dead }}</ref> and the MSN for Mac OS X browser (cancelled May 31, 2005).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-to-kill-msn-for-the-mac/|title=Microsoft to kill MSN for the Mac|work=ZDNet|publisher=CBS Interactive|first=Ina|last=Fried|date=March 11, 2005|access-date=2010-08-30}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{Official website|http://www.microsoft.com/mac/}}

Category:Microsoft divisions Category:Macintosh software companies Category:1997 establishments in Washington (state) Category:Companies based in Redmond, Washington Category:Software companies established in 1997