What Are The Four Big Tech Companies In The US?
The four big tech companies in the United States, often referred to as the "Big Four" or "Big Tech," are:
- Apple Inc.:
- Founded: 1976 by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne.
- Products and Services: Apple is known for its hardware products such as the iPhone, iPad, Mac computers, Apple Watch, and Apple TV, as well as its software services like the iOS operating system, iTunes, and the App Store. Apple is also a major player in digital services through Apple Music, Apple Pay, and iCloud.
- Microsoft Corporation:
- Founded: 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen.
- Products and Services: Microsoft is a leader in software, particularly known for its Windows operating system and Office productivity suite. It also has significant investments in cloud computing through Azure, gaming through Xbox, and other hardware like the Surface tablets and laptops.
- Amazon.com, Inc.:
- Founded: 1994 by Jeff Bezos.
- Products and Services: Amazon began as an online bookstore but quickly expanded to become the largest e-commerce platform in the world. It has also diversified into cloud computing with Amazon Web Services (AWS), streaming with Amazon Prime Video, and artificial intelligence with Alexa. Amazon also has ventures in physical retail, logistics, and more.
- Alphabet Inc. (Google):
- Founded: 1998 by Larry Page and Sergey Brin.
- Products and Services: Alphabet is the parent company of Google, which dominates the search engine market. Google also offers a range of services including YouTube, Google Maps, Gmail, and the Android operating system. Alphabet has expanded into other areas such as self-driving cars (Waymo), smart home products (Nest), and healthcare (Verily).
These companies are influential not only due to their size and market capitalization but also because of their impact on various aspects of modern life, including technology, media, commerce, and data.