Get a job <a href=" http://luisamartelo.com/index.php/children-trafficking-essay/ ">us history thesis statements</a> 1998 - Ballmer assumes role of president at Microsoft and takescharge of day-to-day operations. Prior to that, he led numerousdivisions, including sales and support and operating-systemsdevelopment.2000 - Ballmer succeeds Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates as CEOin January. The two met as students at Harvard University, whereGates lived down the hall from Ballmer. In 1975, 19-year-oldGates dropped out of Harvard and went on to found Microsoftalong with Paul Allen.2001 - In November, Microsoft enters the gaming market with theNorth American release of its Xbox gaming console, competingwith game consoles from Nintendo Co Ltd and Sony Corp..2005 - Microsoft launches the next-generation Xbox 360 videogame console in November, strengthening its foothold in thevideo game hardware market.2006 - Microsoft launches Zune portable music player inNovember. It is the first Microsoft-designed device to competein a market dominated by Apple Inc's iPod. The musicplayer does not gain enough of a market, and Microsoftdiscontinues selling it by mid-2012.2007 - In January, Microsoft unveils the Windows Vista, whichbecomes the company's least popular operating system. 2008 -- Ballmer makes an unsolicited $44.6 billion,$31-per-share, cash-and-stock takeover offer to Yahoo Inc's board. Yahoo rejects the bid as too low.2009 - Microsoft revamps its search engine to counter GoogleInc's dominance in the Web search and relatedadvertising business. In May, Ballmer reveals the new searchengine, dubbed "Bing" that is set for a June release. 2009 -- In July, Microsoft and Yahoo launch a 10-year Web searchdeal to challenge market leader Google. Under the deal, the twocompanies agree that Microsoft's Bing search engine will powersearch queries on Yahoo's sites. They have been in on-again,off-again talks since Yahoo rebuffed Microsoft's takeover bid.2010 - Microsoft releases its Windows Phone operating system formobile phones, trying to claw its way into the smartphone marketand woo consumers away from Apple's iPhone and Google's Andrioddevices.2011 - In February, Nokia and Microsoft strike a deal, in a bidto take on the smartphone market. By 2013, the partnership hasyet to produce a product that has taken market share from Googleand Apple.2012 - Microsoft, hoping for a hit, launches Surface tablets andits Windows 8 operating system that uses touch commands. Thedevices do not gain much market share in the tablet market,dominated by Apple's iPad and Samsung's Galaxy mobile devices.2013 - On August 23, Ballmer announces he will step down within12 months, surprising industry watchers.