undefined | Better HN

0 pointsSgtBastard6mo ago0 comments

Technically you are correct but the commenter you’re responding to means that with the amount of Western Governments spend on MS products and services, the are a d facto (if not de jure) state backed enterprise.

0 comments

os2warpman6mo ago

US government spending is (for now) easy to track, and you can get totals for spending by corporate entity.

In total across the entire US federal government, $518.8 million was paid to Microsoft for products and services in 2024. That is approximately 0.21% of their total annual revenue.

I assert that the threshold for "state sponsored" is well in excess of 0.21% of annual revenue.

Federal Spending: https://www.usaspending.gov/recipient/dd77b7c3-663e-cb91-229...

Microsoft Annual Revenue: https://www.microsoft.com/investor/reports/ar24/index.html

hx86mo ago

How much money have states and local governments spent on Microsoft products and services? How much money has Microsoft collected from companies that are providing products and services to US governmental agencies?

Government spending is not easy to track. This doesn't even begin to touch on non-monetary benefits Microsoft receives with government influence.

howdyhowdy1236mo ago

Now you are really starting to bend over backwards. The claim was that MS was a state enterprise. It's still not even close.

1 more reply

monkeyelite6mo ago

If you look at Ford and Intel you would find similar numbers - but they are clearly quasi state entities.

howdyhowdy1236mo ago

Exactly

17186274406mo ago

Yes, but the power play seams to be more like MS backes several states.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 comments

os2warpman6mo ago

US government spending is (for now) easy to track, and you can get totals for spending by corporate entity.

In total across the entire US federal government, $518.8 million was paid to Microsoft for products and services in 2024. That is approximately 0.21% of their total annual revenue.

I assert that the threshold for "state sponsored" is well in excess of 0.21% of annual revenue.

Federal Spending: https://www.usaspending.gov/recipient/dd77b7c3-663e-cb91-229...

Microsoft Annual Revenue: https://www.microsoft.com/investor/reports/ar24/index.html

hx86mo ago

Government spending is not easy to track. This doesn't even begin to touch on non-monetary benefits Microsoft receives with government influence.

howdyhowdy1236mo ago

Now you are really starting to bend over backwards. The claim was that MS was a state enterprise. It's still not even close.

1 more reply

monkeyelite6mo ago

If you look at Ford and Intel you would find similar numbers - but they are clearly quasi state entities.

howdyhowdy1236mo ago

Exactly

17186274406mo ago

Yes, but the power play seams to be more like MS backes several states.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse