
Microsoft Lens was owned by Microsoft Corporation (Nasdaq: MSFT), the American technology company headquartered in Redmond, Washington. Originally launched as Office Lens in 2015 and renamed Microsoft Lens in 2020, the free document scanning app was retired in early 2026: it was removed from app stores on February 9, 2026 and scanning stopped working on March 9, 2026. Microsoft directs users to the OneDrive app's built-in scan feature.
Parent Company
Founded
2015
Status
Publicly Traded
Headquarters
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Lens | Microsoft Corporation | Wholly owned |
Microsoft released Office Lens in 2015 for Windows Phone, iOS, and Android, a free pocket scanner that captured documents, whiteboards, business cards, and receipts and converted them to searchable PDFs, Word files, or OneNote pages.
The app was renamed Microsoft Lens in 2020 and added features such as Immersive Reader read-aloud and handwriting OCR. It accumulated more than 92 million downloads between January 2017 and its retirement, according to Appfigures.
In August 2025 Microsoft announced Lens would be retired. The app was removed from stores on February 9, 2026 and scanning was disabled on March 9, 2026. Users with the app still installed can view old scans but cannot create new ones. Microsoft points users to the scan feature inside the OneDrive mobile app.
What does Microsoft own?
Microsoft owns a portfolio of technology brands including Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Windows, Xbox, LinkedIn (acquired 2016 for $26.2 billion), GitHub (acquired 2018 for $7.5 billion), and Activision Blizzard gaming franchises including Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, and Candy Crush (acquired 2023 for $69 billion). The company also owns Minecraft, Skype, Bing, Surface, and Dynamics 365.
Is Microsoft publicly traded?
Yes, Microsoft Corporation is publicly traded on NASDAQ under the ticker symbol MSFT. The company has been publicly traded since its IPO on March 13, 1986, at $21 per share. It is consistently one of the world's most valuable companies by market capitalization, with a market cap exceeding $3 trillion as of mid-2026.
Who founded Microsoft?
Microsoft was founded on April 4, 1975, by Bill Gates and Paul Allen in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The childhood friends developed a version of the BASIC programming language for the Altair 8800 microcomputer. Gates served as CEO until 2000, when Steve Ballmer succeeded him. Satya Nadella became CEO in February 2014.
Where is Microsoft headquartered?
Microsoft is headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA. The company moved to Redmond in 1986 after relocating from Bellevue, Washington, where it had been based since 1979. The Redmond campus spans over 500 acres and houses executive leadership, research facilities, and key business units.
How many brands does Microsoft own?
Microsoft owns approximately 15 major brands including Microsoft 365, Azure, Windows, Xbox, LinkedIn, GitHub, Microsoft Teams, Copilot, Dynamics 365, Surface, Minecraft, Skype, Bing, and Activision Blizzard franchises (Call of Duty, World of Warcraft, Candy Crush). These brands serve enterprise, consumer, and developer markets globally.
Who owns Microsoft?
Microsoft is publicly owned with no controlling shareholder. Ownership is distributed among institutional investors including Vanguard Group, BlackRock, and State Street Global Advisors. Bill Gates has significantly reduced his stake through philanthropy and share sales. CEO Satya Nadella holds a meaningful ownership position through equity compensation.
What is Microsoft's revenue?
Microsoft reported revenue of $331.8 billion for fiscal year 2026 (ended June 30, 2026), up 18% from $281.7 billion in FY2025. Operating income was $155.2 billion, up 21%. Net income was $133.7 billion, up 31% on a GAAP basis. Microsoft Cloud revenue surpassed $214 billion, growing 27%.
What is the Microsoft OpenAI partnership?
Microsoft has invested approximately $13 billion in OpenAI since 2019, making it OpenAI's exclusive cloud provider through Azure. The partnership integrates OpenAI's GPT models into Microsoft products through the Copilot AI assistant. In FY2026, Microsoft's investment in OpenAI generated $4.96 billion in net gains, reversing $3.62 billion in losses from FY2025. Regulators in the EU and UK have examined whether the relationship constitutes a de facto merger.
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe | USA (Adobe) | 2017 | Mass market | Global | All-ages | |
| Maple Media | USA (Maple Media) | 2014 | Premium | Global | All-ages | |
| Appxy | China (Appxy) | 2013 | Mass market | Global | All-ages | |
| Intsig Information | China | 2010 | Mass market | Global | All-ages | |
| Alphabet | USA (Google) | 2012 | Mass market | Global | All-ages | |
| Adobe | USA | 1993 | Premium | Global | All Genders |
Technology SoftwareOwned by Adobe Inc.
Free mobile document scanning app with AI-powered OCR, part of Adobe Document Cloud, with over 100 million downloads.
Technology SoftwareOwned by Maple Media
Mobile document scanning app originally launched as Scanbot in 2014, now operated by Maple Media, a Skybound Entertainment company.
Technology SoftwareOwned by Appxy (TinyWork Apps)
Lightweight mobile PDF scanner app developed by Appxy (TinyWork Apps) of Hangzhou, China, with over 10 million Google Play downloads.
Technology SoftwareOwned by INTSIG Information Co., Ltd.
Mobile document scanning app with OCR capabilities, owned by INTSIG Information Co., Ltd. of Shanghai, China.
Technology SoftwareOwned by Alphabet Inc.
Google's cloud storage and file sync service with more than 2 billion users, including a built-in document scanning feature.
Technology SoftwareOwned by Adobe Inc.
PDF creation, editing, and document management software developed by Adobe Inc. Launched in 1993 alongside the PDF format. Now includes Acrobat Studio and AI Assistant features.
Market Positioning: Microsoft Lens competes with 6 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Microsoft Corporation, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Technology SoftwareOwned by INTSIG Information Co., Ltd.
Mobile document scanning app with OCR capabilities, owned by INTSIG Information Co., Ltd. of Shanghai, China.
CamScanner is privately owned, unlike Microsoft Lens which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Technology SoftwareOwned by Maple Media
Mobile document scanning app originally launched as Scanbot in 2014, now operated by Maple Media, a Skybound Entertainment company.
SwiftScan is privately owned, unlike Microsoft Lens which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Technology SoftwareOwned by Appxy (TinyWork Apps)
Lightweight mobile PDF scanner app developed by Appxy (TinyWork Apps) of Hangzhou, China, with over 10 million Google Play downloads.
Tiny Scanner is privately owned, unlike Microsoft Lens which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Technology SoftwareOwned by ByteDance Ltd.
Mobile and desktop video editing app developed by ByteDance in 2020, reaching over 300 million monthly active users globally.
CapCut is privately owned, unlike Microsoft Lens which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Technology SoftwareOwned by HERE Technologies
Consumer mapping and navigation app developed by HERE Technologies, providing turn-by-turn directions, transit information, and offline maps in 196 countries.
HERE WeGo is privately owned, unlike Microsoft Lens which is under a publicly traded parent company.
Technology SoftwareOwned by IMO Inc.
Free instant messaging and communication app offering voice calls, video calls, text messaging, and file sharing with focus on data efficiency for emerging markets.
IMO is privately owned, unlike Microsoft Lens which is under a publicly traded parent company.
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