"Microsoft’s Developer Relations Group, formed in 1984, had scaled by 1998 to support more than 40,000 developers annually through education, support, events, publications and marketing assistance."
Direct source - Microsoft’s November 11, 1998 announcement says the Developer Relations Group was formed in 1984, worked with more than 40,000 developers annually, involved more than 2,000 people worldwide, and funded developer education and support including conferences, publications and marketing assistance.
View Source