Bjarne Stroustrup originally developed the C++ programming language in 1983 at Bell labs in order to extend the functionality of the C programming language. Among the major improvements made the language were: object-oriented program structures, access modifiers, virtual functions, operator overloading, exception handling and templating.
ISO finally agreed on a standard version of the language in 1998. The most recent standard approved by ISO was released in 2003. A free, standards-compliant compiler exists for most platforms called "GCC". GCC is the Gnu C Compiler which has been used to develop a majority of the software running on Linux.
Along with the language improvements, a standard I/O library was developed for accessing the filesystem. Another improvement, added the standard template library (sometime abbreviated STL). Today, companies such as Boost are pushing the language even further by providing powerful class libraries and working with standards organizations such as ISO.
C++ is still popular today although companies such as Microsoft are attempting to extend upon the language by giving us C# (pronounched C#). C# combines the interpretive features of the Java language and the shortened syntax of C++ to provide an enticing alternative. However, since the Dot.NET framework only exists on windows, it can't really compete as a universal language.