Microsoft Azure Quantum

2021: Opening of a public access

At the beginning of February, 2021 the cloud platform became available to quantum computings of Azure Quantum to everyone. Before the limited circle of clients and partners of the company could use a product.

The equipment and software for quantum computings available to the user of Azure Quantum are provided to Microsoft and also partners, including 1QBit, by Toshiba, Honeywell Quantum Solutions, IonQ and Quantum Circuits.

Microsoft opened a public access to a cloud for quantum computings of Azure Quantum

Within Azure Quantum several tariff plans, including the free trial period lasting 1 hour are offered. Each subsequent working hour with service will cost a minimum $10 and a maximum in $900. The price varies depending on the sphere of use of the platform.

Before work with Azure Quantum the user needs to install on the computer specialized software, including the Microsoft Quantum Development Kit software package open source and the Q# language.

Transition to the version of Public Preview of Azure Quantum service became a key milestone for quantum computings and all our ecosystem — the area manager Microsoft Quantum Krysta Svore says. — Thanks to it we continue to gain steam which was observed last year that it was expressed in participation in the National quantum initiative (National Quantum Initiative), increase in number of partners of Azure Quantum and expansion of hardware opportunities regarding scaling of control circuits for qubits.

Except an opportunity to experiment with the Azure Quantum quantum computer provides service for the solution of practical tasks – optimization of cargo transportation and fight against cancer is given as an example of like those in the message of Microsoft.

Microsoft calls Azure Quantum the first-ever full-scale cloud ecosystem started in a public access for quantum solutions.^[1]

2019: Announcement

At the beginning of November, 2019 Microsoft announced Azure Quantum service by means of which clients will be able to use capacities of quantum computers from a cloud.

At the first stage users of Azure Quantum will be able to get access to three supercomputers: one of them the Honeywell company, the second — IonQ startup created, the third — Quantum Circuits company.

Microsoft announced Azure Quantum service by means of which clients will be able to use capacities of supercomputers from a cloud

Within service instruments of quantum programming which were released earlier by Microsoft (for example, Q# and QDK) and also software 1QBit will be provided.

The presentation of Azure Quantum took place at the Ignite 2019 conference. Speaking at this action, the CEO of Microsoft Satya Nadella noted that service is constructed on the model assuming use of quantum tools along with classical computers. This integration provides optimization of the algorithms capable to solve complex problems, he emphasized.

Despite all our opportunities in the field of calculations, we have large number of unresolved problems, whether it be in the field of security of foodstuff, climate change or transition to alternative energy sources. These are big problems which require more calculations. We need the multipurpose quantum computer — Nadella said.

The president and the leading analyst of Moor Insights & Strategy Patrick Moorhead welcomes approach of Microsoft to quantum computings which is based on use of the open source software and the equipment with open specifications.

The analyst and Constellation Research vice president Holger Mueller considers interesting that Microsoft masters the market of quantum computers in cooperation with the companies instead of creating such equipment independently. Azure Quantum will compete with similar cloud services from the companies D-Wave Systems, IBM and Rigetti Computing.^[2]

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