Microsoft seemed to have an identity crisis for its identity service. Here’s all the names for Microsoft’s login system over the years:

• Microsoft Passport (1998–2001) — Originally launched after Microsoft acquired Firefly, a music-discovery social network that had been promoting its user database as an online authentication product called "Passport."
• .NET Passport (2001–2006) — Rebranded as part of Microsoft's big ".NET" initiative, positioning it as part of a broader internet services platform.
• Microsoft Passport Network (2006) — A brief transitional name, seemingly a last-ditch attempt to market it as a broader community of sites.
• Windows Live ID (2006–2012) — Rebranded alongside the launch of Windows Live services, shifting focus toward consumer appeal and device ecosystems (especially Xbox).
• Microsoft Account (2012–present) — Renamed in 2012 as Microsoft shifted its focus to the cloud and began building apps for platforms beyond Windows.