On Monday, the Microsoft Azure Quantum service opened to the public, introducing radically different computing technologies to the second-largest cloud computing service in the world. The quantum computers built by Honeywell and IonQ are included in Azure Quantum. These devices use a design called an ion trap that uses electrically charged atoms as qubits, the fundamental element of information storage and processing used by quantum computers. In the future, Microsoft is preparing to incorporate another Quantum Circuits concept whose qubits are supercooled electrical circuits. Eventually, Microsoft would introduce to the service its own homegrown quantum computers. Its solution, known as topological qubits, promises qubits that are more robust than those used in competing designs and are designed to allow longer running of quantum computations. Microsoft hasn't yet seen its technology, however, unlike rival quantum computer manufacturers. The introduction of Azure Quantum marks the latest step in quantum computing commercialization, which aims to resolve issues beyond the scope of traditional machines. Among those testing out quantum computers are BMW, Airbus and Roche, but it will be years before it is practical for more than research projects. "We need a large, scalable, reliable quantum computer," said Krysta Svore, general manager of Microsoft Quantum. Still, there are several commercial applications being tested. BMW is seeing how well quantum computing will identify the right combination of suppliers of auto parts and the optimum location of charging stations for electric vehicles. For molecular engineering activities, such as developing new chemical processes, drugs or materials, Quantum computing holds promise. Svore hopes that quantum computing will discover a more effective form of carbon fixation, a technique that could advance the efforts of Microsoft to tackle climate change. Microsoft is also working to regulate thousands of qubits, an important miniaturization phase, on a controller chip called Gooseberry. Today's computers have at most just a few hundred qubits, but they're going to need millions to solve real problems in quantum computing. Intel has a competing quantum controller chip called Horse Ridge. Azure isn't the only …
