Microsoft MVP creates site to remind you of all the brands Redmond replaced

A Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) named Loryan Strant has developed a website called The Microsoft Rebrand Registry to provide a comprehensive list of all the product names Microsoft has used over the years. Strant created this site because he believes it is a valuable resource and hopes it brings a chuckle to visitors. The website currently lists 72 Microsoft products and 158 names they have had throughout history.

Strant's motivation for creating the Rebrand Registry stems from conversations he had with other MVPs about Microsoft's frequent product name changes. He decided to take action after those discussions. The site includes analysis of Microsoft's branding practices, which indicates that a product's name typically lasts for an average of two years and eleven months before being replaced.

So far, eight products have undergone three name changes: Azure AI Search, Azure App Service, Azure DevOps, Azure SQL Database, Foundry Tools, Microsoft 365 Copilot app, Microsoft Configuration Manager, and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. Strant has also attempted to predict which Microsoft products may experience a name change soon, considering factors like the length of time the current name has been in use, prior names, and the frequency of name changes within the same product family.

The website only covers products that have survived, and Strant admits that the analysis is biased towards Microsoft's current products. The creator also noted that he hasn't figured out how to handle successor products, like when Skype for Business was discontinued and replaced by Teams.

The Rebrand Registry was built using vibe coding tools, with Strant custom-building the site himself. He validated the data rigorously and avoided relying on AI tools for accuracy. Strant has received mostly positive feedback about his websites, both online and through in-person meetings at events. He has heard that some Microsoft employees appreciate his efforts because the company has not preserved the same data his sites document, and Strant hopes that people will find his sites useful and entertaining.