Observe ZDNET: Add us as a most popular supply on Google.
ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Workplace suite has not been rebranded to Microsoft 365 Copilot.
- The net-based model was renamed Microsoft 365 in 2022.
- Microsoft nonetheless has a foul fame for naming and renaming its merchandise.
Microsoft has a foul fame with regards to naming its services. Generally the corporate will choose a reputation for a product after which change it. Different instances, it’ll use the identical title or an analogous title for various merchandise. The names themselves might be complicated and cumbersome. All of that explains why many individuals have jumped to conclusions over the alleged renaming of Microsoft Workplace.
Current posts on such websites as X, Reddit, and Hacker Information have claimed that Microsoft has renamed its acquainted Workplace product to Microsoft 365 Copilot, as reported by The Verge. Although the posters are in error, the error is simple sufficient to make. And it is primarily Microsoft’s personal fault.
The product web page for the Microsoft 365 Copilot app states the next proper off the bat: “The Microsoft 365 Copilot app (previously Workplace) permits you to create, share, and collaborate multi functional place along with your favourite apps, now together with Copilot.” With most individuals doubtless assuming that Workplace refers back to the in style software program suite, the implication right here is that the Workplace title has been changed by an AI-infused model. However that is not the case.
The Workplace talked about on the product web page is definitely the web site by which you’ll be able to entry free internet variations of all of the core applications. That website additionally proclaims: “Get free entry to Phrase, Excel, and PowerPoint utilizing Microsoft 365 for the online (previously Workplace).”
It will get an increasing number of complicated
Like different Microsoft merchandise, Workplace did bear a rebranding, however that occurred just a few years in the past. In 2022, Microsoft rechristened Workplace to Microsoft 365. The thought was to market the suite as a cloud-based product, reasonably than only a desktop productiveness program. The corporate additionally wished to differentiate the subscription-based and web-based merchandise from their desktop counterpart.
So as to add to the confusion, Microsoft added Copilot to Microsoft 365 in 2024. Together with that transfer got here a value improve to the Microsoft 365 Private and Household subscriptions. Microsoft in the end botched the whole course of, creating additional confusion amongst its customers.
In keeping with that transfer, nonetheless, the corporate rebranded Microsoft 365 to Microsoft 365 Copilot at first of 2025. Nonetheless, the product web page for the three fundamental shopper subscriptions nonetheless refers to them as Microsoft 365 Private, Household, and Premium, with no Copilot as a part of the title. So who can say what the official title is now?
However wait, there’s extra confusion. The title Workplace nonetheless exists, although it refers strictly to the one-time buy desktop model, with the most recent iteration being Microsoft Workplace 2024. Microsoft 365 or Microsoft 365 Copilot refers back to the subscription and internet variations with OneDrive, Groups, and different instruments thrown in.
And if you need much more confusion, there is a separate product known as Microsoft 365 Copilot. One other model of the free Copilot chatbot, this one comes with Microsoft 365 and is designed that will help you deal with duties within the office.
Maybe there’s some inside logic inside Microsoft that explains its ever-changing and complex naming conventions. As for me, I’ve now received a headache simply interested by all of it.
