<Tr> <Th> Owner </Th> <Td> Microsoft </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Website </Th> <Td> account.microsoft.com </Td> </Tr> <P> Microsoft account or MSA (previously known as Microsoft Passport, . NET Passport, Microsoft Passport Network, and Windows Live ID) is a single sign - on web service developed and provided by Microsoft that allows users to log into websites (like Outlook.com), devices (e.g. Windows 10 computers and tablets, Windows Phones, or Xbox consoles), and applications (including Visual Studio) using one account . </P> <P> Microsoft Passport, the predecessor to Windows Live ID, was originally positioned as a single sign - on service for all web commerce . Microsoft Passport received much criticism . A prominent critic was Kim Cameron, the author of The Laws of Identity, who questioned Microsoft Passport in its violations of those laws . He has since become Microsoft's Chief Identity Architect and helped address those violations in the design of the Windows Live ID identity meta - system . As a consequence, Windows Live ID is not positioned as the single sign - on service for all web commerce, but as one choice of many among identity systems . </P>

What is the purpose of a microsoft account