IonQ & Microsoft
IonQ is a publicly traded quantum computing company that provides quantum computing services through Microsoft Azure Quantum, making IonQ's trapped-ion systems accessible to Azure customers alongside other quantum hardware providers. Microsoft has integrated IonQ hardware into its Azure Quantum Elements chemistry simulation platform.
Why it matters: Microsoft's Azure Quantum strategy includes offering access to multiple quantum hardware modalities to attract researchers and enterprises exploring quantum use cases. IonQ's trapped-ion systems offer high gate fidelities that complement Microsoft's own topological qubit research, which is still in early development.