I took this to mean that you have to use the Microsoft Authenticator app, not just that it needs to be installed on your phone.

Either way, it's just Microsoft trying to push themselves into a space and remove consumer choice.

Is there another possible reason for this?

I'm saying that as a general fan of Microsoft. I just wish they'd stop doing these things that are not beneficial to the user, and solely focused on keeping themselves relevant.

The right way to stay relevant is to make great products.

microsoft seems to be acting like its in a death spiral, wringing everylast cent it can, and cutting as much overhead as possible, while reaching out to any possible investment bubble, and a daylate and a doller short everytime trying to ape contemporary successes of competitors.

now i understand why Bill cut the fetters and walked away from the board room.

Wait, do you mean the Microsoft that is currently the most valuable company in the world? The one worth North of 3 trillion dollars?

Part of why they can push the scheme this article complains about is because M365/Entra is such a juggernaut.

It is funny I thought this as well for a long time, but they are absolutely killing it with their market which is Enterprise and Government.

Software is still garbage but the moat they have with E3 and E5 licenses is huge.

Windows 11 market share declines as users seemingly shift back to Windows 10

https://www.tomshardware.com/software/operating-systems/wind...

That's not at all what I was suggesting, and they are the most valuable company in the world.

There is no direct revenue for them in this move. It's strictly to continue to get lock-in.

Microsoft Authenticator is annoying.

It doesn't work if you have notifications off or "do not disturb" on, so I can't log on to anything in the evenings.

When in DND notifications still work, they're just under the fold and you need to swipe up to see the Microsoft Authenticator notifications.

It works fine for me with "do not disturb" on.