Google Maps Keeps Lake Ontario Name for Canadian Users

Tech giant Microsoft announced today that the name of its new cloud‑storage service will remain “Lake Ontario” for Canadian users, even though the United States has been instructed to adopt a different designation. The change follows a decision by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC) that requires all U.S. customers to use the name “Lake Erie” for the same product. The FCC’s ruling was based on a regulatory review that identified potential trademark conflicts with an existing U.S. service.

Microsoft said the dual‑name approach will not affect the service’s functionality or pricing. Canadian customers will continue to access the cloud platform under the Lake Ontario branding, while U.S. users will see the Lake Erie designation in all marketing, documentation, and user interfaces. The company confirmed that the underlying technology and security features will remain unchanged across both regions.

The company’s spokesperson emphasized that the decision to keep the Lake Ontario name in Canada was made to maintain consistency for its existing user base and to comply with local regulatory requirements. The FCC’s mandate will take effect on September 1, and Microsoft will roll out the name change for U.S. customers in the coming weeks.