Microsoft's Windows Azure Goes Live

Microsoft officially opened Windows Azure, it's cloud computing platform as a service (PaaS), to the general public. It is now generally available in 21 countries around the globe. Microsoft is looking to extend its reach and further enhance its developer and independent software vendor (ISV) communities with Windows Azure. Attempting to keep pace and overtake its rivals in the cloud computing platform market--notably Google (via Google App Engine), Salesforce.com (via Force.com), IBM (via IBM Cloud)--Microsoft noted that customers and partners have already begun building and deploying applications on the Windows Azure platform.

The Windows Azure platform enables developers and ISVs to create and deploy cloud computing applications and services. Developers and ISVs get access to the same Microsoft development environment that they're used to, but no longer have to worry about buying and managing the infrastructure to support the environment. It consists of three core components: Windows Azure, which handles the compute resources; SQL Azure, a cloud-based relational database service built on SQL Server; and AppFabric, which enables the connectivity between applications in the cloud or on-premise.

According to the official Windows Azure Team Blog:

"Starting today, customers and partners in countries across the globe will be able to launch their Windows Azure and SQL Azure production applications and services with the support of the full Service Level Agreements (SLAs). The Windows Azure platform AppFabric Service Bus and Access Control will continue to be free until April 2010 for those that sign up for a commercial subscription. Additionally Microsoft codename "Dallas" will continue to be in a free CTP".

It's early days in the cloud computing platform wars, but the official release of Windows Azure marks a milestone. With it the largest software vendor and platform in the world has instantly staked its claim on maintaining and growing its developer and ISV ecosystem. These ecosystems are the lifeblood of the company. Microsoft seems to be saying that it understands the winds of change.

Contrast this with Oracle's approach--after dropping the Sun Cloud--and one can see the battle lines being drawn once again. Apparently, Larry Ellison and company think cloud computing is a non-starter. Or, that they've been doing it forever, just under a new name. But, the reality is that developers and ISVs who hope to capture the momentum of cloud computing will need a cloud-based development environment. Windows Azure is Microsoft's answer to that call. Will developers flock there? Many already have.