The Windows Azure team has announced change in pricing for the Windows Azure platform that will provide significant cost savings for customers whose cloud applications experience substantial inbound traffic, and customers interested in migrating large quantities of existing data to the cloud.

For billing periods that begin on or after July 1, 2011, all inbound data transfers for both peak and off-peak times will be free.

The announcement was made on the team blog at Announcing Free Ingress for all Windows Azure Customers starting July 1st, 2011.

Tags: Windows Azure

On June 28, 2011, Steve Ballmer, chief executive officer, Microsoft announced the availability of Office 365, Microsoft’s next generation productivity service. Office 365 is the culmination of more than 20 years of experience delivering world class productivity solutions to people and businesses of all sizes. It brings together Office, SharePoint, Exchange, and Lync in an always-up-to-date cloud service. Customers may try it and buy it at www.office365.com.

Tags: Office 365

Full post in the AppFabric team blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/appfabric/archive/2011/06/20/announcing-the-windows-azure-appfabric-june-ctp.aspx

Windows Azure AppFabric team announced the release of the Windows Azure AppFabric June CTP which includes capabilities that make it easy for developers to build, deploy, manage and monitor multi-tier applications across web, business logic and database tiers as a single logical entity on the Windows Azure Platform.

This CTP release consists:

• AppFabric Developer Tools – Enhancements to Visual Studio that enable to visually design and build end-to-end applications on the Windows Azure platform.
• AppFabric Application Manager – Powerful, yet easy way to host and manage n-tier applications that span web, middle and data-tier through the entire application lifecycle including deployment, configuration, monitoring and troubleshooting. The Application Manager includes a comprehensive application management portal that is powered by a REST API for monitoring the health of your n-tier application and performing management operations on the running applications.
• Composition Model – A set of .NET Framework extensions for composing applications on the Windows Azure platform. This builds on the familiar Azure Service Model concepts and adds new capabilities for describing and integrating the components of an application. The AppFabric Developer Tools leverage the composition model to create an application manifest that is used by the AppFabric Application Manager at deployment time to understand the application structure and metadata.
• Support for running Custom Code, WCF, WF – Formal support for executing Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) on Windows Azure and the composition of Windows Communication Foundation (WCF) and WF services, as well as custom code, into a composite application. In addition, it provides enhanced development, deployment, management and monitoring support for WCF and WF services.

You can read more details in this blog post: Introducing Windows Azure AppFabric Applications and the Channel 9 announcement video.

To learn more please use the following resources:

• Composing and Managing Applications with Windows Azure AppFabric video which is part of the Windows Azure AppFabric Learning Series available on CodePlex.
• Watch the relevant TechEd sessions:
  • Introduction to Windows Azure AppFabric Composite Applications
  • A Lap around Windows Azure AppFabric
  • Workflow in Windows Azure AppFabric
• MDSN Documentation
• Visit the Windows Azure AppFabric website
• Visit the Windows Azure AppFabric Developer page
• Read the Windows Azure AppFabric Overview Whitepaper

AppFabric.tv – Announcing the Windows Azure AppFabric June CTP

Tags: Windows Azure, Windows Azure AppFabric

Windows Azure SDK for PHP version 3.0 has been released. This Open Source SDK gives PHP developers a “speed dial” library to take full advantage of Windows Azure’s coolest features. On top of many improvements and bug fixes for this version (see the list from Maarten Balliauw’s preview), we’re particularly excited about the new service management possibilities and the new logging infrastructure.

Also the Windows Azure Sample Kit for PHP was released. It is a new project hosted on github that will be the primary repository for all sample php code / apps that developers can use to learn how to take advantage of the various features of Windows Azure in php. Today we are releasing two samples to the repository: the Guestbook application (example of how to use the Windows Azure storage objects – blobs, queues and tables as well as a simple web/worker pattern) and “Deal of the Day” (more on this one later).

For more information, see New SDK and Sample Kit demonstrates how to leverage the scalability of Windows Azure with PHP.

Tags: Windows Azure

A new toolkit helps you join Windows Phone applications with Windows Azure.Windows Azure Toolkit for Windows Phone 7 helps ease the building Windows Phone 7 applications that use services running on Windows Azure.

The Windows Azure Toolkit for Windows Phone 7 is designed to make it easier for you to build mobile applications that leverage cloud services running in Windows Azure. The toolkit includes Visual Studio project templates for Windows Phone 7 and Windows Azure, class libraries optimized for use on the phone, sample applications, and documentation.

The toolkit provides you with:

• Binaries for your Windows Phone 7 applications
• Project templates to optimize new phone application creation
• Sample applications in both C# and VB.NET
• A dependency checker that checks the prerequisites required by the toolkit
• Setup and configuration documentation, toolkit content review, a getting started walkthrough, and troubleshooting tips

For more information, see NOW AVAILABLE: Windows Azure Toolkit for Windows Phone 7.

Tags: Windows Azure, Windows Phone 7

There are 2 new series of Hand-On-Labs related to Windows Azure.

The first, Moving Application to the Cloud & the second, Developing Applications for the Cloud. Download and try!

Tags: Windows Azure

The Windows Azure Platform Training Kit includes a comprehensive set of technical content including hands-on labs, presentations, and demos that are designed to help you learn how to use the Windows Azure platform including: Windows Azure, SQL Azure and the Windows Azure AppFabric.
The December update provides new and updated hands-on labs, demo scripts, and presentations for the Windows Azure November 2010 enhancements and the Windows Azure Tools for Microsoft Visual Studio 1.3. These new hands-on labs demonstrate how to use new Windows Azure features such as Virtual Machine Role, Elevated Privileges, Full IIS, and more. This release also includes hands-on labs that were updated in late October and November 2010 to demonstrate some of the new Windows Azure AppFabric services that were announced at the Professional Developers Conference (http://microsoftpdc.com) including the Windows Azure AppFabric Access Control Service, Caching Service, and the Service Bus.
Some of the specific changes with the December update of the training kit include:

• [Updated] All demos were updated to the Azure SDK 1.3
• New demo script] Deploying and Managing SQL Azure Databases with Visual Studio 2010 Data-tier Applications
• [New presentation] Identity and Access Control in the Cloud
• [New presentation] Introduction to SQL Azure Reporting
• [New presentation] Advanced SQL Azure
• [New presentation] Windows Azure Marketplace DataMarket
• New presentation] Managing, Debugging, and Monitoring Windows Azure
• [New presentation] Building Low Latency Web Applications
• [New presentation] Windows Azure AppFabric Service Bus
• [New presentation] Windows Azure Connect
• [New presentation] Moving Applications to the Cloud with VM Role

Please visit the Download Page for more information

Tags: Windows Azure

From SQL Azure blog:

http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlazure/archive/2010/10/28/10081543.aspx

Number of exciting new features related to SQL Azure which are designed to further build out our platform and reduce complexity in building and managing applications. Today we are announcing.

• SQL Azure Reporting CTP:  SQL Azure Reporting enables developers to enhance their applications by embedding cloud based reports on information stored in a SQL Azure database, thereby allowing the users of these applications to gain greater insight on their line of business data without having to worry about setting up machines or instances.  Developers can author reports using familiar SQL Server Reporting Services tools and then use these reports in their applications which may be on-premises or in the cloud.
• SQL Azure Data Sync CTP 2:  At PDC we are also announcing an update to SQL Azure Data Sync to enable synchronization of entire databases or specific tables between on-premises SQL Server and SQL Azure,  giving customers greater flexibility in building solutions that span on-premises and the cloud. Customers can now synchronize SQL Azure databases across datacenters as well as with on-premises SQL Server.
• Database manager for SQL Azure: As part of the Windows Azure platform developer portal refresh, we are announcing a new lightweight, web-based database management and querying capability for SQL Azure databases. This capability was formerly referred to as “Project Houston”, and allows customers to have a streamlined experience within the web browser without having to download any tools.
• Customers can immediately register to get more information about the new capabilities here. Limited CTP programs of the new SQL Azure Reporting and Data Sync services will be available by the end of 2010. Invitations to participate and try out the services will be sent as we continue to build out capacity.

Tags: PDC10, SQL Azure

New announcements about Windows Azure at PDC 10. Read the full post at Windows Azure blog: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/windowsazure/archive/2010/10/28/you-spoke-we-listened-and-responded.aspx 

Improved Support for Enterprises

We are adding the following capabilities to Windows Azure in order to make it easier to integrate resources between the cloud and traditional IT systems, and provide better support for existing Windows applications.

• Support for more types of new and existing Windows applications will soon be available with the introduction of the Virtual Machine (VM) role. Customers can move more existing applications to Windows Azure reducing the need to make costly code or deployment changes.
• Development of more complete applications using Windows Azure is now possible with the introduction of Elevated Privileges and Full IIS. The new Elevated Privileges functionality for the Web and Worker role will provide developers with greater flexibility and control in developing, deploying and running cloud applications. The Web role will soon provide Full IIS functionality, which enables multiple IIS sites per Web role and the ability to install IIS modules.
• Remote Desktop functionality enables customers to connect to a running instance of their application or service in order to monitor activity and troubleshoot common problems.
• We’re also introducing a range of new networking functionality under the Windows Azure Virtual Network name. Windows Azure Connect (formerly Project Sydney), which enables a simple and easy-to-manage mechanism to setup IP-based network connectivity between on-premises and Windows Azure resources, is the first Virtual Network feature that we’ll be making available as a CTP later this year.

With the introduction of these enterprise-ready service enhancements, both enterprise customers and the systems integrators who support their businesses can use Windows Azure to extend and optimize their IT capabilities.

More Affordable Platform Access

Cost is one of the key drivers of cloud adoption, and Windows Azure will soon include an offering that provides access to compute instances at a substantially lower cost. This new ‘Extra Small’ Windows Azure Instance will provide developers with a cost-effective training and development environment. Developers can also use the ‘Extra Small’ instance to prototype cloud solutions at a lower cost. We are also announcing a new "Cloud Essentials Pack" offer that replaces our existing partner offers. This offer provide free access to the Windows Azure platform including 750 extra small instance hours and a SQL Azure database per month at no charge, and will be available to Microsoft Partner Network members beginning January 7, 2011.

Better Developer and IT Professional Experience
We heard that while you appreciated the reduced management burden that the cloud offers, you also place a high value on retaining the flexibility to see and control how your applications and services are running in the cloud. To address these needs, we are announcing the following developer and operator enhancements at PDC 10:

• A completely redesigned Silverlight based Windows Azure portal to ensure an improved and intuitive user experience
• Access to new diagnostic information including the ability to click on a role to see role type, deployment time and last reboot time
• A new sign-up process that dramatically reduces the number of steps needed to sign up for Windows Azure.
• New scenario based Windows Azure Platform forums to help answer questions and share knowledge more efficiently.

One of the most exciting things we’re announcing today is the new Windows Azure Marketplace, which is an online marketplace for you to share, buy and sell building block components, premium data sets, training and services needed to build Windows Azure platform applications. This is a great way to help you quickly create and monetize applications on Windows Azure. We are delivering the first section in the Windows Azure Marketplace, DataMarket, (formerly Microsoft Codename "Dallas") which is now commercially available, and will enable you to leverage public data in your applications, creating richer experiences for your users. Already there are more than 35 data providers offering subscriptions on DataMarket. Visit the DataMarket (Dallas) blog for more information. A beta of the application section of the Windows Azure Marketplace will be available later this year.

With these investments, Windows Azure provides the broadest range of access and connection to the cloud, and a differentiated model for cross premises connectivity. We’re excited to continue working with you to build out the most comprehensive cloud platform on the market and appreciate the feedback you have provided thus far – keep that feedback coming! All the features above will be available to customers by the end of the calendar year 2010. The VM role and Extra Small instance will be available in Beta, while Windows Azure Connect will be available in CTP. All other features will be Generally Available by the end of the year. If you would like to be notified when these Windows Azure features are available, and when we’re accepting registrations for the VM role and Extra Small instance Beta as well as the Windows Azure Connect CTP, please click here.

Coming in CY2011

At PDC 10, we are also announcing that the following important features will be made available to customers in CY2011.

• Dynamic Content Caching: With this new functionality, the Windows Azure CDN can be configured to cache content returned from a Windows Azure application.
• CDN SSL Delivery: Users of the Windows Azure CDN will now have the capability to deliver content via encrypted channels with SSL/TLS.
• Improved global connectivity: We will add new Windows Azure CDN nodes in the Middle East and improve existing connectivity in the US and Brazil.
• Constructing VM role images in the cloud: We will enable developers and IT Professionals to build VM images for VM role directly in the cloud. This will be offered as an alternative to the current approach of building images on-premises and uploading them over the Internet.
• Support for Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 SP2 in the VM role.
• Improved Java Enablement: Microsoft plans to make Java a first-class citizen on Windows Azure. This process will involve improving Java performance, Eclipse tooling and client libraries for Windows Azure. Customers can choose the Java environment of their choice and run it on Windows Azure.

Since this year’s PDC is a fully virtualized event, there is much more guidance and information available to you online. To attend PDC 2010 virtually, please visit: http://www.microsoftpdc.com/.  For additional information about today’s news, check out the PDC Virtual Press Room.   

Tags: AppFabric, PDC10, SQL Azure, Windows Azure

Hosting of ALM in the cloud as software as a service is gradually becoming more and more popular.  The vision, of course, is ALM as a seamless service – making it really easy to get started, easy to scale, easy to operate, easy to access, …

Read Brian Harry’s post here.

Tags: PDC10, Team System 2010, TFS, Visual Studio 2010, Windows Azure