Cloud Computing: Microsoft`s Windows Azure Cloud: 8 Recent Upgrades

Microsoft on Dec. 12 announced several updates to the Windows Azure platform, including new open-source capabilities, SQL Azure database enhancements and a simplified Windows Azure billing and management experience. With the new open-source capabilities, customers will benefit from the first ever Windows Azure software development kit, including language libraries for Node.js and support for hosting, storage and service bus. There will also be an Apache Hadoop-based service for Windows Azure and a number of impactful usability and functional enhancements to Java capabilities. With the new SQL Azure database features, the maximum database size for SQL Azure will triple, moving from 50GB to 150GB. In addition, the database offerings include a new price cap for the largest SQL Azure databases, reducing the effective price 67 percent per gigabyte. And in enhancing the billing and management experience, Microsoft has made it such that updates will include a truly free 90-day trial period, including spending caps that simplify the sign-up process. Additionally, customers can check out the new Windows Azure Management Portal to view real-time usage and billing details. For a related article click here.