Microsoft releases pricing details for SQL Azure Database and announces plans for a CTP later in 2009. The announcement comes alongside the news that Microsoft will make its Azure public cloud platform available for free until its Professional Developers Conference in November.Microsoft officials provided a sneak peak at the road map and
pricing information for SQL Azure Database at Microsoft's Worldwide Partner Conference July 14 as they talked
up their overall plans for the Windows Azure platform.
Microsoft SQL Azure and
SQL Azure Databaseformerly known as SQL Services and SQL Data Services,
respectivelyrepresent Microsoft's attempt to push the capabilities of SQL
Server into the cloud. Through the Windows Azure platform, SQL Azure Database
will deliver traditional
relational database service in the cloud and support T-SQL over TDS
(Tabular Data Stream) protocol, according to Microsoft.
According to the company, SQL Azure Database will be available in two editions:
the Web Edition Database and the Business Edition Database. The Web Edition is
aimed at customers building custom Web applications, while the Business Edition
will be targeted toward organizations building ISV-packaged
line-of-business and enterprise applications, Microsoft said.
At the moment, the plan is to make a CTP (community technology preview) for SQL
Azure Database available in August, and have it ship in the second half of
2009. Click here to
register for the CTP.
In addition to its CTP plans, Microsoft released pricing information. With
the Web Edition, customers can buy up to 1GB of T-SQL (Transact-SQL)-based
database space and up to 10 query hours for $9.99 per month. Business Edition customers
can purchase up to 10GB of T-SQL-based relational database space and up to 100
query hours for $99.99 per month. Bandwidth can be purchased at a price of 10
cents in and 15 cents out per GB.
"SQL Azure Database offers small to medium-sized businesses, Web 2.0
and ASP.Net developers a pay-as-you-grow, secure, scalable and highly available
database service with business continuity and minimal infrastructure cost,"
according to the Microsoft SQL Server News Blog. "Microsoft's business
partners can develop and offer cloud-based services themselves, powered by SQL
Azure and Windows Azure multitenant capabilities."
Introduced at the 2008 Professional Developers Conference, Windows Azure is Microsoft's answer to similar moves by Google and
Amazon.com, and is meant to help Microsoft challenge both companies head-to-head.
Microsoft plans to make Windows
Azure available for free until its Professional Developers Conference in
November.
/ 2 
