Yesterday at PDC we announced Microsoft Azure which is our Cloud-based service foundation. Azure Services Platform combines the growing power of the Web-based “cloud” and today’s computers and devices with a suite of services designed to help developers deliver compelling new experiences across the PC, Web and mobile phone or PDA.  The new platform extends to developers the ability to rapidly develop and deploy new applications into the cloud, without having to worry about how they will scale up. It gives businesses a new set of choices for how they deploy IT. And consumers benefit through new abilities to see their growing array of digital devices linked together in new and exciting ways.

Key components of the Azure Services Platform include the following:

• Windows Azure for service hosting and management, low-level scalable storage, computation and networking
• Microsoft SQL Services for a wide range of database services and reporting
• Microsoft .NET Services which are service-based implementations of familiar .NET Framework concepts such as workflow and access control
• Live Services for a consistent way for users to store, share and synchronize documents, photos, files and information across their PCs, phones, PC applications and Web sites
• Microsoft SharePoint Services and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Services for business content, collaboration and rapid solution development in the cloud

Read more about our Software + Services platform:

• Azure Services Platform (.pdf file, 2.6 MB)
• Cloud Platforms Whitepaper (.pdf file, 822 KB)
• Azure Services Platform Fact Sheet (.doc file, 40 KB)
• Windows Azure Fact Sheet (.doc file, 33 KB)
• .NET Framework 4.0 - Fact Sheet (.doc file, 73 KB)
• Oslo Fact Sheet (.doc file, 40 KB)
• Microsoft SQL Data Services Fact Sheet (.doc file, 41 KB)
• SQL Server – Developer Focus (.doc file, 33 KB)