In August we kicked off a USA developers offer with a way to learn Windows Azure Platform and SQL Azure without the need to supply a credit card number. Well, get ready, because if you request an Azure pass now you can get almost a...

I wrote about this a while back. For small businesses that are trying to keep costs down really low and who want to save money, there is (almost) free from Microsoft when it comes to website hosting. Nancy has helped us update some initial how-to content...

A few months ago Intuit and Microsoft made an announcement regarding the Intuit Partner Platform (IPP) and the Windows Azure platform. The goal was to broaden the selection for small businesses from a variety of SaaS applications to solve their critical...

The team I work has several sessions taking place at the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) July 11-15. Stop on by to not just listen, but interact with your ideas and experiences in the cloud. Plus, feel free to schedule time to chat 1:1 at...

  For those developers looking for ways to reach their customers to tell them about the latest in cloud technologies, www.pinpoint.com looks to be one place to go. I did a search on “Azure” and found quite a few Windows Azure and SQL Azure applications...

I get asked many times by developers about Microsoft’s “cloud” efforts and technologies and where they might “plug in”. I’ve found this rather simplistic response helps steer developers in the right direction. Developer options in the era of the “cloud...

A couple of hosting solutions case studies went live recently and they discuss the virtues of leveraging Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V and Systems Center Virtual Machine Manager. The hosting companies, Decision Logic and Adhost are delivering cloud-based...

I’ve read a fair amount of requests for a “test/dev” account on Windows Azure and maybe SQL Azure. The Developer Accelerator Offers may address some of those requests. If you sign up for six months, you get Azure usage for test/dev purposes for around...

The Code Project have kicked off another one of their Windows Azure Platform contests.* Looks like a great way to promote your applications and possibly get some great PR. Just email a screenshot of your Azure application to Code Project. http://www.codeproject...

If you’re a developer working on applications that provide solutions to local and regional public sector type organizations, like these applications: http://flutrackerapp.cloudapp.net/ http://miami311.cloudapp.net/   http://countymap.cloudapp.net...

My colleague, John M. sent these over – some really great Channel 9 videos that cover Windows Azure Platform overviews, introductions and real-world developer interviews: Building an Azure Business Practice http://channel9.msdn.com/posts/brianjo/Building...

Rapid response to fast changing business environments is pretty much the business norm these days. Helping businesses respond are agile IT infrastructures that are delivered from secure, highly available data centers. Hosting providers can add more value...

There is a large amount of new technical and sales training content emerging about Windows Azure. Plus, Microsoft partners are getting in on the act with some upcoming webinars. There is a brand new virtual lab designed for developers who work with PHP...

Independent software vendors (ISVs) get help from the experts in delivering your applications over the Web. Experienced Microsoft hosting partners can ease the commercial, financial, and technical challenges you might encounter while adding service-based...

There are several efforts underway to provide online training on Windows Azure. Here's an approach that will contribute back to Stanford's Folding@home distributed computing project. Elevate your skills with Windows Azure in online hands-on workshop ...

There are some great resources available to guide a developer to create cloud applications. See for example, these: For USA developers , no-cost phone and email support during and after the Windows Azure virtual boot camp with the Front Runner for Windows...

Ever wondered what’s involved to get a PHP app to work with Windows Azure? We took a crack at explaining to PHP developers how to work with Windows Azure. PHP on Windows Azure Quickstart Guide - Creating and Deploying PHP Projects on Windows Azure The...

Though not affiliated with Microsoft, this contest from The Code Project* is a great way to learn Windows Azure and enter to possibly get a Flip MinoHD camcorder. Learn and enter to possibly win… I like that. http://www.codeproject.com/Competitions/402...

Hosters Can Scale Quickly When hosters partner with the Windows Azure Platform, they have access to the three primary elements that allow developers to increase their time to market and enhance scalability. Windows Azure operating system as an online...

There are several great remote technical support solutions available. Often, however, these solutions do not take in to account the completely non-technical end user and either these users' technophobia or the users' emotional state (just fix the darned...

http://www.microsoft.com/casestudies/Case_Study_Detail.aspx?CaseStudyID=4000006685 It was great working with these folk: sharpcloud took advantage of the Front Runner for Windows Azure Platform . Front Runner is an early adopter program for Microsoft...

If you have used Windows Azure recently and want to share your experience and provide constructive feedback, let the Windows Azure team know by responding to the customer email you may have received recently (this email was sent to customers who would...

Code Project just kicked off their newest monthly contest* for developers that want to get their feet wet on Windows Azure and SQL Azure . It looks like Code Project even increased the chance of winning by offering three netbooks. So, get your feet wet...

One of the great benefits of leveraging Microsoft technologies to provide hosting solutions for customers is that the big wins get great exposure to millions of potential new customers. These hosting solutions company case studies are some great recent...

When hosting solutions companies are trying to connect with small to medium businesses, there can often be a disconnect . Hosters want to sell the coolest dedicated, virtualized, .NET, PHP, Silverlight-based technologies. The small to medium business...