Follow up- Azure Cloud Computing

I have been posting about cloud computing in some of my recent blogs. I have talked about the MySQL new feature that allows the database users to use a more dynamic language that is transferable among the in-cloud database and so on. I have then come across the introduction of Azure in which i mentioned it would be soon. Well, it's official now; Microsoft Azure will launch on January first of the coming year 2010. Furthermore, I continued to talk about one of the largest database centers which is located in Chicago. We have come across the brilliant mechanism behind storing the data in servers which then are kept in containers/trailers; this helps cut operating, overhead, space, and time costs. At a very recent live blog in California , LA particularly, Microsoft chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie talked about a number of plans that have come into live this year and ones that are going to be launched next year. In the following paragraphs, I'm going to sum up the main points mentioned in the conference about Microsoft Azure and its updates/features.

The first thing to mention is the location of the cloud servers/databases; According to Ozzie, the plan is to run azure in two centers in each region. For example, in the US, Azure is going to run in facilities located in Chicago and San Antonio. In Europe, Azure is going to run in facilities located in Dublin and Amesterdam. In Asia, the system will run in facilities located in Singapore and Hong Kong. Coming back again to the new approach Microsoft is taking with regards to housing its server/data. It is moving servers from rack into containers. For further information on this housing mechanism, click here. Second, Ozzie has mentioned an Azure subsystem called Dallas. It is an open data marketplace that is both public and commercial. The idea behind this system is the mixing of public and commercial data. Ozzie also highlighted the early partners/customers of the Azure cloud system. NASA was one of the customers who has already been using Azure and Dallas. The fact that NASA is using azure can help boost customer confidence and sales of this product.

After Ozzie concluded his presentation, Muglia, the president of Microsoft's Server and Tools Business, took over and directly shifted into a broader approach stating that cloud computing is not only an infrastructure but also an application model. Muglia then announced project Sydney ; a service that when implemented will allow businesses to connect their servers to the cloud/ Azure servers. I think this would be helpful to businesses knowing that Dallas is incorporated in Azure as well which can give businesses the option to view public or commercial data marketplace. In conclusion, with NASA, InfoUSA, AP online, Kelley Blue Book, and Domino's Pizza already implementing Microsoft Azure and its available services/features, it seems that Microsoft is entering the market with steady feet. this could only mean, good luck to the other competitors.