Previously known by its code-name Red Dog, Microsoft today announced the name of its cloud computing initiative — now called Windows Azure — but left out a tiny detail. Ray Ozzie, Microsoft’s chief software architect, in his keynote speech at the Professional Developers Conference did not say exactly when this service will become available. While it is good that Microsoft lets customers know of its plans, it is also a classic tactic to keep enterprises from signing long-term contracts with other providers while waiting to see what Microsoft will do.
Azure competes with Amazon EC2 and Microsoft could have beat Amazon to market — Redmond reportedly had been working on Azure before Amazon announced EC2. But perhaps the pecking order of these competing clouds is for the best. (Even Ray Ozzie applauded Amazon for its leading charge into cloud computing.) Because the charge was led by a company not also trying to sell a specific platform — in this case Windows — enterprises have a better understanding of what they can hire the cloud to do. For the Windows shop, Microsoft’s Azure sure sounds like it has a lot going for it. In addition to hiring the platform itself to run custom development (based on .Net) for data center, desktop, laptop, and mobile devices (like phones), Microsoft will offer a wide variety of Windows software as services. This includes SQL Server, SharePoint, Microsoft Dynamics and the .NET Framework. Ozzie calls this platform the “Windows Cloud.”
If the cloud works as advertised it will include a high-level of orchestration (Microsoft calls this piece the Fabric Controller) that will allow developers to update applications, which allow the cloud to automate any updates, if needed, for the PC/client-based components.
On the other side, Microsoft previously ticked off its channel with its pricing/contract structure for its cloud computing initiative in which channel partners were to give up their relationship with customers but still handle customer support. If an enterprise is relying on hired help for its custom computing projects, that hired help may have little incentive to use Azure and a lot of incentive to park their customized wares on competing clouds such as EC2, ServePath, and Intermedia.
See Azure for yourself via Ray Ozzie’s keynote speech. (via Windows Media Player)
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