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Cloud Computing
The Big Picture
Cloud Computing connects people to vast amounts of storage and computing power in massive datacenters. It's a transformation in which the barriers between technologies will fall away so we can connect to people and information no matter where we are.
This setup is particularly suited to selling computer processing as a utility, like electricity. Amazon with Amazon Web Services and Google with Google Applications are some of the competitors to Microsoft in the cloud.
What's missing is the ability to connect mobile devices in a seamless continuum of information, communication, and computing that isn't bounded by mobile device or location.
A new technology called Windows Azure enables developers to build applications that extend from the cloud to your home and business and span the PC, the Web, and mobile devices.
Windows Azure is part of the Azure Services Platform, a comprehensive set of storage, computing, and networking infrastructure services that reside in Microsoft's network of datacenters. Using the Azure Services Platform, developers will be able to build applications that run in the cloud and extend existing applications to take competitive advantage of cloud-based capabilities.
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The Azure Services Platform provides the foundation for business and consumer applications that deliver a consistent way for people to store and share information easily and securely in the cloud, and access it on any mobile device like the iPhone and iPad from any location.
Windows Azure will enable organizations to respond to realities such as the need to use the Web to provide customers with comprehensive information and to interact with an audience that has the potential to expand; to integrate operations with partners and sometimes even competitors to meet customer needs; to add new services quickly to respond to new opportunties; and to enable staff to work efficiently no matter where they are.
These realities apply not just to businesses, but to education and service organisations like: Universities, colleges, schools, local councils, libraries, and community groups.
Software as a service in the cloud and the power of choice will deliver value and quality in the future that combines the best aspects of PC software, servers, and mobile devices with the best aspects of services running on the Web. The undeniable benefits are the wealth of information and services.
The cloud service can be delivered to the customer on a pay-as-you-go, monthly, or yearly contract basis. Typical cloud applications are web applications, software development, databases, storage for files, and office applications.
Microsoft Windows Azure will bring us significantly closer to the time when information, communication, and computing flows along with us seamlessly as we move through our day-to-day activities, wherever we are.
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