Screenshots following Microsoft's launch of the service on 13 April.
on Apr 13 2010 3:01PM
The Windows Azure cloud computing platform was made publicly available in Australia on 13 April.
The service was available via four pricing models: the free 'Introductory Special'; pay-as-you-go consumption; the Development Accelerator Core package, which offered 750 computing hours for $66; and Development Accelerator Extended which included Core features as well as access to a 10GB business database for SQL Azure for $121.
Users need a Windows Live ID to purchase a Windows Azure service.
The free 'Introductory Special' package requires users to register their credit card details to pay for any excess usage, and all usage after the promotion ends on 31 July 2010.
Microsoft's online portal warned that it could take up to 24 hours for a Windows Azure account to be activated. However, iTnews' account was activated within minutes.
Windows Azure is a cloud services operating system that serves as the development, service hosting and service management environment for the Windows Azure platform.
SQL Azure Database is a cloud-based relational database service built on SQL Server technologies.
iTnews' test database was created in seconds, at the click of a button.
Windows Azure platform AppFabric allows developers to build and manage applications both on-premises and in the cloud.
AppFabric provides a Service Bus for connectivity across network and organizational boundaries, and supports platforms including Windows Azure, Windows Server, Java, Ruby, and PHP.
Pinpoint is a marketplace for users to hawk their applications and services.
It provides guidance on how to create profiles as pictured, to generate more and better leads for businesses.
The Windows Azure cloud computing platform was made publicly available in Australia on 13 April.