Windows Azure World in Silicon Valley

Earlier this week our team (Developer & Platform Evangeliism team) hosted at our Silicon Valley (Mountain View campus) the last stop of David Chappell’s world-wide tour to talk about the impact of cloud computing, and latest developments on the Windows Azure Platform.

David Chappell’s talked about Windows Azure platform and what it means for enterprises. The topics he covered include:

• An overview of the Windows Azure platform: Technology and business model
• The cloud platform context: Google, Amazon, Salesforce.com, and more
• Using the Windows Azure platform: Application scenarios

We also had the CEO of CSRware.com and she showcased their “On-Demand Performance Management solution” for Sustainability and Green IT initiatives. Their current cloud initiative utilized Windows Azure, SQL Azure and hybrid (Software+Services) app dev pattern, for capturing tens of thousands of data points from their customer data center and aggregating them into a single data point to an on-premise SaaS offering.

Also my colleague David Chou also presented some additional views on how to architect applications using the Windows Azure Platform and some customer case studies.

If you missed attending the session no worries you can get all of the presentation that is posted at Strategy & Architecture Council site:

http://blogs.msdn.com/sac/archive/2009/10/31/windows-azure-world-tour-with-david-chappell.aspx

Thanks to everyone who attended the event, and if you have any further question please feel free to send me a note.

Spark your Web with WebSiteSpark

Microsoft recently announced the availability of a new program for Web Professionals called Microsoft WebsiteSpark. With WebsiteSpark and the Microsoft Web Platform, Microsoft is demonstrating an ongoing and unwavering commitment to fostering the success of Web professionals and SMBs around the world.

The WebsiteSpark Program provides Web professionals with Microsoft software and solutions, together with related tools, training and support, to help their businesses succeed. The WebsiteSpark Program also helps drive new business opportunities by connecting Web professionals and hosters with an ecosystem of customers, partners and other professionals with complementary technologies.

Web development and design companies with up to 10 employees and owners can participate in the WebsiteSpark Program for three years with no up-front cost. There is only a $100 program offering fee, payable at exit, with no other costs or obligations. Once approved, these companies can have access to:

• Microsoft Web design and development tools, including three licenses of Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition, two licenses of Microsoft Expression Web 3, and one license of Microsoft Expression Studio 3.
• Four processor licenses for production usage of Microsoft Windows Web Server 2008 or R2 (when available) and four processor licenses for production usage of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Web Edition.
• A third-party premium Website control panel (DotNetPanel).

Find out more or join at WebsiteSpark!

BizSpark Hits Significant Miletsone of 12000 Startups!

 

Two weeks back on May 6, 2009 marks a significant milestone for BizSpark  from the time it started 6 months back. The program has enrolled 12,000 startups which is significant achievement!

Microsoft BizSpark is a great DEAL!  It is a program designed to help accelerate the success of early stage startups by providing key resources – software, support, and visibility.

The qualification criteria is very simple (if you are a startup):

• Privately held software development startups in business for less than 3 years that are generating annual revenue under USD $1 million can join.
• Connect with a BizSpark Network Partner or a Microsoft BizSpark Champ to get your BizSpark enrollment code.  Or email me at Raj.Ramabadran@microsoft.com if you are not sure who to contact.
• Enrollment is free, however, at exit of the program, you just pay a USD $100 program offering fee.

Learn more about this wonderful program here.

The Azure Developer Challenge

new CloudApp(), a US based developer challenge, was launched today.  Its focus is to promote applications running on the Azure Services Platform.  This contest will have three categories of winners for applications running on the Azure Services Platform:

• best .NET application,
• top PHP application, and,
• community winner

Contest Dates:

• Monday, May 4: Contest Open
• Thursday, June 18: Submission deadline
• Friday, June 19: Community voting starts
• Thursday, June 25: .NET & PHP category winners announced at Structure 09
• Monday, June 29: Community voting ends
• Tuesday, June 30: Community winner announced

Here is what the winner gets ?

• Be featured on www.azure.com as well as at major Microsoft events
• Be featured in a video interview on Channel 9 with the application author
• Winners will be announced at Structure 09
• Receive cash ($):
  • .NET Applications Category winner: $5,000 Visa gift card
  • PHP Applications Category winner: $5,000 Visa gift card
  • Community winner: $2,500 Visa gift card

How do I get Started ?:

1. Join BizSpark if you’re a startup or an entrepreneur, to get access to tools for development and test
2. Register to join the contest
3. Sign up for the Azure Services
4. Download the SDKs and Tools

For more information see newCloudApp().com.

Free Web Hosting & Web Tools from Microsoft

Here is a excellent *FREE* offering from Microsoft and our top web hosting partners.

• Free hosting for 60 days
• Free Microsoft Expression Web ($299 value) and Microsoft Visual Web Developer 2008 Express Edition
• Free $100 Microsoft adCenter search advertising credit

The Microsoft Web Platform

Rock solid Web hosting on Microsoft’s most up-to-date Web platform, including:

• Windows Server 2008
• IIS 7
• ASP.Net
• SQL Server 2008 Web
• PHP and MySQL
• Expression Web and
  Visual Web Developer Express
• Click here for a complete list of the Microsoft Web Platform components

This is a good example of our commitment to Interop and more importantly validation of our Software Plus Sevice strategy for providing customers to building consistent rich applications and with choice of hosting with our partners or in our cloud.

So Startup(s) grab this opportunity and also for Enterprise who are at looking at ways to reducing cost or exploring new scenarios this will great to try out.