How does the Windows Azure platform fit into Microsoft’s Cloud strategy?
We think that services expand the opportunity for customers to experience software. The industry is trending towards scenarios that combine client and on-premises server and database offerings with cloud services. This approach to application architecture, development, deployment, and usage is at the core of what we call Software + Services. Customers of all types demand both: the richness of on premises applications augmented by the flexibility and choice of cloud services. We see our Windows Azure platform offering customers more choices, creating additive scenarios and opening up the market for customers to use Microsoft and Microsoft partner solutions in ways never before possible.
