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. Data Centers:
Some datacenters have servers grouped inside containers - each containing 1800-2500 servers.
The location of the data centers are:
- North America
- North-central US - Chicago, IL
- South-central US - San Antonio, TX
- Asia
- East Asia - Hong Kong
- South East Asia - Singapore
- Europe
- West Europe - Amsterdam, Netherlands
- North Europe - Dublin, Ireland
Using the Azure Services
Platform, developers will be able to build applications that run in the
cloud and extend existing applications to take advantage of cloud-based
capabilities.
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 device from any location.
Windows Azure is not a software that companies will run on their own
servers. It's something new: a service that runs in Microsoft's growing
network of datacenters and provides the platform that helps companies
respond to the realities of today's business environment, and
tomorrow's.
Windows Azure technologies are already finding their way
into products such as Windows Server 2008 and System Center Virtual
Machine Manager, enabling organizations and Microsoft partners to create
their own cloud infrastructure.
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 exponentially overnight; to integrate operations with
partners-and sometimes even competitors-to meet customer needs; to add
new capabilities quickly to respond to new opportunities; and to enable
employees to work efficiently and effectively no matter where they are.
These realities apply not just to businesses, but to organizations of
all kinds: schools, governments, community groups, and more.