Gallery: Microsoft takes wraps off Windows Azure

At Microsoft's PDC 2008 conference, the company's chief software architect Ray Ozzie took the wraps off Windows Azure which is an operating system that lets developers write programs for Microsoft's data centers instead of individual pieces of software for business servers.

By Andy Smith, Associate Editor on Oct. 28, 2008

1 of 12 Andy Smith/ZDNet

Microsoft will be competing with the likes of Amazon, Salesforce.com, and Rackspace--providers of Internet storage and computing services.

2 of 12 Andy Smith/ZDNet

Microsoft's chief software architect Ray Ozzie takes the stage.

3 of 12 Andy Smith/ZDNet

Server and Tools senior VP Bob Muglia talks about the benefits to businesses of Windows Azure.

Credit: Robert Vamosi

4 of 12 Andy Smith/ZDNet

Microsoft's Dave Thompson tells attendees at the Professional Developer Conference that all of the company's enterprise software will be offered as an online service over time.

Credit: Robert Vamosi

5 of 12 Andy Smith/ZDNet

Microsoft's cloud computing team discusses how a common set of tools can be used for developing applications for traditional Windows as well as for Windows Azure.

Credit: Robert Vamosi

6 of 12 Andy Smith/ZDNet

One of the biggest challenges in business software, whether it lives inside a company or is part of a hosted service, is making sure that only properly authorized employees have access to the data and applications. Microsoft discusses how its Federated Identity platform will work with the new hosted services.

Credit: Robert Vamosi

7 of 12 Andy Smith/ZDNet

8 of 12 Andy Smith/ZDNet

9 of 12 Andy Smith/ZDNet

The center of the universe, Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

10 of 12 Andy Smith/ZDNet

Manage services not servers.

11 of 12 Andy Smith/ZDNet

You can test and debug locally. Then choose publish option. It packages your app. then takes your to Azure dev portal.

12 of 12 Andy Smith/ZDNet

Screenshot of the Bluehoo.com dashboard for monitoring service performance.

Credit: Robert Vamosi