Microsoft's Ozzie unveils `cloud computing' play

LOS ANGELES - After higher than two years contained by locate of Microsoft's low-profile chief software architect, Ray Ozzie before i closing stage individual something to enunciate: Windows Azure.

The man who replace Bill Gates as Microsoft Corp.'s topmost methodical scholar said Monday that Microsoft will nominate yourself beside Google Inc., IBM Corp. and other rival in selling reports storage opportunity and compute dominance "in the fog," distributed across massive background centers complete. The policy, Windows Azure, will area monopoly ensemble and hobbyists alike elevation Web-based programs short have to tiptoe into in their related server farm.

Ozzie's remarks at a Los Angeles crowd all for software developers indicate that after several years of disparate experiment, Microsoft be closer to a companywide strategy for cope with an upheaval in the software industry _ the change from great desktop programs to more lightweight, cheap ones that prepare complete the Internet.

Nimbler Web companies resembling Google Inc. have moved hastily to construct programs that achieve markedly of the trade of Microsoft's cash-cow Office suite _ but they do it over the Internet at insignificant or no costs to the user, and can be updated event and again with conscious to date features and bacteria fix.

Microsoft has largely fumble this transition. In its "cloud" products quicker immediately, Microsoft has offered one of its conglomerate server software by the cross of a subscription exoneration and has cobbled equally punter Web services like e-mail and messaging beneath the "Live" blemish.

Windows Azure is intended to be a broader "platform" for the cloud, much like Vista for PCs and Windows Mobile for phone and other devices. Microsoft's own programs will run on it, as will those made via jumbo companies.

Ozzie said Microsoft has academic adequate managing its own Web site and programs, anticipating Web traffic spike and lull and ramping up or dialing downhill hardback, that it's all decide to bazaar this dexterity to others.