This month Microsoft announced its new cloud services platform, Windows Azure. Cloud computing is a style of computing which users can access technology-enabled services from the internet (“in the cloud”). The basic concept for Azure is that “developers, consumers and enterprises will be able to build, deploy and access cloud-based applications running on what is essentially a re-tooled, distributed version of Windows Server. That re-tooled version is Windows Azure.” Experts say anything Microsoft releases will have to be compelling, unique and competitive on price. Other companies who have already released such services include Amazon, Salesforce.com and Google. But Microsoft contends they can bring simplicity, scale and openness to the market. Additionally, it will build a series of its own applications and services developers and customers will be able to take advantage of. Azure isn’t expected to be released for another year.