14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has teamed up with Avanade Cloud Lab to offer customers in the United Kingdom a chance to get their Windows Azure projects off the ground and into the Cloud.
The two companies are offering UK developers a chance at winning free Windows Azure support and services in a new contest whose grand prize is estimated to worth as much as £80,000.
For UK devs with their Windows Azure ideas ready for lift-off, this is an excellent opportunity to benefit from a little help in seeing their projects come to life.
As of October 5th, 2010, Avanade is accepting Windows Azure application submissions, and will continue to do so until October 29th.
“All you have to do is submit your business case here by October 29, 2010 outlining the opportunity for your organization, the expected benefits, the solutions overview, the use of Windows Azure, and the risks assessment,” revealed a Windows Azure team member.
“A judging panel of Microsoft, Accenture, Avanade experts and a cloud specialist will select finalists by November 12, 2010 and the winner will be announced November 30, 2010.
“The winning entry will demonstrate the most innovative use of Windows Azure's powerful features and offer the most substantial business benefit.”
This week Microsoft’s Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer is in Europe visiting a number of countries and advertising Windows Azure and the company’s Cloud.
In fact, the software giant has been hard at work bringing its Cloud offerings in the public’s focus across Europe, on top of the markets Ballmer is visiting.
The Windows Azure Microsoft and the Avanade contest is just one such example.
“The winner will receive 10 weeks of delivery resource, two weeks of project management from a Windows Azure subject matter expert and six months of hosting your applications on Windows Azure from early 2011,” the company said.