14 DAY TRIAL // At the Professional Developers Conference 2009, in Los Angeles, earlier this month, Microsoft announced the official launch of Windows Azure. The Redmond company’s Cloud platform is composed of the Windows Azure operating system delivered as a service and SQL Azure, as Microsoft describes it a fully relational database in the cloud. But despite the fact that Windows Azure continues to be in CTP phase, the software giant is already looking ahead to the next version of SQL Azure. And in this regard, Microsoft is asking customers to provide feedback that will help shape the next generation of its Cloud-based relational database.
“With PDC 09 we have made a great set of exciting announcements across many Azure branded products. As we focus on the future versions of SQL Azure, we would like to hear from you. If you'd like to share your thoughts and possibly engage with the development team for further discussions, please fill out the SQL Azure Feedback Community Engagement survey,” noted Cihan Biyikoglu - program manager, SQL Azure.
In order to get access to the survey, customers will first have to register to the SQL Azure site on Microsoft Connect. Once they have joined the SQL Azure Connect program, they will be able to fill out the SQL Azure Feedback Community Engagement survey by clicking on the "Respond to this Survey" button.
Microsoft provides a range of questions in the SQL Azure survey, designed to let customers provide input on just what will convince them to adopt the relational database in the cloud. At the same time, the Redmond company is allowing respondents to indicate which features/capabilities they want to see in future versions of SQL Azure. Customers interested in providing feedback to Microsoft on the current release of SQL Azure as well as on the next version of the Cloud database should fill out the SQL Azure Feedback Community Engagement survey.