Cloud Computing Developments at Microsoft

Learning from the trend now Microsoft is seriously considering offering its MS Office application online like Google Apps a Cloud Computing application. Industry sources point out that Microsoft conducting tests for technology which will enable Web hosting service providers to offer the Office suite via an emerging technology called application streaming. Such a development means that Microsoft, with the huge data centers, will also start to stream Office directly to its customers as well. Microsoft is already beta-testing a low-end Office bundle, code-named Albany, that it will offer on a subscription basis.

Microsoft's cloud computing concept Live Mesh platform - is whereby all of our data and applications are stored on the internet as opposed to on the PC. Live Mesh is essentially a web-based operating system, letting users connect all of their devices (home PC, laptop, work computer and, in the not too distant future, handhelds and games consoles) into their own personal mesh. Files and applications can be placed into a "Mesh folder", which lives on the internet and can be accessed by all devices. The Mesh is updated with any changes made to the files or folders the next time the users is connected to the web.

As the competition hots up in the SaaS space - customer is going to benefit. Some of the industry sources indicated that Microsoft may price the application at $5 per month. This may start a price war benefiting the customers in long run. As there is still time of about 1 year for Microsoft to fully come out of closed beta it is testing with 10000 users - Google may speed up some of the new feature roll outs of Google Apps.