Microsoft is gambling on the concept of cloud computing for providing the next generation innovations to consumers, businesses and technologists. According to Steve Ballmer, the CEO of Microsoft, cloud computing has a potential market of $3.3 trillion. But to measure where the cloud computing platform actually stands today, just explore the latest news, reports and user stories.

  • The technology industry is moving towards cloud computing, so the users can easily adopt the hybrid computing model. Microsoft is also creating the precursors for cloud.
  • Microsoft is extremely confident for the cloud-computing because of some very good reasons like it can generate more money and it also helps customers in cost cutting. Microsoft is selling applications through the cloud and also it’s developing a strong platform for its Azure service.
  • According to Steve Ballmer, Microsoft has employed 40,000 people for building software around the world, and around 70% of those, are working for the cloud.
  • According to Tim O’Brien, Senior Director, Platform Strategy Group for Microsoft, the benefits of cloud computing include greater flexibility, lower costs and scalability. But all the software applications aren’t appropriate for the cloud so cloud computing will take some time to turn into the mainstream.
  • Microsoft is planning to invest a great deal in the cloud platform, but expects recommend modest revenue for say 2-3 three years because; the cloud won’t drive financial growth in tools and servers.
  • According to Microsoft’s executives, Microsoft’s cloud is still missing some key features which are available in company’s individual products.
  • Microsoft has earlier started upgrading the cloud-based Exchange as well as the Share Point services for its offerings in 2010, but the journey is expected to continue the whole year so the customers may only see a “preview” version in the year 2010.
  • For cloud computing, the Microsoft will go ‘beyond’ the infrastructure and applications. Company will also offer a diverse management layer which the customers will need, for optimizing application performance in hosted environments as well as, on premises.
  • According to the experts, the year 2010 is a platform building year for Microsoft. Experts also say that the changes made by Microsoft, will develop and deliver the technology, which will identify its hybrid, internal and  external cloud environments, and also will clearly expressive to its devastating mainstream of corporate IT pros.
  • Microsoft declared a group of hosted cloud services which will distribute facilities, committed to users of U.S. federal government. The available services include Share Point, Exchange, Office Communications and Office Live Meeting.
  • Microsoft has purchased Opalis, which is an IT process automation vendor, to reinforce its management tools associated to virtual environments.
  • Microsoft has made a contract of 18,000-seat cloud with University of Arizona. According to this contract, the University is moving its 18,000 faculty as well as staff members, to Microsoft’s online collaboration and e-mail system.