Microsoft has updated the branding for SQL Services and SQL Data Services. SQL Services will be called Microsoft SQL Azure, and SQL Data Services will be Microsoft SQL Azure Database. Changing the name does not change product but it demonstrates tight integration between the components of the service platforms.
As a part of the Windows Azure platform, SQL Azure Database will deliver traditional relational database service in the cloud, supporting T-SQL over Tabular Data Stream (TDS) protocol. SQL Azure Database will be available in two editions: the Web Edition Database and the Business Edition Database.
Web Edition – 2GB of T-SQL based database space for $9.99 per month
Business Edition – 10GB of T-SQL based database space for $99.99 per month.
Customers can also purchase bandwidth for $.10 in and $.15 out per GB
SQL Azure Database is on track to deliver a public CTP in August and ship in the second half of calendar year 2009. In its initial release, SQL Azure Database will support relational capabilities suitable for relational apps, including multi-tenant apps requiring large levels of scale. Future releases of SQL Azure will support advanced features like distributed queries across partitions, and auto-partition. Developers will be able to utilize existing Transact-SQL code to access their data in the cloud.
Reference : Pinal Dave (https://blog.sqlauthority.com)
