[This article was contributed by the SQL Azure team.]

Yesterday we announced a branding update to SQL Azure (formerly SQL Services). I think you will agree that our new name is a better fit. If you look across the Windows platform, you will see a consistent branding theme that runs the gamut from Windows Mobile on mobile devices, to Windows Client on the desktop, Windows Server as the leading server operating system and more recently Windows Azure as our soon to be released operating system in the cloud. SQL Data Services is now known as SQL Azure Database. Same SQL Platform, same team, same innovation. SQL Server is the data platform of Windows Server so it made sense to align the name of the relational database platform of Windows Azure, SQL Azure. SQL Azure is built on the SQL Server technology foundation which delivers relational database capabilities in the cloud.

Regardless of what platform your solution targets, your existing SQL Server skills and experience don’t change. That was the goal of the team when we decided to accelerate our relational capabilities and add TDS support. A goal we will be delivering upon when we release SQL Azure later this year.

The next few months are going to be exciting. On the technology front, we are getting ready for our next CTP in August. You can, however, get started today with SQL Express. The team has been working closely with some early adopters and the feedback has been overwhelming positive. Thank you for being so patient, the wait is almost over. Over the next day or two, we will be pushing additional details regarding SQL Azure, including posting our first round of SQL Azure Database documentation to MSDN (once it’s posted, I will post a link to it here). 
 

Stay Tuned,

Dave

SQL Server – Your Data, Any Place, Any Time…and now in the cloud with SQL Azure Database