Editor’s Note: The following is a post from Satya Nadella, President of the Server & Tools Business at Microsoft.

As the worldwide demand for cloud computing continues to grow, so does Windows Azure.  Microsoft is the only at-scale global public cloud provider to deliver a hybrid cloud advantage and we’re excited to announce plans to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to expand the Windows Azure footprint in Asia – specifically in China, Japan and Australia.

On Wednesday in Shanghai, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer announced that a Public Preview for the Windows Azure service, operated by 21Vianet in China, will be available for sign-up starting June 6. The announcement in China builds on the agreements we signed Nov. 1, 2012 with the Shanghai municipal government and 21Vianet. We are excited to be the first multinational organization to make public cloud services available in China, and encourage customers to sign up for the free trial at starting June 6.

For additional details on the expansion, please read my post on the Official Microsoft Blog.

Satya